Complete 2012 Journal - 2012 NC Conference Journal

Section Vi: Historical Records 303
Following an honorable discharge in September of 1945, he reentered Pembroke State
College and completed his undergraduate, graduating in 1948. His subsequent educational
career included attending Peabody College, Duke Divinity School, and King’s College of
Cambridge University.
Reverend Cummings began his career as an educator in the public schools of Robeson
County. He taught for eight years at Piney Grove and Union Chapel schools. With a devoted
wife, six children, and despite a stable teaching position in hand, Rev. Cummings answered
the calling of God on his life to full time ministry and became the first American Indian
appointed to a full time position by the NC Annual Conference. He became a Deacon in
1956 and an Ordained Elder in 1958.
He served as pastor of Prospect United Methodist Church from 1953 to 1973. During that
time, the membership grew from 200 to 626. The physical plant grew from a single building
to include a modern education building with a fellowship hall.
Other information about the life and ministry of Simeon Cummings are:
First American Indian to serve on staff of the North Carolina Annual Conference. He was
appointed as Assistant to the Bishop as Coordinator of Outreach Ministries, Conference
Council of Ministries, Raleigh, 1973-1978.
First American Indian assistant to the Cabinet of the North Carolina Annual Conference of
The United Methodist Church, 1985.
First American Indian elected as a delegate to The UMC General Conference, 1976.
Re-elected as a delegate in 1980.
First director and pastor of Robeson County Co-operative Parish, 1978 to 1985.
First American Indian to be appointed to Greensboro College board of trustees, 1976 to
1988. In 1989, he was appointed Trustee Emeritus of Greensboro College.
First chairperson (1984 to 1986) and first executive director (1986 to 1991) of The
Southeastern Jurisdictional Association on Native American Ministries, addressing the
pastoral needs of American Indians in nine states. SEJANAM serves the 15 annual
conferences, 23 Native American churches, three ministries of the SEJ, and approximately
210,000 Native Americans of the nine southeastern states of the SEJ.
The great Swiss poet and thinker once said, “ Every man is more than just himself; he also
represents the unique, the very special and always significant and remarkable point at which
the world’s phenomena intersect, only once in this way, and never again” And that could be
said of Simeon Cummings. He was a remarkable Christian, American Indian leader, pastor,
father, husband, and friend. He was always far more than himself.
– Robin G. Cummings
McDuffie Cummings
Members of the Cummings family
Bill Simpson, Conference Historian