Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori has named Sarah Eagle Heart as the new Program Officer for Native American/Indigenous Ministries.

“Sarah brings enormous energy and vision to this work and a capacity for building bridges among and between the diverse constituencies that make up our Indigenous membership in the Church,” said the Rev. Brian Grieves, director of the Church’s Advocacy Center.

Eagle Heart has been serving as a part time consultant to Native American Ministries since October, 2008. She presently serves as the administrator for Holy Cross Episcopal Church in Pensacola, Florida.

“As a Lakota and an Episcopalian, I try to lead by example,” Eagle Heart stated in her application letter. “Communication is essential. My hope is … (that) I can encourage reconciliation, spiritual formation, and inspire our people into leadership for the future of absolute equality among genders, cultures and countries.”

She holds an MBA in Global Management from the University of Phoenix, San Diego. Eagle Heart is enrolled as a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe in Pine Ridge, South Dakota, and was raised on the reservation.

Eagle Heart will be based in the Los Angeles regional office where she’ll have access to Indigenous communities in various locales, including Hawaii, Alaska, Navajoland, the Dakotas, Minnesota and Oklahoma. Additionally, she will work part of each summer on the Pine Ridge reservation.

Eagle Heart will begin her duties May 26.

The Episcopal Church, with 110 dioceses in 15 nations, is a member province of the Worldwide Anglican Communion.