Covenant Partnership of
St. Andrew’s & St. Matthew’s, Rapid City,
Calls The Rev. Erin Rath as Rector.
St. Andrew’s and St. Matthew’s Episcopal Churches in Rapid City have called The Rev. Erin Rath as the new rector of their Covenant Partnership.
Mother Erin, who was raised to the priesthood by Calvary Cathedral in Sioux Falls, returns to South Dakota from her current call as Rector of St. Francis Episcopal Church in Scottsbluff, NE. She previously served as an assistant at Holy Cross Episcopal Church in Simpsonville, S.C.
“We are really happy to have Mother Erin returning to the diocesan family, and she will be a wonderful asset to St. Matthew’s and to St. Andrew’s,” says The Rt. Rev. Dr. Jonathan H. Folts, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of South Dakota.”It’s been a long search process, as both those congregations will tell you. At the same time, the message has always been that the Holy Spirit is in the process of forming and calling their next priest. And now we know who the Holy Spirit had in mind! We look forward to having her with us and are grateful that she said ‘Yes’ to the Spirit’s call.”
A 2017 graduate of Virginia Theological Seminary, Mother Erin brings strong skills in pastoral care, and a deep understanding of what it means to serve in a Covenant Partnership.
“I'm incredibly excited to begin serving St. Matthew's and St. Andrew's in a covenant partnership,” she said. “Such partnerships offer space for the formation and growth of connections which give both congregations more vitality than either could have alone.”
The Covenant Partnership of Rapid City will be the second such program in the diocese, joining the Covenant Partnership of Christ Church, Lead, and St. Thomas, Sturgis, under the leadership of The Rev. Robin Pierre.
“A covenant partnership is more than simply sharing a priest,” Mother Erin said. "It's a long-term relationship which presents a series of opportunities to learn from one another, join in service to each other and the community beyond the church walls, support each other in prayer and, through it all, grow into deeper relationship not only with other people but with the God who created us, treasures us, and wants us to be in a deeper relationship with each other and with Him.
“Each congregation,” she said, “brings unique gifts to this relationship. St. Matthew's brings the wisdom and richness of Lakota culture to the partnership; St. Andrew's brings a deep concern for racial reconciliation. Each congregation is unique liturgically but shares genuine care and compassion for the wider community. I look forward to learning about — and learning with — both communities, and growing together into a deeper, richer faith.”
Debbie Renner, Senior Warden of St. Andrew’s, said that “our congregation has grown stronger and more connected during these past two years. Welcoming Rev. Erin feels like the next step in God’s good work among us. We’re delighted she’s coming to share her gifts with us. … We couldn’t be happier to welcome her. Her pastoral heart is exactly what we’ve been praying for — and any priest who loves cats already has a special place in our hearts.”
Mother Erin’s two cats — Remus Reginald the Bold and Cider Sebastian — have special callings in their household, including “human trainer.”
Carol Marshall, Senior Warden at St. Matthew’s, welcomed Mother Erin with blessings and added, “On behalf of St Matthew’s Church family, I would like to welcome you with open arms. (We are) grateful you have chosen (us) and will walk with you on this new journey as you share your calling.”
Mother Erin is a 2010 graduate of Augustana College, with a BA in American Sign Language and Deaf Cultural Studies, and a 2003 graduate of the University of Minnesota, Morris, with a BA in Psychology and Human Services. She also has extensive studies in Spanish.
She begins her new ministry on July 1.