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Outreach & Mission

As Episcopalians, we believe that heeding Christ's call to discipleship requires that we strive to love our world as God does. We are called into a life of mission to our neighbors, whether they be right next door, in another part of our state or country, or on the other side of the world. Certainly, we are called because, through God's Grace and the power of the Holy Spirit, we witness to our experiences of the life-giving power of Christ's resurrection. But we also enter the world in mission and service as followers of Christ in the truest sense – more often than not, we do not serve in order to take Christ into the world, but rather to find humility as we discover that Christ has gone ahead of us and is already present in the actions, thoughts, lives, and stories of our neighbors.

In other words, we love, because He first loved us.

Below are a number of the ministries that the Episcopal Church in South Dakota, as a Diocese, supports. Beyond this list, individual congregations and missions also support a wide variety of local, national, and international ministries. If you are interested in the work of a particular congregation or mission in the Diocese of South Dakota contact Canon Rev. Dr. Lauren R. Stanley at lauren@episcopalchurchsd.org

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Episcopal Relief and Development

Living our faith for a better world

Working in partnership with the worldwide Church, ecumenical agencies and local organizations, Episcopal Relief & Development saves lives and strengthens communities around the world. Our programs work toward achieving the Millennium Development Goals, which aimed to cut extreme poverty in half by 2015 and continues to work toward this purpose.

ERD's programs focus on the following areas:

  • Alleviating Hunger and Improving Food Supply

  • Creating Economic Opportunities and Strengthening Communities

  • Promoting Health and Fighting Disease

  • Responding to Disasters and Rebuilding Communities

Email Us To Learn More

from The Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations.

Episcopalians and others interested in demonstrating their faith through civic engagement and advocacy are invited to subscribe to a new podcast—dubbed “Episco-pols”

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Designed to inform and inspire, “Episco-pols” will launch in mid-March and can be subscribed to via any podcast platform. In the pilot season, church advisors for international, domestic, and environmental policy will tackle frequently asked questions about church engagement with the government and offer action steps.
 
“It is my hope this new means of communication about our advocacy work will prove helpful to both seasoned experts and those who are simply curious about how to integrate government relations into their existing church ministries,” said the Rev. Charles K. Robertson, canon to the presiding bishop for Ministry Beyond The Episcopal Church.
 
Listeners can expect deep dives into current issues to better understand their intricacies; an exploration of dynamics in Congress, the White House, and federal agencies; and guest speakers from the government, partner organizations, and Episcopalians doing this work across the U.S.
 
The Office of Government Relations represents policy priorities of The Episcopal Church to the U.S. government and helps shape the discussion of political issues throughout the church. Through its grassroots engagement network, called the Episcopal Public Policy Network, the office also provides numerous resources to educate and equip Episcopalians in the work of federal-level advocacy.

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