What is CAIM

The Council for American Indian Ministry (CAIM) is the voice for American Indian people in the UCC. CAIM provides Christian ministry and witness to American Indians and to the wider church. Justice issues that affect American Indian life are communicated to the whole UCC by CAIM.

Historically, the forebears of the UCC established churches and worked with Lakota, Dakota, Nakota, Mandan, Hidatsa, Arickara, and Hocak in North and South Dakota, Wisconsin and northern Nebraska. Today there are 20 UCC congregations on reservations and one urban, multi-tribal UCC congregation in Minneapolis, Minnesota. CAIM supports these local churches and their pastors. In addition, CAIM strives to be a resource for more than 1,000 individuals from dozens of other tribes and nations who are members of other UCC congregations and to strengthen their participation in the life of the church. 

CAIM supports its member congregations through direct support for local congregational needs, including building concerns and programmatic support. CAIM also has a vision for training and support of future leaders, both lay and ordained. 

CAIM is one of the historically underrepresented groups in the UCC and is a member of the Council for Racial and Ethnic Ministries. These groups have long existed in the UCC, established for supporting and connecting the Native American church and community to the settings of the UCC. 

As the voice for American Indian people in the UCC, CAIM provides Christian ministry and witness to American Indians and to the wider church. Justice issues that affect American Indian life are communicated to the whole UCC by CAIM.