Sioux congregation vows action over moves to close church

Wednesday, 5th November 2008
By George Conger

Parishioners from nine churches on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation have vowed to take legal action against the American Bishop of South Dakota to prevent the closure of their churches, in a diocesan cost savings drive.

In his convention address to the diocesan synod on Oct 3, Bishop Creighton Robertson reported that dwindling attendance and finances had left him no choice but to close or consolidate the congregations effective Nov 30. However, on Oct 25 members of the redundant churches held an organizational meeting to gather signatures for a petition drive to halt the closings.

In an August letter to the clergy of the congregations located on the Pine Ridge Reservation — home to members of the Oglala Sioux tribe --- Bishop Robertson wrote: “I've decided that some things need to change, particularly concerning the number of churches on the Pine Ridge Episcopal Mission, and that some need to be closed, some moved to mission status, and some to remain open as active worship centres.” the rest