The Diocese of South Dakota will be involved in funding and ministry options for its share of an innovative ecumenical arrangement with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Eastern South Dakota.

Meeting in Brookings Sept. 28-29, convention delegates approved a memorial to diocesan council calling for proposals on how to make better use of a church building tentatively named Blessed Kateri/St. Michael's.

The new building replaced the Pierre Indian Learning Center which was owned by the diocese and was in need of extensive renovation. The two dioceses shared the $100,000 construction cost of the new building. A United Thank Offering grant covered the majority of the Episcopal share of the construction cost.

Under the two-year-old partnership, the two churches share space which can be used for worship and a learning center. The Roman Catholic diocese has installed a priest and begun conducting services designed to meet the needs of local Native Americans. The Rt. Rev. Creighton L. Robertson, Bishop of South Dakota, said the Episcopal diocese is eager to obtain a priest of its own for similar purposes.