Good evening Relatives in Christ,
As we gather here on this sacred Oklahoma soil, I am deeply moved by the profound spiritual resonance of this moment. This land, once known as Indian Territory, now serves as home to 39 federally recognized tribes whose wisdom, resilience, and steadfast faith continue to transform both our church and our understanding of what it means to be disciples of Christ, walking this sacred path where ancient wisdom and living faith meet.
We stand today in the shadow of Saint David Pendleton Oakerhater, the first Indigenous saint in The Episcopal Church. His journey from Cheyenne warrior to Episcopal deacon embodies the transformative power of God’s love and the possibility of genuine reconciliation. Oakerhater’s legacy reminds us that the path to healing requires both spiritual courage and practical commitment – a sacred truth carried forward by generations of Indigenous leaders in our church.
This legacy of prophetic witness and transformative leadership continues to shape us. Two years ago in Green Bay, I stood alongside former Presiding Bishop Curry in a historic moment – the first time both a Presiding Bishop and President of the House of Deputies attended Winter Talk together. That gathering deepened my spiritual understanding in profound ways. I listened to you all as Indigenous leaders, speaking truth about both historical pain and future hope; hearing your voices reinforcing what my heart had long understood – that this work transcends institutional reform, policy, and statements. It is about restoration – restoration of relationship, of dignity, and of our shared connection to Creator God.
The progress we’ve witnessed since then fills me with both gratitude and renewed purpose.
The elevation of Navajoland to a missionary diocese, a moment met with standing ovation last summer at our 81st General Convention, marked not just a structural change but a spiritual awakening to the possibilities of authentic partnership. When Deputy GJ Gordy spoke of Navajoland’s readiness to participate in the vision of The Episcopal Church as equals while holding onto Navajo cultural traditions, I heard an echo of our deepest baptismal promises – to seek and serve Christ in all persons and respect the dignity of every human being.
At General Convention we also adopted the Prayer for the Innocents to be used as a liturgical resource across the church. This adotion represents another step in our journey of truth-telling and repentance. This prayer, born from the heart of Woniya Wakan Church in Wagner, South Dakota, helps us hold space for both lament and hope as we confront our Church’s role in the boarding school system.
Again, we know that transformation requires more than prayers and policy and resolutions. It demands concrete action and unwavering commitment. The story of Leon Sampson speaks to the heart of our faith – where Word becomes flesh, where prayer leads to action, where justice takes tangible form. Through our advocacy for equitable health coverage, Leon received the kidney transplant that saved his life. Now, as he serves on the Church Pension Fund Board, his presence embodies the deep truth that
our governance decisions are not merely institutional – they are sacramental acts that either heal or harm, that either build up or break down the Body of Christ, recognizing that when one member suffers or rejoices, all are affected. Each policy we shape, each structure we reform, carries within it the sacred possibility of transformation.
As we face times of political transition and challenge ahead, particularly regarding federal policies affecting Indigenous communities, our call to prophetic witness grows ever more urgent. Whether advocating for tribal sovereignty here at home or standing in solidarity with those facing cultural erasure abroad, we must remain grounded in our baptismal covenant and our commitment to justice.
I stand before you today not just as President of the House of Deputies, but as a companion on this sacred path toward wholeness. Each story we share, each relationship we nurture, each transformation we witness is been a sacred teaching, deepening our understanding of what it means to lead in a Church truly committed to what you, our Indigenous siblings, already know – that coming to center means embracing wholeness, pursuing healing, and living into right relationship with all of Creation.
As we continue these days of dialogue and discernment, may we open our hearts to the wisdom present in this gathering. May we honor the ancestors whose prayers echo in this land, and may we work together to build a Church where Indigenous voices are not merely included, but guide our common future.
The very ground beneath us holds stories of resistance and renewal, pain and possibility. Like the prairie grass that bends but does not break, our Indigenous siblings demonstrate what it means to be both resilient and grace-filled. In the words of Saint David Pendleton Oakerhater, let us “be brave and strong of heart.” The path ahead requires courage, but we do not walk it alone. Creator God goes before us, Christ walks beside us, and the Holy Spirit moves among us, weaving us together in beloved community.
Let us pray.
Creator God
We gather before you, mindful of the sacred ground on which we stand, Grateful for the wisdom carried through generations of Indigenous peoples, Who teach us the ancient rhythms of wholeness to which you call us.
As we center ourselves in your presence, Like strands of sweetgrass braided in prayer, May your Spirit move among us, weaving together our stories, Binding up the wounds of yesterday, And guiding us toward tomorrow’s healing.
You are the Great Healer, the One who makes all things new, Calling us to restore what is broken: In our relationships with one another, In our connection to creation, In our journey back to you. Teach us to walk humbly, to love deeply, to act justly.
May this gathering be a sacred circle: Where silenced voices find their song, Where ancient pain meets present comfort, Where your dream of right relationship takes root and flowers anew.
Inspire us to honor the sacred ways of Indigenous peoples, To move in step with creation’s holy dance, To join hands in building a world where dignity flourishes And respect flows like living water.
Creator God… [pause] Draw us to the center, to your heart of love, That we might leave this place As vessels of your wholeness, As bearers of your peace, As agents of your reconciliation.
Through Jesus Christ, who calls us into beloved community, We pray.
Amen.
