Pastor Judy Wellington on Native American Ministries
Making Visible What was Once Not Seen
By Jessica Denson
For Native American Presbyterians, one of the biggest challenges is the absence or lack of spiritual leaders to guide their congregations.
“There are very few teaching elders,” said Pastor Judith Wellington, who serves at La Mesa Presbyterian Church in Albuquerque, N.M. “We are now looking at how to provide the leadership development that is needed for where we find ourselves because even though some young Natives have graduated from seminary, they are unable to find jobs because of the economic realities on reservations.”
Pastor Wellington believes there is a solution to this problem—through partnerships with non-Native churches. She said this is already happening in some Presbyteries, but that number needs to grow.
“Our population is so small that we can seem invisible within the church or our communities,” Pastor Wellington said, a note of emotion creeping into her voice. “To be invisible in one’s church or homeland is a detriment to the spirit. It hurts.”
“Native Americans are in almost every city,” she added. “If white or Anglo-American churches are going to be multicultural, it would help if they learned about the Natives and history of Natives in their area.”
She also said there needs to be a space within Presbyterian churches for the Native American approach to worship. That divide can make the transition from a reservation congregation to an urban congregation difficult.
“We tend to be more intergenerational. We come together as family—grandparents, parents, children, even babies—to worship together, as one. We even invite extended family who may or may not belong to the church. Membership is more informal, more inclusive.”
Pastor Wellington not only leads worship in her church, but also sits on the Native American Consulting Committee, which held a consultation in early 2012. She said the group used to be focused on programmatic needs of Native congregations but now, with less funding available, they are reassessing how they can provide support through leadership training and take on roles they did not fill in the past. They also are focused on helping the younger generations of Native Presbyterians learn how to encourage and work through partnerships with non-Native churches.
“I know God wants us all to have full hearts and spirits and work with each,” Pastor Wellington said. “I am grateful for every time we’re able to engage with someone and tell our story. It means we are no longer invisible.”
