A Michigan native who believes his church can make a difference in the staggering rate of reservation suicides was ordained Saturday as the 10th bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of South Dakota.
Six hundred people gathered in the Sioux Falls Convention Center to witness the ordination and consecration of the Rev. John Tarrant in a two-hour ceremony.
Tarrant will succeed the current bishop, the Rev. Creighton Robertson, who is expected to retire at the end of the year.
I knew John Tarrant at VTS. He is good man – steady and faithful in his ministry. I am not sure of his theology, although I suspect he is tending liberal – or at least tolerates liberals and accepts their views as within the bounds of the Christian faith.
I have been much impressed with John Tarrant. I am a priest in the Diocese of South Dakota, and he seems like a really great guy with the energy and skill set this diocese needs.
If anyone wants to watch the consecration, send me a message. We got a professional video guy to record the service, and it should be out on DVD in the next few days. You can check out Yours Truly’s mad thurifering skills as well.
The native population of the Dakotas has been the poorer ever since The Episcopal Church squeezed out the conservative [url=http://www.churcharmyusa.org/]Church Army USA[/url] folk that worked among the Lakota and the Dakota.
I’m glad to read kind word for the new Bishop in the entries above.
#4. Br_er Rabbit wrote: “…The Episcopal Church squeezed out the conservative Church Army USA folk…” Is that really so? If so, how did they pull that off? I know the Church Army was doing some great evangelism and humane service on the reservations.
No. 5: Yes, I remember Sister Margaret Hawk, C.A. And no. 4: Is the C.A. really no longer actively at work in South Dakota? If so, when and how did that happen? And can the “diocese” say who works on the reservations?
pastorchuckie, I don’t know the details, but I believe that the Evangelicals who were doing the work were no longer welcome. I know that the miserable support for Evangelicals by TEC was responsible for the split, just before I joined Church Army, between TEC and CA-USA. There is no longer any connection between the two groups, where in the past they had worked together closely.
I have a Church Army friend in Albuquerque, a Lakota Sioux who formerly worked in the Dakotas, but now is working among the Navajo. I have avoided broaching the subject with him, as it seemed to be a source of unspoken pain. Perhaps we can talk about it next time I see him.
Can the diocese say who works on the reservation? Well, no. But they could fail to provide financial support and refuse to license the ministry of any CA who happen to be ordained. As I said, I really don’t have the details; I’m just aware of a lot of pain for what used to be and is no more.
Thanks for adding your insider perspective, Archer (#2 & 3). I hope your new bishop continues to impress you. May your ministry thrive and bear much fruit in Brookings, and elsewhere! The Diocese of SD has a goodly heritage. Founding bishop William Hobart Hare was one of the greatest missionary bishops the Episcopal Church has ever had.
Alas, I regret that I have nothing good or kind to say about the outgoing bishop, Creighton Robertson. So I won’t say anything more about him.
May the Lord bless +Tarrant, you Archer, and Fr. Tim Fountain in Sioux Falls. You all have your work cut out for you, but God is faithful.
David Handy+
Native of Sioux Falls, but glad to be FROM, not in, SD