Safeguarding Sacred Spaces: Church Insurance Companies in Action

Across the vast expanse of the South Dakota plains, small Indigenous Episcopal churches stand as testaments to communities that have endured for generations. Some of these churches are more than a century old. Their beauty remains, but so do the challenges: aging structures, fierce weather, and the work of caring for sacred spaces in remote places.

Recognizing both the resilience and the need, the Diocese of South Dakota took action.

Due to an unexpected change in the budget, the diocese found itself with a surplus. This gave diocesan leaders the opportunity to invest in the legacy of these churches. Guided by the Rt. Rev. Jonathan Folts, DMin, the diocese created a grant program in 2024 focused on what he calls “the sustainability and vitality of our congregations.” Through this initiative, congregations can apply for funds to strengthen their buildings and improve safety while preserving their historic and spiritual character. So far, the program has supported three handicap-accessible ramps, a roof replacement, and a new sidewalk.

In recent months, Ken Jacobson, Vice President of Client Services for the Church Insurance Agency Corporation, has traveled across South Dakota with Maggie Riley, the diocese’s Canon for Finance and Property. Together, they’ve visited roughly 30 congregations to conduct loss assessments and offer risk-management education. “Ken has taught us how insurance works,” Riley says. “He helped us see what needs to be fixed first, what’s possible, and how to keep our folks safe—and he’s done it all with utmost kindness. Church Insurance is not a dot com; it’s a dot org.”

At Holy Comforter Episcopal Church in Lower Brule, a new stretch of concrete leads to the front doors—a simple sidewalk that means everything. When a utility crew was working outside, they accidentally tore up the sidewalk and broke a pipe, flooding part of the Mission Church.

Volunteers stepped in with borrowed equipment to clean up the water, but repairs to the sidewalk had to wait until a grant from the diocese came through.

“The new sidewalk has made such a difference,” says the church’s treasurer, Sheryl Scott. “People safely come in with wheelchairs and walkers; they used to go over rocks to get inside.”

Next, the mission church hopes to insulate its hall, which is used for funerals, birthdays, and community events. “We paid about $600 a month for electricity last winter,” Scott says. “And that was a mild winter. This one’s supposed to be worse.”

“Maintaining the buildings leads to maintaining the legacy,” Riley says. On the Great Plains, where winds reach 100 miles per hour and softball-sized hail can batter through walls, this collaboration is no small gift. Together, Church Insurance Company, the diocese, and these congregations are ensuring that these churches remain beacons of faith, resilience, and community for years to come.

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