After reading the Viewpoint article by Fr. Simon [TLC, Aug. 26], concerning Canon III.9 ordinations, I asked our diocesan staff if they had received any e-mails requesting information about Canon 9 ordinations in this diocese. I was informed that no such survey had been directed to South Dakota. That is unfortunate since South Dakota was one of those dioceses for which Canon III.9 was designed.

Why are Canon III.9 ordinations important for South Dakota? The Diocese of South Dakota is comprised of 93 churches of which there are only 18 parishes. The remaining 75 congregations are mission churches and of those, 63 are primarily Native American congregations located in nine Indian reservations. In 1975, there were 10 full-time stipendiary native clergy; in 2000 there were only three full-time stipendiary native clergy. The balance of church leadership in these mission congregations are locally ordained priests and deacons under Canon III.9, and licensed lay ministers.

Furthermore, most mission congregations are unable to afford a full-time seminary-trained priest. Given the fact that three of the poorest counties in this country are found in South Dakota, resources for ministry are limited and thus creative approaches to church leadership are called for. If we believe that all Episcopalians have a right to the Eucharist, and that each Episcopal congregation, whether that congregation be a cathedral or a preaching station on the Pine Ridge, has the potential for ministry by virtue of baptism, exercised fully in the local community, then the road to ordination must be such that all persons who are called to ordained ministry can be equipped and trained for that ministry, including those who are unable to attend a residential seminary.

In a word, one size does not fit all. And for South Dakota, Canon III.9 helps ensure that our small, rural congregations have everything they need for ministry.

The Rev. Karen E. Hall

Consultant for Ministry Development

Diocese of South Dakota

Sioux Falls, S.D.