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www.thelutheran.org (click on “study guides”).
Living Waters gradually evolved
into the Four Winds American Indian Council in 1989, of which Tinker was a founding member. Four Winds continued to use the buildings at Fiſth and Bannock— rent-free—for ceremonial and spiritual purposes and as a com- munity center for urban American Indians. “Our families had wakes and
funerals there. People were mar- ried. Babies were welcomed into our world. Indian organizations met and held meetings or classes over the years. Our young ones grew into adulthood here at Fiſth and Ban- nock,” Tinker said. “Tis was a place where all Indian folk could feel comfortable coming to pray, each in their own traditional way.”
Wise stewardship Te Rocky Mountain Synod Council had struggled for years regarding what to do with the historic church. Selling it would force Four Winds out of the building that had been its home for 25 years. What did wise stewardship demand in this situation? Aſter much prayer and delibera-
tion, another option presented itself. Te synod could donate the site, but only if Four Winds obtained the necessary nonprofit status, which it did in 2014. In January the synod council
voted unanimously to transfer the deed to the property to Four Winds. On March 28—a glorious spring day in Denver with cloudless blue skies and the promise of Easter soon to
Author bio: Jones is communications director for the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado.
George “Tink” Tinker (at right in red) is a founder and elder of Four Winds. Tinker’s mother was a Norwegian Lutheran and his father a member of the Osage Nation of Oklahoma.
come—several dozen members of both communities came together in the old church to mark the transfer with appropriate ritual. Drums were beaten. Hymns were
sung. Prayers were said. Giſts were exchanged. Food was shared. Te synod presented a simple
plaque to Four Winds that said: “In a spirit of gentleness the people of the [synod] … return this sacred ground to Four Winds American Indian Council as a giſt for the gen- erations: past, present and future.” James Gonia, synod bishop, said, “I hope and pray that this day of
observance and celebration makes a new chapter in our relationship. I pray that we can continue to walk together in respect and love. ... I know that we are better together if we commit ourselves to accompany- ing one another for the sake of love and service in the world.” Added Dena Williams, an ELCA
pastor and a liaison to Four Winds: “Turning over the buildings to Four Winds is the right thing to do. I see this as the Lutherans returning sacred ground to American Indian people. It was never really ours to begin with.”
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