The Presbytery of
Dakota came into existence in 1844 and has 21 active churches
in South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, and Minnesota. While
its members have declined to 914, the presbytery has hope that
its children will carry on the work of their ancestors. Although
it is small, the presbytery continues to share the Dakota Christian
culture in a variety of ways, and it has increased its efforts
to improve communications among its members. Dedicated individuals
throughout the presbytery have begun to publish a newsletter
and establish a presence on the Web. Rogene Stephens, clerk
of session at First Presbyterian Church in Flandreau, South
Dakota, coordinates articles for the newsletter, whose production
costs are covered by donations.
In 2007, the Rev. Bonnie Sue Lewis and several students from
the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary and Lutheran
Theological Seminary at Gettysburg participated with First Presbyterian
in Flandreau and the Flandreau Indian School Chaplaincy Program
in a weekend immersion experience.
After more than twenty years without hosting a youth mission
group, in 2006 members of Lindsey Memorial Church of Poplar,
Montana, witnessed in word and song and demonstrated aspects
of the Dakota culture to their young visitors while the youth
assisted with church programs, renovation, and maintenance.
Children and young adults in Dakota churches are carrying
on the tradition of singing Dakota hymns, and requests for Dakota
hymnals have been made to the presbytery. The Rev. Maeng Ho
Ahn, a member of the Presbytery of Dakota, and donations from
a Korean congregation, Sarang Community Church in Anaheim, California,
have led the effort. Through the work of the Dakota Hymnal Committee,
the hymnals, which will be used mostly by other denominations
within the Dakota Presbytery region, should be available in
the near future.
At www.dakotapresbytery.org, site visitors will find current
events and news and photographs of each church in the presbytery.
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