Indigenous Ministry Engagement
As followers of Jesus, we are continually called to the work of repentance and seeking forgiveness as the path towards reconciliation. The Episcopal Diocese of Missouri, like much of the Episcopal Church, was built on the ancestral lands of Indigenous/First Nations people. As a step toward seeking acknowledgement and repentance, the Missioner for Indigenous Ministry Engagement is to assist the Diocese as we seek to intentionally remember, recognize, and reconcile the harmful past while forging new relationships in connection with our Indigenous siblings.
The Rev. Leslie Scoopmire is our missioner for Indigenous Ministry Engagement.
Responsibilities of the Missioner for Indigenous Ministry Engagement
The Missioner’s responsibilities shall include:
- Provide tools and resources for communities of faith to collect the stories of the land upon which our buildings reside.
- Provide resources to communities of faith to enable ongoing acknowledgement of the land upon which our buildings reside.
- Build bridges that connect the Diocese to the Indigenous people/tribes, primarily around ancestral lands.
- Develop liturgical resources to be used by communities of faith that comprise the Diocese.
- Seek ways to invite and incorporate Indigenous practices into the life of the Diocese, paying close attention to the temptation of cultural appropriation.
- Offer resources to communities of faith within the Diocese around Indigenous engagement.
- Establish a Council of Advice to share in the work of ministry.
- Preach and teach in communities of faith that make up the Diocese.
- Submit an annual report to the Diocesan Convention.
- Offer presentations to Diocesan Council which highlight the ongoing work of racial reconciliation within the Diocese.
Indigenous Ministry News
Invitation to register for the Winter Talk 2023 Livestream
As The Episcopal Church reckons more deeply with its past involvement in Indigenous boarding schools, the Office of Indigenous Ministries invites all Episcopalians to register to watch Winter Talk 2023, an annual conference that highlights Indigenous and Native American traditions and contributions within the church.
Celebrating Native American Heritage Month 2022
Join us as we celebrate Native American Heritage Month throughout the month of November with a series of short stories to help us understand and appreciate the role Indigenous Americans and their culture have played and continue to play in our lives.
Land Acknowledgement
The following statement was crafted by the Rev. Leslie Scoopmire, Missioner for Indigenous Ministry Engagement, and the Rt. Rev. Deon Johnson, Bishop of the Diocese of Missouri. The Standing Committee approved the updated acknowledgement on September 22,, 2022.
Rector, St. Martin's Episcopal Church, Ellisville, and Diocesan Missioner for Indigenous Ministry
