Holy Grounds: Exploring Spirituality in Muscogee Culture

In this episode we discuss the unique dichotomy of spiritual life in Muscogee culture between traditional and ceremonial practices and Christianity and Muscogee churches. We talk with Rev. Chebon Kernell, a clergy and representative of the Native American Comprehensive Plan of The United Methodist Church, who is also an active member of Helvpe Ceremonial Ground, about the existence of the two ways of life and how they have shaped the culture of Muscogees today. It's a "Conversation From our Reservation" many years in the making, and it's only on The Muscogee Pod!

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The Rev. Kernell, an ordained Elder in the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference, is formerly the executive secretary of Native American and Indigenous Ministries for the denomination’s General Board of Global Ministries. In this role, he has worked with the World Council of Churches, the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and the United Methodist Church’s Council of Bishops assisting in a denominationally mandated effort to improve relationships with Indigenous communities through dialogue, study and local or regional acts of repentance acknowledging harms inflicted upon Indigenous communities.

He is a citizen of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma and is of Muscogee heritage.  In 2016 he was honored by receiving the Religious Literacy Award sponsored by the Westar Institute for, "his tireless efforts to educate the general public, including not only mainstream American Christians but also native peoples themselves, about the ‘deep and broad religious riches’ of Indigenous peoples in the context of reconciliation work and the recovery of native practices.“ 

He received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Oklahoma City University and a Master of Divinity from Phillips Theological Seminary.  He is a cultural practitioner and member of the Helvpe Ceremonial grounds.  He has been married to Sara for 18 years and has five children: Kaycee, Josiah, Raylen, and Solomon and niece Cali.

Among is many achievements, Chebon has also contributed to Steven Charleston's book, "Coming Full Circle: Constructing Native Christian Theology." You can purchase it here:  https://www.amazon.com/Coming-Full-Circle-Constructing-Christian/dp/1451487983/ref=asc_df_1451487983/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312009828129&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17936700929564702722&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9026617&hvtargid=pla-523229888760&psc=1

The Native American Comprehensive Plan serves as the United Methodist entity that resources, strengthens and advocates for the local church in Native American communities. Find their website here: www.nacp-umc.org