Bdecan Presbyterian Church

Pronounced “bah-DAY Chan” Bdecan Presbyterian Church is the only native American church in North Dakota. Its name means “Wood Lake” in the native Dakota language. Founded as a mission church in 1879, it is a member of the Dakota Presbytery and is located on the Spirit Lake Reservation in north-central North Dakota.

Bdecan Presbyterian Church offers weekly worship services accompanied by potluck meals as well as well as vacation Bible school for children and modest scholarships for college-bound teens when resources are available. Elders expert in tribal history enrich Bdecan’s teachings.

The church also provides for the physical needs of many dozens of families on the reservation, where the poverty rate for children 0 to 18 is twice the national average. Examples include backpack and winter wear giveaways as well as Bdecan’s food pantry on the third Saturday of each month. With food and fuel prices on the rise, Bdecan is struggling to keep up with demand – the pantry is open for three hours but the food often runs out in just 90 minutes.

In 2023, TPPC’s social witness and action committee voted to donate $1575 to Bdecan’s food pantry in 2024. Other possible collaborations, including scholarship support and exchange visits, are under consideration.