A new bishop for the Episcopal Diocese of North Dakota will be installed in Bismarck on Saturday.

The Rev. Canon Michael Smith was elected in February as the 11th bishop to lead the state's Episcopal congregations.

Originally from Oklahoma, and an enrolled member of the Potawatomi tribe, Smith served churches there. For the past 10 years, he has been working on the White Earth Reservation in Minnesota.

Whenever an Episcopal diocese looks for a bishop, a profile is taken of the needs of that diocese and what kind of person is right, Smith said.

North Dakota's profile identified its needs to include a person with a background in theological education, especially in small churches and in training ministry teams, he said. Also identified was a need for multicultural experience because of the diocese's Indian congregations and Sudanese ministry.

They were looking for someone with experience in small and rural congregations who could hold the diocese together, he said.

Visiting here, Smith said he found the congregations to be lively places, "small churches filled with committed people who want to live their Christian faith," he said.

Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church USA Frank Griswold will come to Bismarck to preside at Smith's consecration at 11 a.m. Saturday at Trinity Lutheran Church, which will be followed by a reception at the Bismarck Civic Center. The public is invited to both events.

Co-consecrators will be the Rt. Rev. Andy Fairfield and the Rt. Rev. Harold Hopkins, both former bishops of North Dakota. The Rev. Duane Danielson, bishop of the western North Dakota synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, will share in the service. Preaching will be the Rt. Rev. James Jelinek, bishop of Minnesota.

Griswold plans to hold a pastoral visit with the state's Episcopal clergy on Friday.

"He comes to get acquainted with North Dakota and the issues the church faces," Smith said, "and to share his perspective as the leader of a member of a global communion."

Smith's wife, Lisa White-Smith, also is an Episcopal priest. The couple has three children and one grandson.

Smith will be officially seated at Gethsemane Cathedral in Fargo on May 16.

(Reach Karen Herzog at 250-8267 or krherzog@ndonline.com.)