By: Jim Pyatt, WNCC Archivist & Historian

Rev. Patrick Freeman

The Rev. Patrick Freeman was born in Okmulgee, OK and is a member of the Creek Nation of Oklahoma. He received his B. A. from Oklahoma City University and his B. D. from Saint Paul School of Theology. He was ordained a Deacon and an Elder, licensed to preach, and received On Trial and in Full Connection in the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference. Prior to his transfer to the WNC Conference in 1991, his pastoral appointments included churches in the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference, Director of Youth Ministries for that conference, and churches in the Kansas East Conference. From 1988-91 the Rev. Freeman served as pastor for the All Tribes Fellowship, a ministry with Native Americans in the Kansas City, KS metropolitan area. He also served as a clergy delegate from the Kansas East Conference to the 1984 and 1988 General Conferences of the UMC.

The transfer of the Rev. Freeman to the WNC Conference in 1991 was a momentous event. His appointment to the Qualla Greater Parish (Cherokee and Olivet UMCs) was the first appointment of a Native American pastor to the Cherokee Mission since World War II. Regarding this move he stated, “The ministry at Cherokee seems to be a real opportunity for Vera [his wife] and me to continue doing work for the Lord.” As was stated in the press release announcing his appointment, “For the past 50 years the Cherokee United Methodists have sought a Native American to be their pastor. During that time the Annual Conference, while seeking a Native American, has assigned other clergy to the position.”

While serving as pastor at Cherokee and Olivet from 1991-99, the Rev. Freeman also served as a member of the Waynesville District Committee on Ordained Ministry 1991-99, the WNC Conference Commission on Mission/Outreach 1992-96, and the WNC Conference Council on Finance and Administration 1996-99.

A significant ministry of Cherokee UMC during the Rev. Freeman’s pastorate was a woodcutting project. Initiated in 1991 by the Rev. Freeman and the late Tom Queen, it began with three woodcutters, one pickup truck, and one chain saw. By 1997 the ministry had grown to the point where ten chain saws, six log splitters, and six trucks were involved with the ministry. That year they cut, split, and distributed about 1,500 loads of firewood to over 350 Cherokee families at a total value of about $150,000. (Bob Mangum, “Woodcutting project shows love in action,” North Carolina Christian Advocate, December 2, 1997)

As we celebrate Native American Heritage Month, we celebrate the ministry of the Rev. Patrick Freeman.

Be sure to read the other biographies written by WNCC Archivist & Historian Jim Pyatt:

Daphine Strickland, part of the Task Force that led to the organization of Triad Native American Church, the first Native American congregation in our Conference outside of Cherokee.

Thomas Queen, the Director of the Cherokee Mission from 1973 until his death in 1992.

Jeremiah Wolfe, the first Native American to be elected a delegate to General Conference from the WNCC in 1976.