Suanne Ware-Diaz

Ms. Suanne Ware-Diaz

Ms. Suanne Ware-Diaz Associate General Secretary

As a proud Kiowa, I am passionate about the rights and concerns of all Native Americans and the abundant gifts they offer to our church and our nation. As a person of blended racial backgrounds, Kiowa and White, I also recognize the challenge of affiliation and identity experienced by those of multiracial/multicultural heritages. And as a native of Los Angeles, I know the beauty and value of diversity. I also feel God has called and gifted me in a unique way to promote and advocate for inclusiveness in our church and our communities. Certainly one of the most profound and effective ways of doing so is to monitor all aspects of the church’s life, ministry and leadership, at all levels of the denomination. The ministry of monitoring and the lessons we can learn from examining trends are crucial tools for ensuring the development of a faithfully inclusive church.

Suanne is Associate General Secretary of the General Commission on Religion and Race with primary responsibility for Monitoring and Research, Native American Constituency Concerns and GCORR’s work and relationships in the North Central Jurisdiction. She joined our staff in 2003.

Prior to coming to the General Commission on Religion and Race, Suanne was a Career Development Counselor. She has designed curricula, conducted workshops, done one-on-one counseling, and formed job search clubs to aide adults in career transition. She has assisted in research and grant writing for adult education funding. Her prior experience was in technical staffing and the tourism industry.
Suanne is a graduate of the University of California at Los Angeles. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Painting, Sculpture and Graphic Arts. An accomplished painter, Suanne has recently adopted a new medium – mosaic. “Creating works of art in mosaic, I am reminded of how God transforms the broken pieces of our lives into a new and beautiful whole.” She choreographed and performed as a solo artist and with the Elle Johnson Dance Company of Los Angeles from 1970 through 2001.

Suanne has a long and rich history in The United Methodist Church and has been active at the local, conference and general church levels. She is a member of Culver-Palms United Methodist Church in Culver City, Calif., where she was active in worship and served as chair of the Staff Parish Relations Committee. She is a member of the California-Pacific Conference Committee on Native American Ministries, is a certified lay speaker and was a Los Angeles District Delegate to Annual Conference. As a former Board Member of the General Commission on Religion and Race, Suanne chaired the Native American Concerns Committee.

Proud of her Kiowa heritage, Suanne is passionate in addressing the rights and issues of Native Americans and indigenous peoples of the world. As a person of blended background, Kiowa and White, she recognizes the challenge of affiliation and identity experienced by those of multiracial/multicultural heritage. As a native Angeleno, she knows the richness of diversity. Suanne feels that God has called her and gifted her in a unique way to advocate for inclusiveness in our Church and in our communities.