The Most Reverend Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, came to North Dakota earlier this week to attend the 140th Niobrara Convocation, a gathering of Native American congregations from what was at the time the Niobrara Missionary District. Bishop Katharine graciously took time to meet with the clergy of the western part of the Diocese of North Dakota last Wednesday. We were able to share with her about the challenges of long term recovery after Minot’s flood last summer, compounded by the explosive growth and rapid social change that the Williston region is experiencing as a result of the Bakken Oil Boom. She took our stories and wove some of them into her homily at that evening’s Choral Evensong at St. George’s, Bismarck.
A couple of months ago, North Dakota’s oil production surpassed that of Alaska, making our state second only to Texas in US oil production. This has put enormous strains on housing, infrastructure, and social services in the western half of our state; and has certainly made the need for Minot to rebuild and recover housing after the flood more urgent.
The Rev. Marianne Ell and I were honored to be able to welcome Bishop Katharine in a short address during Evensong that evening, summarizing our respective situations for her and for the congregation.
I presented her with one of our All Saints’ rebuild t-shirts, and brochures about volunteering in Minot and HOPE Village.
It was an exciting evening, and a great opportunity to give our story some “legs.”
All Saints, Minot: Rebuilding after the Flood 