Our Diocesan Bishop
The Rt. Rev. Dr. jonathan h. folts
On November 2, 2019, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Jonathan H. Folts was consecrated by the Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, as Bishop of the Diocese of South Dakota.
Bishop Folts was raised in a clergy family in the dioceses of West Texas and Northwest Texas, and the Episcopal Church is a strong part of his family. His wife, Kim, is an ordained Episcopal priest; his father, the Rt. Rev. James E. Folts, is a retired bishop from the Diocese of West Texas; his brother-in-law, the Rev. Canon Jason E. Leo, serves in the Diocese of Southern Ohio; and his in-laws are Episcopalians in the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania. Our Bishop and his wife have three children in college in South Dakota, Ohio, and New Hampshire.
Bishop Folts graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of North Texas in 1991, received his Master of Divinity degree from Virginia Theological Seminary in 1996, and received his Doctorate of Ministry degree from that same institution in 2013. Before his consecration, Bishop Folts served as a priest at Holy Spirit Episcopal Church in Dripping Springs, Texas (1996-97); St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church in Buda, Texas (1996- 99); St. Francis Episcopal Church in Victoria, Texas (1999-04); and St. John’s Episcopal Church in Essex, Connecticut (2004-19).
Bishop Folts continually sets the focus of our Diocese upon what God is up to in our particular communities and on what God was inviting us to do in response. Continuing our Diocese’s deep missionary heritage, we are working together to further our relationships, strengthen our communications, form people of all ages in the Christian faith and life, be transformational agents in the lives of all, and advocate to the world what God is doing in our part of the kingdom.
We invite you to follow the travels of Bishop Folts by clicking the “Missionary Miles” link below. These posts will provide you with some information about the different congregations of our Diocese, and the wonderful people who are faithfully worshiping and serving Jesus. We invite you to come and visit us in person soon!
missionary miles
THE TRAVELS OF OUR BISHOP ACROSS THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF SOUTH DAKOTA…AND BEYOND…
