Celebrating Native American Heritage Month: David Pendleton Oakerhater, first Native American Episcopal saint

David Pendleton Oakerhater, born in 1847 in Indian territory (Oklahoma), was the first Native American (Cheyenne) to be designated as a saint by the Episcopal Church. He participated in the Native Americans fighting against the European invaders.  He was taken prisoner after the Red River War in 1874-1875. 

He was sent to Fort Marion, near St. Augustine, Florida.  While there he began creating art, along with other Native American prisoners, becoming a prolific artist. He was given the name "Making Medicine" when he was arrested.

In 1877, Mary Douglass Burnham, an Episcopal deaconess, arranged for their release, and Oakerhater was sent to St. Paul's Church in New York.  Reverend J. B. Wicks provided Oakerhater's religious teachings, where he took  the Christian name David and he was baptized in 1878.  He became a deacon in 1881. 

He went to Indian Territory and Dakota Territory.  He encouraged the Cheyenne population near El Reno, Oklahoma to attend Episcopal services. He traveled to Anadarko, visiting and caring for ailing people of different tribes. 

In 1887, he built the Whirlwind Mission in Fay, near Watonga, Oklahoma. He remained there until he retired in 1918.  He moved to Clinton, Oklahoma and then back to Watonga, where he passed away in 1931. 

In 1985, the Episocpal Church designated Oakerhater as a saint, based on his work as a missionary and his ministries.

Celebrating Black History Month - Absalom Jones, first African-American ordained Episcopal priest

Absalom Jones, born November 7, 1746, was the first African-American to be ordained as an Episcopal priest in the U.S.  Jones became a lay minister in an interracial church St. George's Methodist in Philadelphia and became one of the first African-Americans to preach in the Methodist Church.

In 1792, Absalom and other black members were told they could not join the rest  of the congregation and had to sit in the back and then on the balcony.  They all walked out.

Jones established a black congregation independent of  white control and still remain part of the Episcopal Church.  He successfully petitioned to open African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas, the first black church in Philadelphia, July 17, 1794.  He was ordained as a priest  in 1804, the first African-American priest in the Episcopal Church.

He passed away February 13, 1818 and is listed on the Epsicopal calendar of Saints on the date  of his death.

Malcolm Boyd (pastor/gay activist) born 1923

Malcolm Boyd was an Episcopal priest and a gay activist, born June 8, 1923.  He authored the book Are You Running With Me, Jesus?, which I read during the time I was struggling with coming out.  He was also a minister in the American Civil Rights Movement in the 1960's, supporting integration and voting rights.  He came out in 1977, becoming one of the first prominent American clergymen to announce his homosexuality.

He passed away at 91, February 27, 2015 of complications from pneumonia.

Celebrating Black History Month: Michael Curry, first African-American bishop of Episcopal Church

In 2015, Michael Bruce Curry was elected Bishop of the entire Episcopal Church in the U.S.  He is the first  black man to hold this position.  Previously, he had been the Bishop of the Diocese of North Carolina.  In October 2016, he traveled to Rome to meet the Holy Papa, Pope Francis.