The Rt. Rev. Michael G. Smith
BpNoDak@aol.com
The Rt. Rev. Michael G. Smith was elected the eleventh bishop of North Dakota in 2004. An enrolled member of the Potawatomi Nation of Oklahoma,he served churches in Oklahoma and Minnesota before coming to North Dakota. He is the Chair of the Executive Council’s Committee on Indigenous Ministries (ECCIM) and a member of the Planning Committee for the House of Bishops. From 2007-2009 he served as an assisting bishop in the Diocese of Louisiana.
Smith and his wife,the Rev. Lisa White Smith,are the parents of three grown children and the grandparents of four grandsons. He holds degrees in psychology,music,social work and theology from Oklahoma State University,Marymount College of Kansas,the University of Oklahoma and Seabury-Western Theological Seminary. Currently the bishop is pursuing a doctoral degree in preaching through Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis.
Bishop Michael places a high priority on the baptismal ministries of all the people of God,evangelism,youth ministry,the diaconate,Benedictine spirituality,preaching and theological education. His desire is that each of the congregations of the Diocese of North Dakota becomes a “community of disciples who make other disciples.”As a Communion Partner bishop,he works and advocates for the adoption of the Anglican Communion Covenant as a vehicle to keep as many people as possible in both The Episcopal Church and the worldwide Anglican Communion.