Diocesan Convention builds for the future

 With a theme of “From Generation to Generation,” Central Florida’s 40th Annual Convention renewed the Diocese’s commitment to grow churches, take short-term mission trips, develop contemporary worship and “infuse” the diocese with the theological vision promoted by Bishop John W. Howe and adopted as a rallying point by diocesan leaders.

 

Bishop Howe’s Convention Address stressed that, although the world is facing a harsh economic situation, many of the diocese’s congregations are building for the future, with millions of dollars’ worth of building expansions and strong outreach programs. (Hear or read the complete text of the address on the diocese's convention pages.)

 

The Convention met Jan. 24 at Trinity Preparatory School, Winter Park.

 

Holy Eucharist started the day at 9:15 a.m., with Bishop Howe as Celebrant and the Rt. Rev. Edward L. Salmon Jr. as preacher (Hear a recording of his sermon linked from the diocese's convention pages).

 

The offering went to the Diocese of Honduras, Central Florida’s companion in mission for more than three decades.

 

Volunteers from the school’s staff and student body helped the Convention run smoothly. Canon Ben Lane, the Convention’s musical director, described the school’s chorus and instrumentalists who graced the convention as “valiant champions,” who performed magnificently in spite of some key musicians being absent for SAT’s.

 

Jonathan May, founder of the highly successful string program at Trinity Prep., led the musicians and his wife, Maureen, performed a stirring vocal solo.

 

Dennis Herron, Upper School principal, welcomed the Convention to Trinity Prep., after which the following organizational announcements and appointments were made:

 

* Marilyn Lang as Secretary to Convention;

* Council Wooten as Chancellor and Parliamentarian;

* William A. Grimm as Vice-Chancellor;

* The Rev. James Sorvillo, Chair of Dispatch of Business.

 

Of 252 clergy eligible to attend, 155 were registered as of the start of business, satisfying the requirement of 85 for a quorum. Of 250 eligible lay delegates, 238 were registered, surpassing the 87 required for a quorum.

 

Honduran Bishop Lloyd Allen addressed Convention before Bishop Howe’s address.

 

“I bring you greetings from the Diocese of Honduras, otherwise known as God’s Country,” Bishop Allen said. He told of his diocese’s progress since he was consecrated bishop in 2001, from 87 missions to 153 congregations, including 7 full parishes.

 

Bishop Allen had special praise for Bishop Hugo Pina-Lopez, assisting in Central Florida, who was the first Bishop of Honduras. Bishop Pina-Lopez visited Honduras in 2005, when he helped ordain 20 deacons in two days. Bishop Allen also thanked Deacon Kathleen Pennybacker, Central Florida’s Canon to Honduras, for her work in building parish-to-parish relationships between the two dioceses.

 

And he thanked Central Florida for helping expand El Hogar, the Diocese of Honduras’ home for boys, which has established a home for girls as well.

 

“We could only do it with a little help from our friends,” Bishop Allen said.

 

Introduction of new clergy and seminarians

 

Canon Bennett introduced clergy who are new to or who have moved to new responsibilities since last Convention:

 

Rick Lobs, Interim Rector, Trinity, Vero Beach

Jonathan French, Rector, Grace, Ocala

Robbie Robison, Interim Rector, Good Shepherd, Maitland

Richard Bordin, Rector, Holy Cross, Winter Haven

Bob Maurais, Priest-in-Charge, St. Edward’s, Mt. Dora

Bob Lieffort, Priest-in-Charge, St. David’s by-the-Sea, Cocoa Beach

Rick Burhans, Rector, Grace, Port Orange

Mary Rosendahl, Rector, Nativity, Port St. Lucie

Deborah Vann, Rector, Hope, Melbourne

Marnie Silk-Wright, Priest-in-Charge, Advent, Dunnellon

Molly Bosscher Davis, Assistant/Chaplain, Resurrection/Sweetwater Academy, Longwood

Stephen Rhoades, Assistant, All Saints, Winter Park

Deborah Venezia, Vicar, St. Joseph’s, Orlando

David Peoples Rector, St. Ambrose, Ft. Lauderdale

Donna Lobs, Deacon, Trinity, Vero Beach

Lew Gwyn, Deacon, Trinity, Vero Beach

Michael Hall, Deacon, Shepherd of the Hills, Lecanto

Linda Liebert-Hall, Deacon, Shepherd of the Hills, Lecanto

 

Seminarians in Attendance:

 

Ed Bartle, Nashotah

Rachael Gregory, University of the South

James Livingston, Virginia Theological Seminary

Rebecca Toalster, Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry

Joy Willard-Williford, University of the South

 

Transitional Deacons Ordained since last Convention:

 

Mathew Fenlon, Assistant, St. Luke’s, Gladstone, N.J.

Robin Morical

Christopher Brathwaite, Assistant, St. John’s, Kissimmee

 

Vocational Deacons Ordained since last Convention

 

Jacob Boyd Baker, St. Peter’s, Lake Mary

Linda Coulter, All Saints, Enterprise

Karen House, Corpus Christi, Okahumpka

Susan Rhodes, St. Agnes, Sebring

JoAnn Wilcoxson, Church of the Messiah, Winter Garden

 

 

Resolutions

 

The Convention passed resolutions that took the following actions:

 

* Amends the Diocesan Constitution to specify the diocese’s ties with the Anglican Communion and the See of Canterbury, as The Episcopal Church’s Constitution does;

* Calls upon the Diocese to develop a long-range strategic plan to infuse the Diocese with the theological vision and values implicit in Bishop Howe’s Pastoral Letter of April 2008 (see….. for text)

* Calls for the develop a plan for a Contemporary Worship Leadership School;

* Directs the Evangelism Commission to include in its work the support and guidance of parishes and missions in realizing the goal of making regular mission trips.

* Requests the Bishop to appoint a team that will, within six months, develop the content and outline of a Parish Renewal Weekend, with content developed by Bishop Howe, and calls upon every congregation of the Diocese to participate in this Parish Renewal Weekend within two years.

* Officially terminates the Diocese’s membership in the Anglican Communion Network (ACN), formerly known as the Network of Anglican Communion Parishes and Dioceses.

* Commends the work of the Communion Partners as an effort to ensure the continuing witness to the historic faith of the Church within The Episcopal Church, and to sustain and build connections between parishes and dioceses and the wider Anglican Communion.

* Affirms the Diocese’s continuing support for the development of the Anglican Communion Covenant and commends the work of the Covenant Draft Committee, and recommends the final draft include a clear provision for mutual accountability and a process for responding to crises and individual Provinces that threaten our unity in Christ and the integrity of our witness as a Communion.

* Affirms and encourages the leaders of both The Communion Partners and The Common Cause Partnership to recognize and seek a respectful, cooperative defense of our one shared historic, biblical, and creedal faith of the Anglican Tradition

* Affirms the Canons of The Episcopal Church and its historic requirement that Holy Baptism in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit shall be a pre-requisite for reception of the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist and proposes Canon I.17.7 of The Episcopal Church be added to our Diocesan Canons. Further action at a future Diocesan Convention would be required before the addition could be made to the Diocesan Canons.

* Memorializes to the 76th General Convention of The Episcopal Church three amendments to the proposed revisions of Title IV of the Canons of The Episcopal Church, having to do with disciplining clergy.

* Establishes the First Sunday of Lent as Episcopal Relief & Development Sunday.

 

Full text of the resolutions is on this site's convention page.

 

COMMISSIONING AND INSTALLATIONS

 

Bishop Howe commissioned the following people elected at Convention:

 

 DIOCESAN BOARD

 The Very Reverend Charles Holt, Dean – Central Deanery

 Mr. Don Kennon, President – Southwest Deanery

 Brother Raymond Scalabrini, President – Northwest Deanery

 The Very Reverend Timothy Shaw, Dean – Southwest Deanery

 Mr. Dennis Weir, President – Northeast Deanery

 Mr. Robert Yeaple, President – Central Deanery

 The Rev. George Conger, Member at large, Clerical Order

 Mr. Chuck Dunlap, Member at large, Lay Order

 Mrs. Sonya Shannon, Member at large, Lay Order

 

 STANDING COMMITTEE

 The Rev. Phyllis Bartle, 4-year term, Clerical order

 The Rev. Danielle Morris, 1-year term, Clerical Order

 Mrs. Patty Tew, 3-year term, Lay order

 

 

 ECCLESIASTICAL TRIAL COURT

 The Rev. David Newhart, 5-year term

 Mrs. Anneke Bertsch, 4-year term

 Mrs. Susan Shannon, 3-year term

 

 TRUSTEE UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTH

 Mr. Parker Bauer

 

MEMORIALS TO DECEASED MEMBERS OF THE CLERGY

 The Reverend Molly Bosscher Davis, Chair

 

 

WHEREAS: The Reverend Russell Wood Turner (Priest)

The Reverend Merrick Andrew Danforth (Priest)

The Reverend Perry William Collins, Junior (Priest)

The Reverend Marlowe Keith Iverson (Priest)

The Reverend Walter Sumner Ferguson (Priest)

The Reverend Guy Stephen Galfo (Deacon)

 

have given in their lifetimes consecrated and loyal service to Almighty God in the Diocese of Central Florida, and

 

 WHEREAS: they have entered into the larger life of service in His Heavenly kingdom,

 

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED:

that the Clerical and Lay Delegates of the Fortieth Annual Convention of the Diocese of Central Florida, meeting at Trinity Preparatory School, Winter Park, Florida on the 24th day of January, 2009 observe a minute of silent prayer in recognition of their consecrated and loyal service, and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

that for them there be a page set aside in the Journal of the Convention noting the appropriate facts of their lives, and the Secretary be instructed to send to their families a copy of said journal.