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CENTRALFLORIDAEPISCOPALIAN NEWS FROM THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF CENTRAL FLORIDA • WWW.CFDIOCESE.ORG • Volume 120, No. 5 • Sept.-Oct. 2018

DENTRO: ¡El boletín de noticias español está de vuelta! Por favor, consulte las páginas 13-16 Daughters of the King Raising Money for Mothers, Children in Mali Palm Bay Churches Prepare for Harvest Festival Return of Diocese of Cuba, Commitment to Working Across Differences Highlight 79th General Convention Diocese of Central Florida to Ordain Eight to the Diaconate St. Mark’s CAN! Launches with 140th Celebration

SPECIAL REPORT

The 79th General Convention of The Episcopal Church Diocese of Central Florida delegation takes part in historic triennial

The Diocese of Central Florida The Right Reverend Gregory O. Brewer, Bishop Serving 15 counties through 83 churches and 30,000 members The Episcopal Church The Most Reverend Michael B. Curry, Presiding Bishop and Primate An international community of 2.5 million Christians in North and South America, Europe and Taiwan The Anglican Communion The Most Reverend Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury A global community of over 85 million Christians in over 165 countries around the world

Table of Contents Bishop Brewer’s Column: Keep Saying Yes to Jesus.................................................................3 Daughters of the King Raising Money for Mothers, Children in Mali..................................... 4-5 Palm Bay Churches Prepare for Harvest Festival.....................................................................6 Trinity House Is Blessing to Puerto Ricans, Central Florida.......................................................7 Camp Wingmann Summer Sessions a Red-Hot Success..........................................................8 General Convention Inside Cover............................................................................................9 Return of Diocese of Cuba, Commitment to Working Across Differences Highlight 79th General Convention................................................................................................10-11 Central Florida Deputation Makes Impact at General Convention.................................... 12, 17 Spanish Newsletter....................................................................................................... 13-16 Readmittance of Diocese of Cuba into Episcopal Church Draws Cheers.................................18 Diocese of Central Florida to Ordain Eight to the Diaconate............................................. 19-23 Orlando’s Gillett Heeds Call to Minister in the Panhandle......................................................23 Diocese Celebrates New Ministry of Rev. MacMillan.............................................................24

Central Florida Episcopalian

Ministering to Youth Leads Jones to Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy.......................................25

The Rt. Rev. Gregory O. Brewer, Bishop

St. Mark’s CAN! Launches with 140th Anniversary Celebration..............................................26

The Rt. Rev. John W. Howe Retired The Rt. Rev. Hugo Pina-Lopez Retired The Rt. Rev. John Said Retired The Rt. Rev. William H. Folwell Retired

Bishop Brewer Visitation Schedule, Diocesan Calendar of Events..........................................27

“He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.”

The Rev. Canon Timothy Nunez Canon to the Ordinary The Rev. Canon Dr. Justin Holcomb Canon for Vocations The Ven. Kristi Alday, Archdeacon Mr. Earl Pickett, Diocesan Administrator Mr. Erick Perez, Subscription Manager

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—2 Corinthians 9:10, NRSV The Central Florida Episcopalian is published by the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida. Submissions are welcome, but are subject to editing and use at the discretion of the Central Florida Episcopalian. Please submit notices two months prior to event, and follow-up information as soon as possible to: The Central Florida Episcopalian 1017 E. Robinson St. Orlando, FL 32801-2023 Email: eperez@cfdiocese.org • www.cfdiocese.org Tel: (407) 423-3567 • Fax: (407) 872-0006 Or HigherLife Publishing & Marketing Editorial Director: Jeff Gardenour / editorial@ahigherlife.com Project Manager: Will Hadley / whadley@ahigherlife.com website address: www.ahigherlife.com

CENTRAL FLORIDA EPISCOPALIAN • Sept.-Oct. 2018

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BISHOP BREWER

Keep Saying Yes to Jesus By Bishop Gregory O. Brewer

As a bishop, I often get called on to give words of wisdom or counsel. The closest to one-size-fits-all advice I have is the following: “Keep saying yes to Jesus.” But this phrase is more than a good idea. It’s also the theme of our 2019 annual Diocesan Convention, Feb. 1-2, 2019.

A Kingdom-Worthy Event I have a question for you. What if you could come to a worship service featuring: • music that reflects our cultural diversity, • heartfelt testimonies from people of faith and, • enthusiastic, interesting, often funny preaching that brings people in and calls them to a deeper relationship with Jesus? Of course, I have an answer for you, too: Keep saying yes to Jesus. Say you’d love to attend, and bring a friend (or several) along. On Feb. 1, 2019, we’ll have just such a service at First Baptist Orlando. We’re celebrating the 50th anniversary of the formation of our diocese, and we want to make it a kingdom-worthy event. We’ve reserved this large venue so we’ll have plenty of room for you, your church and all the others who will keep saying yes to Jesus. We’ve asked the Most Reverend Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church and recent preacher at the royal wedding, to be our featured speaker for this worship service, which we’re calling a revival. This year and next, Bishop Curry will hold similar revivals all over the country with the purpose of sharing the good news of Jesus Christ

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month, we’ll have a series of deanery meetings across the diocese (check the schedule on page 27 of this issue) to cast a vision toward this revival and begin to train people for the many service opportunities that come with it.

and inviting people into the Jesus Movement. This July, I attended the revival at the Texas Diocesan Convention, where more than 8,000 people heard the Gospel. Bishop Greg Brewer But what exactly is a revival? The denominational website devoted to these services says a revival “combine[s] inspiring worship, compelling teaching, honest faith-sharing, intensified prayer and some form of engagement with the mission of God—all for the sake of the spiritual renewal and transformation of people and of society.” It’s an opportunity for people to keep saying yes to Jesus.

You see, there is a profound difference between a great church meeting and a true revival service. And it has to do with the impact on people and how those impacted people end up having an impact on their community.

A Life-Changing Encounter In other words, our underlying, over-arching hope is spiritual renewal: that everyone who attends will experience a genuine life-changing encounter with Jesus. And we also hope our local churches, to which these people will go back, will have what they need to say, “Let’s talk about how God might want to use you, given what’s happened, right here.” If life-change happens in individuals, and those individuals create and affect life-change in their communities, I believe we begin to approach true revival. And this only happens as people keep saying yes to Jesus. As you can imagine, lots of planning and preparation goes into an event like this. Beginning this

But our greatest opportunity, and our deepest need, is for intense, committed prayer. Throughout the history of the world’s great revivals, the single component that made them effective, regardless of where they fell in history, in what culture or nation, was concerted intercessory prayer. We’ll discuss— and participate in—this type of prayer at each deanery meeting.

A Vital Opportunity Yes, there are lots of logistics associated with an event like this, many tasks to accomplish and boxes to check. We need sound and lights, musicians and music, catering and more. But what makes a revival truly effective is concerted intercessory prayer. God uses those prayers in a way that changes people’s lives. At this stage and every stage, prayer is the most important single component both in preparing for our Diocesan Convention and for the genuine revival we are asking God to bring through it. What starts with one service does not have to end there. Please pray about attending the deanery meeting in your area. We’ll have much more information available here about how you can best intercede for the revival and perhaps join the team of intercessors who will play a huge and active role before, during and after the event. As we look toward our annual Diocesan Convention and the revival we believe God will bring, I have one final word of encouragement: Keep say-

ing yes to Jesus. Grace to you,

Bishop Gregory O. Brewer

CENTRAL FLORIDA EPISCOPALIAN • Sept.-Oct. 2018

DIOCESAN FAMILY

Daughters of the King Raising Money for Mothers, Children in Mali Central Florida chapter contributes for water, health services, solar power By Jeff Gardenour

ore than 200 women are expected to “Walk His Way” on Saturday, Sept. 15, when the annual Diocesan Assembly of the Central Florida Daughters of the King (DOK) is held at St. Barnabas Church in DeLand. Daughters from throughout the Diocese of Central Florida will converge on the East Volusia County church for a day of worship and fellowship, according to Krisita Jackson, former president of the Central Florida Daughters of the King (DOK). Bishop Greg Brewer will celebrate the Eucharist and preach at this year’s event, which has a “Walk His Way” theme.

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY KRISITA JACKSON

Guests mingle in the silent auction area at the 2018 Canterbury Dinner. New officers elected for the Daughters of the King Central Florida Chapter are left to right: Sharon Murbarger, president; Karen Clark, 1st vice president; Nancy Kelly, 2nd vice president; Sue McIlrath, treasurer; Barbara Bradley, secretary; and Terry Deer, corresponding secretary.

tember 2017 to the present date. The Mali Medical Mission Outreach Project consists of the work of Dr. Brett MacLean, and his wife, Sheri, a nurse practitioner, who live in the Bako region in Mali, West Africa. The MacLeans, along with their four children, supply medical care for mothers and children, and teach medical skills to Malians so they can lead healthier and more fruitful lives. The MacLeans

The annual DOK Assembly is open to the public, including prospective Daughters. Clergy and Junior Daughters are invited to attend at no charge. Husbands of Daughters often accompany them to meetings, Jackson said.

also help to raise funds for new water wells, health centers, and solar power for Mali, which is considered one of the poorest nations in the world. The country is sorely lacking funds for proper electricity, water, and health services, according to a DOK press release. “I am proud of the Daughters’ support of missions of and ministry to women!” Jackson said. “Daughters of the King have supported a variety of outreach projects for decades, including Little Roses in Honduras, Anchor House for Boys and Daughters in Malawi to buy sewing machines.

The annual meeting will include the election of three delegates to represent the diocese at the upcoming Province IV Assembly, the awarding of The Bishop’s Cross, an Outreach project election, a special keynote speaker, and more. Keynote speaker will be Helen Bhangwadin of the Province IV Junior Daughters Chair. Recently elected to serve a second team on the National Council, the Miami-Ascension Church member will speak about Junior Daughters, Jackson said. The highlight of the event will be the discussion of the DOK’s latest outreach project: the Mali Medical Mission Outreach Project, which ran from Sep-

CENTRAL FLORIDA EPISCOPALIAN • Sept.-Oct. 2018

Supplies await delivery to the Virgin Islands in the Daughters of the King’s hurricane relief effort. New Daughters of the King chaplain, Father Bill Smith, right, shares insight with Bishop Greg Brewer at a DOK meeting.

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PHOTOS PROVIDED BY KRISITA JACKSON

Bishop Greg Brewer, left, stands with Daughters of the King (DOK) outgoing president Barbara Spencer.

“This is one of four funds Daughters promise to support as a member of The Order,” Jackson said. “In 2017, CFL Daughters contributed over $3,500 to this fund. The CFL Daughters are leaders among the nationwide dioceses in fund support.” Jackson said CFL Daughters also support women in ministry, with $2,878.25 in 2017 contributions going to the Master’s Fund, which supports higher education in leadership development and service for Episcopal Church-related careers for women.

National president Krisita Jackson, right, helps load barrels containing hurricane relief supplies – baby supplies (diapers, wipes, formula, etc.) – for the Virgin Islands.

On the political side of things, the CFL Daughters will elect three delegates to represent the diocese at the Province IV Assembly to be held Oct. 8-12 at the Kanuga Conference Center in Hendersonville, North Carolina.

“In the 2015-2018 Triennium, in addition to Mali Medical Mission, the CFL Daughters have supported Canines for Independence, Medical Mission to Jamaica – an outreach project of St. James Episcopal Church in Leesburg – and Days for Girls,” Jackson said. “With this year’s project, the Daughters will have given sacrificially over $50,000 in support of these projects from 2015-2018.” Jackson said CFL Daughters have contributed to the Mali Medical Mission and so far have raised more than $11,000 for Days for Girls. “Our outreach chair, Margaret Y. Roberts of Ascension-Orlando, has worked tirelessly for three years for each of our annual outreach projects,” Jackson said. “Barbara Bradley of St.James-Ormond Beach, who is a personal friend of Dr. Brett McLean and his wife, Sheri, also visited many chapters promoting this project.” Additionally, the CFL Daughters annually support the national Self-Denial Fund, which has supported missionaries and mission trips worldwide since the late 1800s.

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Additionally, the following officers for the 20182021 Triennium will be installed: Sharon Murbarger, St. Mary’s, Daytona, president; Karen Adderly Clark, St. John the Baptist, Orlando, 1st vice president; Nancy Kelly, St. Augustine of Canterbury, Fort Pierce, second vice president; Terry Deer, St. Barnabas, DeLand, corresponding secretary; and Sue McIrath, Grace, Port Orange, treasurer. Another tradition continues with the presentation of The Bishop’s Cross. “This drawing was begun in 1937,” Jackson said. “Each chapter nominates a Daughter who is faithful in it and in carrying out the purpose of The Order, and whose life upholds the cross. A drawing will be held to determine who will wear the cross for a year.”

For more information, access the Daughters of the King website at: www.doknational.org on the internet. Daughters of the King outgoing president Barbara Spencer, right, presents a check for $11,000 to Sharleen Jespersen, SE Orlando Team, Days for Girls, as part of the DOK 2017-18 Diocesan Outreach Project.

CENTRAL FLORIDA EPISCOPALIAN • Sept.-Oct. 2018

DIOCESAN FAMILY

Palm Bay Churches Prepare for HARVEST FESTIVAL Church of Our Savior, Blessed Redeemer rejoice with homegrown fruit, food By Nina Keck

At the time of year when all the crops have been harvested, Caribbean people celebrate the Harvest Festival. This event is a thanksgiving celebration of the food grown on the land. The Harvest Festival is indeed a festive one with singing, praying, and decorating of churches with baskets of fruit and food. The celebration of the harvest season and the blessing of a bountiful crop usually take place in early October. Two parishes in Palm Bay also celebrate the harvest on Sundays in October.

For 55 years, Church of Our Savior in Palm Bay has celebrated The Harvest Festival. This year’s Harvest Festival will be Sunday, Oct. 7. Parishioners bring in their harvest of baked goods and homegrown produce that are placed on the altar and blessed. After the service, there is a feast, and the harvest is sold to other members of the parish.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE REV. BRIAN TURNER

“At least 200 people take part in this each year,” explains Sarah Owens, parish secretary at Church of Our Savior. “It is one of the highlights of the year!” The parish combines the Harvest Festival with The Festival of Flags since Church of Our Savior is a multi-ethnic church. “Twenty-nine different countries are represented in our congregation,” Owens said. “A parishioner from each nation represented carries that nation’s flag during the entrance procession. It’s an amazing sight.” Church of Our Savior is located at 1000 Jersey Lane Northeast, Palm Bay, FL 32905. For more information, call 321-723-8032. Church of the Blessed Redeemer also celebrates The Harvest Festival. The Mission of the Episcopal Church serves the Caribbean comPalm tree branches decorate Church of the Blessed Redeemer on Harvest Festival Sunday. PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE REV. BRIAN TURNER

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHURCH OF OUR SAVIOR

full month before America’s Thanksgiving holiday, the Caribbean people celebrate a special day of their own: the Harvest Festival.

Church of Our Savior decorated for the Harvest Festival.

CENTRAL FLORIDA EPISCOPALIAN • Sept.-Oct. 2018

Hungry parishioners at Church of the Blessed Redeemer buy offerings from the Harvest Festival. God’s bounty placed on the altar at Church of Our Savior.

munity of Palm Bay as 95 percent of the members are from Jamaica, Trinidad, the Cayman Islands, Barbados, and Haiti. Every year the church has a Harvest Festival, celebrating the Caribbean Thanksgiving. “Our members bring in various fruits and vegetables that are native to the Caribbean, from breadfruit, cherimoya, and ugli fruit to sugarcane,” said the Rev. Brian Turner, rector of Church of the Blessed Redeemer. “They also bring in all kinds of baked goods. We bless them and give thanks to God for the earth’s bounty.” Because of last year’s hurricane in September, the 2017 harvest wasn’t

as bountiful. “We are hopeful for the 2018 harvest!” Turner said. “We sell these items as our main outreach fundraiser of the year, with a portion of the funds raised going toward the Bishop’s Discretionary Fund.” The Harvest Festival is a much-anticipated event. “People in this parish look forward to it all year. They are so proud of what they grow, and they’re so eager to share it with the parish,” Turner said.

This year’s Harvest Festival will be Sunday, October 28. For more information, call the church at 321-725-6881.

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DIOCESAN FAMILY PHOTOS PROVIDED BY ERICK PEREZ/CFE

Trinity House Is Blessing to Puerto Ricans, Central Florida

initiative of Father José Rodríguez, we again requested the vestry of St. John to give the house to the Hispanic Diocesan Ministry, to make it a support center, principally to the Hispanic families, as well as the center for the Hispanic Commission of the Diocese,” de la Cruz said.

Converted parish house distributes more than 80,000 pounds of food

The Trinity House, itself, has benefited from its missionary support. On April 4, the St. John’s Hispanic Diocesan Ministry began the home repair process with the participation and collaboration of five missionaries from Emmanuel Episcopal Church of Hampton, Diocese of Virginia, de la Cruz said.

By Jeff Gardenour

semi-abandoned former rectory proved to be a blessing in disguise for the displaced people of Puerto Rico, as well as the Diocese of Central Florida. On Sunday, July 22, Bishop Greg Brewer blessed Casa Trinidad or the Trinity House at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Kissimmee after the seldom-used house was effectively turned into a food and supplies support center over the last year. Trinity House became a reality after Hurricane Maria, a category 5 storm, in September 2017 swept through the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico and caused more than $91 billion in damage, the third-costliest hurricane ever in the Atlantic Ocean. “It was all about the displaced people of Puerto Rico because of Hurricane Maria at the end of last year, and how to help a large number of families located in the hotels, both here in Kissimmee and in Orlando,” said Father Luis de la Cruz, who oversees the Hispanic Ministry at St. John’s Episcopal and the Trinity House. “The Episcopal Diocese of Florida Central, headed by our Bishop Gregory Brewer, managed with FEMA to obtain food, which would go to help mainly displaced Puerto Rican families.

Bishop Greg Brewer on July 22 addresses the crowd at the blessing of the Trinity House at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Kissimmee after the seldom-used house was effectively turned into a food and supplies support center over the last year

“Given the positive disposition of FEMA, the question was, where to place the food for distribution, hence the idea of using the semi-abandoned house at Saint John’s Episcopal Church here in Kissimmee for which the vestry gave approval,” de la Cruz said. Seeing the plight of many Puerto Ricans who were stuck without power, food and more in the months following the hurricane, St. John’s officials did a light cleaning of the house and officially opened it on Dec. 27, 2017 for stockpiling food and supplies. “Two vans arrived with 50,000 pounds of food, which we dismantled and placed the same day with the participation of around 22 volunteers, including our Bishop and his wife Laura Lee, who, in eight hours, achieved the goal, leaving the house completely full with around 6,000 boxes inside,” de la Cruz said. The following day, St. John’s began the distribution of food with a daily group of 14 volunteers, most of whom came from the Hispanic Ministry at St. John’s. Two months later, a third boxcar with 25,000 pounds of food arrived, followed by another boxcar of 8,000 pounds of food in March, de la Cruz said. On May 24, the St. John’s group finished with the distribution of 83,000 pounds of food which benefited 1,662 families and an additional 460 families with clothes and shoes that were donated, de la Cruz said.

Folks celebrate the blessing of the Trinity House in Kissimmee with Bishop Greg Brewer, center with robes.

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“This experience opened the way for the idea of making this house a center of community services. Under the

“The Episcopal Church Trinity of New York made a donation of about $15,000 for a new roof and in honor of that fraternal gesture, the house now bears the name of “CASE TRINIDAD / TRINITY HOUSE,” de la Cruz said. Many local volunteers, including a group from The Cathedral Church of St. Luke in Orlando, helped in the reconstruction process, as well. “We are still renovating and repairing, but that has not stopped us from having a lot of activities at Casa Trinidad,” de la Cruz said. “We have already started with a diabetes prevention course, group meetings and a food pantry twice a month, of which about 100 families are benefiting. We continue to support many people with both new and used clothing that we have received in donation.” The tremendous outpouring of support impressed Brewer, who has visited the Trinity House on three occasions since January, including for the blessing on July 22. “Every day, the Casa Trinidad is becoming a center of influence for many people. Our mission is to serve the most needy in an atmosphere of hospitality, marked by the joy and simplicity of all those who voluntarily are serving in it in the name of Christ, and of the Church,” de la Cruz said. “We receive all kinds of donations that may be useful for other people with few resources,” de la Cruz said. “We need donors that give us the economic support for the maintenance and payment of the utilities that we need.”

Currently run by 12 volunteers, Trinity House is open to the community from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. St. John’s Episcopal Church is located at 1709 N. John Young Parkway, Kissimmee, 34741-3218. For information, call 407-847-2009.

CENTRAL FLORIDA EPISCOPALIAN • Sept.-Oct. 2018

Camp Wingmann Summer Sessions a Red-Hot Success By Jeff Gardenour

If parent feedback was any indication, then this year’s summer camps at Camp Wingmann were a red-hot success.

ompliments poured into new summer camp director J.J. Joseph and his staff following the six weeklong sessions at the spacious retreat in Avon Park, located about 73 miles southwest of Orlando in north Highlands County. The facility, which is part of the Diocese of Central Florida, hosts many youth and adult events throughout the year, but is especially well-known for its summer camps. “This summer was incredible,” said Joseph, a former Camp Wingmann camper and counselor who was hired earlier this year as part of a management restructuring. “The kids had a great time and we’ve had parents call, e-mail, and write reviews on our social media raving on about how much fun their child had while at camp, how they grew spiritually, and made new friends which is exactly our goal.”

Camp St. Mary, elementary school, July 22-27. “Our high school and middle school camps were the most highly attended, but our elementary school sessions grew this year from previous summers,” Joseph said. Campers did a little bit of everything in camp. Youth learned how to grow spiritually and help one another, participated in a variety of games and activities, and made plenty of new friends along the way. For the first time in years, campers were able to go tubing on Trout Lake following the donation of a 17-foot Malibu ski boat to the retreat, according to Father Bill Yates, Camp Wingmann interim director. “The kids had a great time, and many said that tubing was their favorite activity of the week,” Joseph said. Helping those campers were a small group of rectors and spiritual leaders. Among the priests who assisted were the

Joseph, a 2005 Sebring High graduate who has experience with many churches throughout Florida, said a whopping 300 youth turned out for the six camps this year: Camp St. Mark, open to senior high school age campers entering grades nine through 12, June 10-15; Camp St. Barnabas, open to middle schoolers entering grades six through eight, June 17-22; Camp Trinity, open to elementary school age campers in grades three through five, June 24-29; Camp St. Peter, senior high school, July 8-13; Camp St. Francis, middle school, July 15-20; and

CENTRAL FLORIDA EPISCOPALIAN • Sept.-Oct. 2018

Rev. Brian “BG” Garrison, the Rev. Tom Seitz, Canon Tim Nunez, Father Chris Brathwaite, Father Jim Sorvillo, the Rev. Becky Toalster, the Rev. Phyllis Bartle, and the Rev. Alison Harrity. Phil Nunez, who is the son of Tim Nunez, along with KC Crawley, Lindsey Sweeting, and Yates served as program leaders. All stayed busy during camp. Joseph said each day began with breakfast, morning prayer, and a first activity (alternating daily among archery, kayaking, ropes, tubing, Ga-ga ball, sports, etc.). Youth then participated in an all-camp swim before breaking for lunch and rest time. Campers then resumed their day with a program: “A fun, engaging, and age-appropriate program focused on our summer theme, ‘Love United,’” Joseph said. Youth then participated in canteen and “Super Awesomeness Fun Time” (SAFT), which was an opportunity for the kids to learn or better a skill such as creative writing, dance, drama, guitar, arts and

crafts, sports, etc., Joseph said. Campers then enjoyed cabin time before having dinner. After dining, youth participated in an allcamp activity including line dancing, talent show, camp-wide ‘Capture the Flag’ game, Olympics, etc. Campers then enjoyed compline before hitting the showers and participating in devotions before lights out. This year’s Camp Wingmann summer sessions were special in that they teamed Yates, who helped revive the camp in 1998 before leaving about 3 ½ years ago, with Joseph, who was one of the camp’s top counselors more than a decade ago. Joseph has an associate’s degree from Eastern Florida State College in Melbourne and a two-year certificate in youth ministry from YMI (Youth Ministry Institute). A vibrant, charismatic leader, he currently is working toward his bachelor’s degree in youth ministry through Southwestern College’s online program. Through the years, hundreds of youth from around the Diocese of Central Florida and beyond have participated in the annual camps. The camps are so popular that many former campers return and serve as counselors once they have graduated high school and turned 18. “We have had good turnouts for years,” Yates said. “They love the whole experience. It’s a lot of fun and games. But we also do some serious things. We spend time at the chapel. They (the campers) ask questions about God that maybe they wouldn’t be comfortable asking a parent.”

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The 79th General Convention of The Episcopal Church

SPECIAL REPORT

PHOTOS BY ERICK PEREZ/CFE

Inside: Overview, Deputation Insight, Diocese of Cuba, more www.cfdiocese.org

CENTRAL FLORIDA EPISCOPALIAN â€¢ Sept.-Oct. 2018

2018 GENERAL CONVENTION of THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Return of Diocese of Cuba, Commitment to Working Across Differences Highlight 79th General Convention By Jeff Gardenour

The Diocese of Central Florida participated in one of the most historic General Conventions of The Episcopal Church, but questions remain about implementation and structure of some of the legislative resolutions adopted during the 12-day event.

he 79th General Convention of The Episcopal Church in Austin, Texas, proved contentious at times, but in the end, the House of Deputies and House of Bishops came to terms on two hot-button issues: Book of Common Prayer revision and same-sex marriage. Additionally, the readmission of the Diocese of Cuba into the Episcopal Church proved to be a landmark event.

Regarding arguably the biggest issue facing convention participants – same sex marriage – the House of Deputies on Friday, July 13, approved the oft-amended Resolution B012 in a back-and-forth debate that lasted five days. No changes were made to the resolution in the final review. B012 had been heavily amended by the House of Deputies on July 9, and two days later went to the House of Bishops, who added a technical amendment before passing. The technical

CENTRAL FLORIDA EPISCOPALIAN • Sept.-Oct. 2018

amendment forced the resolution to be reviewed again by the House of Deputies on the final day of the convention before becoming official. The resolution had little opposition as among clergy 99 voted yes, three no, and four were divided. Among lay deputies, 101 voted yes, five no, and one was divided. A total of 56 votes in each order must be achieved for passage. Under the resolution, trial-use of marriage rites for same-sex and opposite-sex couples can be provided by rectors or priests in charge of a congregation within a diocese. However, if a bishop does not theologically support same-sex marriage, he or she can request another bishop to give pastoral support to a couple asking for marriage rites, along with clergy and the respective congregation, according to the Episcopal News Service.

Additionally, if a member of a prospective married couple is divorced, an outside bishop must be consulted for remarriage permission. Also, trial use of marriage rites will be in effect until the next version of the Prayer Book. “I would say that the center of the Episcopal Church really has shifted to include gay marriage couples,” said Bishop Greg Brewer of the Diocese of Central Florida. “In fact, one of the things that was surprising, particularly to conservatives, was that some of their most ardent supporters of not changing the Prayer Book came from young men and women, some of whom were gay, some of whom were straight; but they were united in wanting to make sure that the Prayer Book remains the official Prayer Book of the Church.” On Wednesday, July 11, the House of Deputies officially approved revised Resolution A068, which calls for a memorialization of the 1979 Book of Common Prayer as a Prayer Book in the Episcopal Church but allows for liturgical renovation outside of try-

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2018 GENERAL CONVENTION of THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH

An estimated 10,000 people attended the General Convention, making it one of the biggest legislative bodies in the world. ing to change the 1979 Book of Common Prayer, according to Brewer. The amended resolution was a compromise of sorts from the original resolution, which called for a fully revised Book of Common Prayer that would take 12 years to finish and cost an estimated $10 million. Cost for the liturgical revisions, which are estimated to be $200,000, would have to come from an Executive Council decision since the budget for the next triennial (2019-2021) already has been passed, Bishop Brewer said. “One can safely say that anyone who wants to use the use the 1979 Prayer Book is completely free to do so,” Brewer said. “It is still the official book of the Episcopal Church. In fact, one of the things that happened was that in some ways we ran out of time. Resolutions around doing a lot of amending for supplemental texts didn’t make it to the House of Bishops and it is not funded by our general budget. So, while there will be some people who work on it, it definitely did not have the force that it had when the convention started, which really was a profound commitment to completely rewriting the Prayer Book from top to bottom.” Other news of consequence from the 79th General Convention was the re-

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admission of the Diocese of Cuba into the Episcopal Church. The Diocese of Cuba, which since 1957 had been exiled and treated as a separate Anglican province, was officially received back into the Episcopal Church by the House of Bishops and House of Deputies on a unanimous vote, abiding the reunification plan of Resolution A238. In an adjoining move, the Bishop of Cuba, the Right Rev. Griselda Delgado del Carpio, was officially received and welcomed back into the House of Bishops. The Diocese of Cuba will be part of Province II, which includes the six dioceses of New York, the two dioceses of New Jersey, and the off-shore dioceses of Haiti, the Virgin Islands, and the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe, according to the official province2.org website. Bishop Delgado and her delegation received a standing ovation in the House of Deputies after the Rev. Gay Jennings, president of the House of

Deputies, invited them to step up and be recognized. “It was an extraordinarily tender and joyous moment,” Brewer said, “and sets free lots of possibilities for building missionary relationships with what in fact has been a very, very beleaguered and yet faithful congregation of people. So, I urge you to give thanks with me that this has happened, and I look forward to how we might more deeply connect with the Episcopal Church of Cuba in the future.” Earlier in the convention, which officially ran July 5-13, approximately 1,000 Episcopalians attended a public service at the Hutto Detention Facility in Taylor, Texas, and listened to a sermon from the Most Rev. Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop, concerning the U.S. government’s immigration policies that have separated

families and more, according to the Episcopal News Service. Seven members of the Diocese of Central Florida contingent received deputation assignments for the 2018 General Convention. They were: Bishop Brewer, secretary of Evangelism and Church Planting; the Rev. Phyllis Bartle, vice chair of Stewardship & Socially Responsible Investing; Sonya Shannon, Christian Formation and Discipleship; Krisita Jackson, secretary of Privilege and Courtesy; the Rev. Jim Sorvillo, Congregational and Diocesan Vitality; Tom Alday, Evangelism and Church Planting; and Erick Perez, Prayer Book, Liturgy and Church Music. Also representing the Diocese of Central Florida were the Rev. Canon Tim Nunez, Canon to the Ordinary; the Rev. Canon Dr. Justin Holcomb, Canon for Vocations; and Father Jose Rodriguez, and Heather Rodriguez. An estimated 10,000 people attended this year’s General Convention, making it one of the biggest legislative bodies in the world.

CENTRAL FLORIDA EPISCOPALIAN • Sept.-Oct. 2018

2018 GENERAL CONVENTION of THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Central Florida Deputation Makes Impact at General Convention Seven delegates served on committees at the triennial event By Jeff Gardenour

rom early-morning meetings to leadership training to writing and reviewing resolutions, members of the Diocese of Central Florida delegation to the 79th General Convention of The Episcopal Church stayed busy from start to finish. Of the 11 diocesan representatives who made the journey to Austin, Texas, for the triennial event on July 2-13, seven received deputation assignments. They were: Bishop Greg Brewer, secretary of Evangelism and Church Planting; the Rev. Phyllis Bartle, vice chair of Stewardship & Socially Responsible Investing; Sonya Shannon, Christian Formation and Discipleship; Krisita Jackson, secretary of Privilege and Courtesy; the Rev. Jim Sorvillo, Congregational and Diocesan Vitality; Tom Alday, Evangelism and Church Planting; and Erick Perez, Prayer Book, Liturgy and Church Music. Also representing the Diocese of Central Florida were: the Rev. Canon Tim Nunez, Canon to the Ordinary; the Rev. Canon Dr. Justin Holcomb, Canon for Vocations; and Father Jose Rodriguez; and Heather Rodriguez. The Rev. Jim Sorvillo, rector at Church of the Ascension in Orlando, served on a General Convention committee for the first time. “I was not sure what to expect,” he said. “Personally, I found it a great opportunity to meet people from across our country who had a passion for growing our church. It was a blessing to make connections from other diocese and to see what they were doing to help the vitality of their congregations in

order to see what could be used in our own.” But the Ascension rector said the General Convention presented challenges throughout the 12day event. “From a systemic point of view, it was agonizing,” he said. “I say this because one of the problems with our TEC committee structure is that the right hand has very little idea what the left hand is doing. This became apparent as different resolutions came to our attention which were more appropriate for other committees. We did our best to organize joint committee meetings in order to rectify the lack of clarity and focus, but until we have a complete overhaul of our committees and commissions (many of which are redundant in nature), this will continue to be a millstone to any progress and growth church-wide.” The Congregational & Diocesan Vitality was a complex one, broken down into three subcommittees: parochial reports, provincial activity and structure, and congregational vitality. Sorvillo served on the last committee (congregational vitality). “I hate to say that many of the resolutions which came across our subcommittee lacked the ability to be effective if the leader, i.e. rector or vicar, did not have the leadership skills to put them into action,” Sorvillo said. “So, the overall takeaway was that leadership training across every diocese would go a long way to enhance the vitality of that diocese more than any other measure.” Sorvillo said one of the biggest issues with the convention’s committee system is that it is too top-heavy. “In my opinion, our national commit-

CENTRAL FLORIDA EPISCOPALIAN • Sept.-Oct. 2018

Rev. Jim Sorvillo tee structure mirrors that of our national governmental structures in that they are so big, very little seems to get through to the grassroots,” he said. “My hope is that the next generation of Episcopal leadership, both clergy and lay, will have the courage to make the changes needed for a more effective system.” Despite the obstacles, Sorvillo said he enjoyed his stay in Austin: “In closing, it was an honor to serve our diocese in this manner and I’m so very proud of our team who conducted themselves with grace and conviction and worked from sunup to sun-down to be effective deputies for the Diocese of Central Florida.” Meanwhile, Krisita Jackson, who has been busy as the Daughters of the King national president, said things went peacefully with her deputation assignment as secretary of the Privilege and Courtesy Committee. Please see DEPUTIES, Page 17

www.cfdiocese.org

CENTRALFLORIDAEPISCOPALIAN en español

NOTICIAS DE LA DIÓCESIS EPISCOPAL DE LA FLORIDA CENTRAL • WWW.CFDIOCESE.ORG • Volumen 120, Núm. 5 • septiembre-octubre 2018 FOTOS DE ERICK PEREZ

El regreso de la Diócesis de Cuba y el compromiso de trabajar por las diferencias resaltan la 79.ª Convención General

Los miembros de la Convención escuchan al Obispo Presidente Michael Curry durante la 79ª Convención General de la Iglesia Episcopal.

Por Jeff Gardenour

La Diócesis de la Florida Central participó este año en una de las convenciones generales más históricas de la Iglesia Episcopal, pero aún quedan preguntas sobre la implementación y estructura de algunas de las resoluciones legislativas adoptadas durante el evento de doce días.

a 79.a Convención General de la Iglesia Episcopal en Austin, Texas, demostró ser polémica en ocasiones, pero al final, la Cámara de Diputados y la Cámara de Obispos llegaron a un acuerdo sobre dos temas candentes: la revisión del Libro de Oración Común y el matrimonio del mismo sexo. Además, la readmisión de la Diócesis de Cuba en la Iglesia Episcopal demostró ser un evento histórico.

Con respecto al discutible tema más importante al que se enfrentaron los participantes de la convención sobre el matrimonio homosexual, la Cámara de Diputados aprobó el viernes, 13 de julio, la Resolución B012, a menudo enmendada en un debate de allá para acá que duró cinco días. No se realizaron cambios en la revisión final de la resolución. La B012 había sido fuertemente modificada por la Cámara de Diputados el 9 de julio, y dos días más tarde llegó a la Cámara de Obispos,

donde agregaron una enmienda técnica antes de aprobarla. La enmienda técnica obligó a que la resolución fuera revisada nuevamente por la Cámara de Diputados en el último día de la convención antes de hacerse oficial. La resolución tenía poca oposición ya que entre los clérigos, noventa y nueve votaron a favor, tres en contra, y cuatro divididos. Entre los diputados laicos, ciento uno votaron a favor, cinco en contra, y uno dividido. Se debe lograr un total de cincuenta y seis votos en cada orden para su aprobación. Según la resolución, los rectores o sacerdotes a cargo de una congregación dentro de una diócesis pueden proporcionar el uso de prueba de los ritos matrimoniales para parejas tanto del mismo sexo como de sexos opuestos. Sin embargo, si un obispo no apoya teológicamente el matrimonio entre personas del mismo sexo, puede solicitar a otro obispo que brinde apoyo pastoral a la pareja que solicite los ritos matrimoniales, junto con el clero y la respectiva congregación, de acuerdo con el Servicio de Noticias Episcopales. Delegación de la Diócesis de Florida Central escucha una presentación.

Además, si un miembro de una posible pareja para casamiento es divorciado, se deberá consultar a un obispo externo quien otorgará el permiso de volver a casarse. En adición, el uso de prueba de los ritos matrimoniales tendrá vigencia hasta la próxima versión del Libro de Oración. “Diría que el centro de la Iglesia Episcopal realmente cambió para incluir a las parejas del matrimonio homosexual”, expresó el Obispo Greg Brewer de la Diócesis de la Florida Central. “De hecho, algo sorprendente, particularmente para los conservadores, fue que algunos de sus partidarios más fervientes para que no se cambiara el Libro de Oración provino de hombres y mujeres jóvenes, algunos de los cuales eran ho-

La Diócesis de la Florida Central envió once representantes a la 79.a Convención General en Austin, Texas, en julio. La convención hizo historia este año en numerosas maneras.

Vaya por favor a CONVENCIÓN GENERAL, página 15

Page 2: Columna del Obispo Brewer • Page 3: Convención General • Page 4: Diócesis de Cuba, Calendario de visitas del Obispo Brewer www.cfdiocese.org

CENTRAL FLORIDA EPISCOPALIAN • Sept.-Oct. 2018

OBISPO BREWER

Siga diciendo sí a Jesús Por Obispo Gregory O. Brewer

Como obispo, a menudo me llaman para que les dé palabras de sabiduría o consejo. Lo más parecido a un consejo que tengo para todos es el siguiente: “Siga diciendo sí a Jesús”. Pero esta frase es más que una buena idea. También será el tema de nuestra Convención Diocesana anual del 1 al 2 de febrero de 2019.

Un evento digno del Reino Le hago esta pregunta: ¿Qué pasaría si pudiera venir a un servicio de adoración con: • música que refleja nuestra diversidad cultural,

• testimonios sinceros de personas de fe y,

•

una predicación entusiasta, interesante, a menudo con humorismo, que atrae a las personas y las llama a una relación más profunda con Jesús?

Por supuesto, también le tengo una respuesta: siga diciendo sí a Jesús. Diga que le encantaría asistir y traiga a un amigo (o varios). El 1 de febrero de 2019, tendremos tal servicio en la Primera Iglesia Bautista de Orlando. Estamos celebrando el 50.o aniversario de la formación de nuestra diócesis, y queremos que sea un evento digno del reino. Hemos reservado este gran lugar para que tengamos un amplio espacio para usted, su iglesia y todos los demás que seguirán diciendo sí a Jesús. Le hemos pedido a Michael Curry, obispo presidente de la Iglesia Episcopal y quien predicó recientemente en la boda real, que sea nuestro orador principal para este servicio de adoración, que llamamos de avivamiento. Este año y el próximo, el Obispo Curry tendrá avivamientos similares en todo el país con el propósito de compartir las buenas nuevas de Jesucristo e invitar a las personas al Movimiento de Jesús. Este junio, asistí al avivamiento en la Convención Diocesana de Texas, donde más de 8000 personas

escucharon el evangelio.

avivamientos del mundo, el único componente que los hizo efectivos, independientemente de dónde sucedieron, o en cuál cultura o nación, fue la oración de intercesión conjunta. Discutiremos, y participaremos en, este tipo de oración en cada reunión del decanato.

Pero ¿qué es exactamente un avivamiento? El sitio web de la denominación dedicado a estos servicios dice que un avivamiento “combina la adoración inspiradora, la enseñanza convincente, el Obispo Greg Brewer intercambio de fe honesto, la oración intensificada y alguna forma de compromiso con la misión de Dios, todo por el bien de la renoUna oportunidad vital vación espiritual y la transformación de personas y la sociedad”. Es una oportunidad para que la gente siga Ciertamente hay una gran cantidad de logística asodiciendo sí a Jesús. ciada con un evento como este, muchas tareas que realizar y listas que verificar. Necesitamos sonido Vea, hay una profunda diferencia entre una gran y luces, músicos y música, catering y más. Pero lo reunión de la iglesia y un verdadero servicio de avique hace que un avivamiento sea verdaderamente vamiento. Tiene que ver con el impacto causado en efectivo es la oración intercesora concertada. Dios las personas y cómo esas personas impactadas terusa esas oraciones para cambiar las vidas de las perminan siendo de impacto en su comunidad. sonas. En esta y en todas las etapas, la oración es el componente individual más importante, tanto para la preparación de nuestra Convención Diocesana Un encuentro transformador como para que ocurra el genuino avivamiento que estamos pidiéndole a Dios. En otras palabras, nuestra esperanza subyacente y general es la renovación espiritual: que todos los Lo que comienza con un servicio no tiene que termique asistan experimenten un verdadero encuentro nar allí. Por favor, oren para que asistan a la reunión transformador con Jesús. Y también esperamos que de decanato en su área. Tendremos mucha más innuestras iglesias locales, a donde estas personas reformación disponible sobre cómo puede interceder gresarán, les digan: “Hablemos de cómo Dios podría mejor por un avivamiento, y quizás unirse al equipo querer usarlo aquí mismo, dado lo sucedido”. Si ese de intercesores que desempeñarán un papel enorme cambio de vida ocurre en las personas, y ellas a su y activo antes, durante y después del evento. vez crean y afectan sus comunidades con experienMientras nos enfocamos en nuestra Concias transformadoras, creo que comenzaremos un verdadero avivamiento. Y esto solo sucede cuando la vención Diocesana anual y en el avivamiento gente sigue diciendo sí a Jesús. que creemos Dios traerá, tengo una última paComo puede imaginarse, se requiere una buena planificación y preparación para un evento como este. A partir de este mes, tendremos una serie de reuniones de decanato en toda la diócesis (consulte el calendario en la página xx) para proyectar la visión hacia este avivamiento y comenzar a capacitar a las personas para las numerosas oportunidades de servicio que conlleva.

labra de aliento: siga diciendo sí a Jesús.

Pero nuestra mayor oportunidad, y nuestra más profunda necesidad, es una oración intensa y comprometida. A lo largo de la historia de los grandes

Obispo Gregory O. Brewer

CENTRAL FLORIDA EPISCOPALIAN • Sept.-Oct. 2018

Gracia para su vida,

www.cfdiocese.org

LA 79.A CONVENCIÓN GENERAL DE LA IGLESIA EPISCOPAL Vaya por favor a CONVENCIÓN GENERAL, página 15 misma fuerza cuando comenzó la conAproximadamente diez vención, lo que realmente habría sido un profundo compromiso para reescrimil personas asistieron a la bir el Libro de Oración completamente”. Convención General de este Otra noticia de trascendencia de la 79.ª año, lo que la convierte en Convención General fue la readmisión uno de los cuerpos legislatide la Diócesis de Cuba en la Iglesia Episvos más grandes del mundo. copal. La Diócesis de Cuba, que desde 1957 había sido exiliada y tratada como una provincia anglicana autónoma, fue mosexuales y otros heterosexuales; pero oficialmente recibida nuevamente en la se unieron para asegurarse de que el LiIglesia Episcopal por la Cámara de Obisbro de Oración siga siendo oficialmente pos y la Cámara de Diputados por voto el Libro de Oración de la Iglesia”. unánime, respetando el plan de reunificación de la Resolución A238. En una El miércoles, 11 de julio, la Cámara movida contigua, la Obispo de Cuba, la de Diputados aprobó oficialmente Rda. Griselda Delgado del Carpio, fue la Resolución A068 revisada, que exoficialmente recibida e incluida nuevaige la conmemoración del Libro de mente en la Cámara de Obispos. Oración Común de 1979 como el Libro de Oración de la Iglesia Episcopal, pero La Diócesis de Cuba formará parte de la permite la renovación litúrgica sin tener Provincia II, que incluye las seis diócesis que cambiar el Libro de Oración Común de Nueva York, las dos diócesis de Nuede 1979, de acuerdo con Brewer. va Jersey y las diócesis de Haití, Islas Vírgenes y la Convocación de Iglesias EpisLa resolución enmendada conllevó copales en Europa, según el sitio web cierta forma de compromiso de la resoficial de province2.org. olución original, que requería un Libro de Oración Común completamente reLa Obispo Delgado y su delegación visado que llevaría doce años terminar recibieron una gran ovación en la y costaría alrededor de diez millones de Cámara de Diputados después de que dólares. El costo de las revisiones litúrla Rda. Gay Jennings, presidenta de la gicas, que se estiman en doscientos mil cámara, los invitó a ponerse de pie y dólares, tendría que provenir de una decisión del Consejo Ejecutivo, debido a que el presupuesto para la próxima trienal (2019-2021) ya se aprobó, dijo el Obispo Brewer. “Se puede decir con seguridad que cualquiera que quiera usar el Libro de Oración Común de 1979 es completamente libre de hacerlo”, añadió Brewer. “Sigue siendo el libro oficial de la Iglesia Episcopal. De hecho, una de las cosas que sucedió fue que de alguna manera nos quedamos sin tiempo. Las resoluciones sobre la realización de muchas modificaciones para textos complementarios no llegaron a la Cámara de Obispos y no están financiadas por nuestro presupuesto general. Por lo tanto, si bien habrá algunas personas que trabajarán en ello, definitivamente no tuvo la

www.cfdiocese.org

ser reconocidos. “Fue un momento extraordinariamente feliz y conmovedor”, sostuvo Brewer, “y ofrece muchas posibilidades para construir relaciones misioneras con lo que en realidad ha sido una congregación de personas muy, pero muy asediada y, sin embargo, fiel. Por eso les pido que agradezcan conmigo que esto haya sucedido, y espero con ansias saber cómo podemos conectarnos más profundamente con la Iglesia Episcopal de Cuba en el futuro”. Antes de la convención, la cual se realizó oficialmente del 5 al 13 de julio, aproximadamente mil episcopales asistieron a un servicio público en el Centro de Detención Hutto en Taylor, Texas, y escucharon un sermón del Reverendísimo Michael Curry, Obispo Presidente, sobre las políticas de inmigración del gobierno que han separado a las familias y más, según el Servicio de Noticias Episcopales. El contingente de siete miembros de la Diócesis de la Florida Central recibió asignaciones para sus delegados

Los resultados de votación de la Resolución A068 se muestran para los asistentes a la convención. FOTOS DE ERICK PEREZ

a la Convención General 2018. Estos fueron: el Obispo Brewer, secretario de Evangelismo y Plantación de Iglesias; la Rda. Phyllis Bartle, vicepresidenta de Mayordomía e Inversión Responsable; Sonya Shannon, Formación Cristiana y Discipulado; Krisita Jackson, secretaria de Privilegio y Cortesía; el Rdo. Jim Sorvillo, Vitalidad Congregacional y Diocesana; Tom Alday, Evangelismo y Plantación de Iglesias; y Erick Pérez, Libro de Oración, Liturgia y Música de la Iglesia. También representaron a la Diócesis de la Florida Central el Rdo. Tim Núñez, Canon a lo Ordinario; el Rdo. Dr. Justin Holcomb, Canon para las Vocaciones; y el padre José Rodríguez y Heather Rodríguez. Aproximadamente diez mil personas asistieron a la Convención General de este año, lo que la convierte en uno de los cuerpos legislativos más grandes del mundo.

El padre José Rodríguez, delegado de la Diócesis de la Florida Central, se muestra a través del monitor hablando en la 79.a Convención General de la Iglesia Episcopal.

CENTRAL FLORIDA EPISCOPALIAN • Sept.-Oct. 2018

FAMILIA DIOCESANA

Casa Trinidad, una bendición para los puertorriqueños en la Florida Central

La casa parroquial convertida distribuye más de 80 000 libras de comida Por Jeff Gardenour

na antigua rectoría semiabandonada demostró ser una bendición disfrazada para los desplazados de Puerto Rico, así como para la Diócesis de la Florida Central.

El domingo, 22 de julio, el Obispo Greg Brewer bendijo la

Casa Trinidad [Trinity House] de la Iglesia Episcopal St. John en Kissimmee, luego de que la casa poco utilizada se convirtiera efectivamente en un centro de apoyo de alimentos y suministros durante el pasado año. Casa Trinidad se hizo realidad después de que el huracán María, de categoría cinco, barrió la República Dominicana y Puerto Rico en septiembre de 2017, causando más de 91 mil millones de dólares en daños. Es el tercer huracán más costoso en el Océano Atlántico.

“Todo se trataba de los desplazados de Puerto Rico por el huracán María a finales del año pasado, y cómo ayudar a un gran número de familias ubicadas en hoteles, tanto aquí en Kissimmee como en Orlando”, dijo Padre Luis de la Cruz, quien supervisa el ministerio hispano en la Iglesia Episcopal St. John y Casa Trinidad. “La Diócesis Episcopal de la Florida Central, encabezada por nuestro Obispo Gregory Brewer, logró con FEMA obtener alimentos para ayudar principalmente a las familias puertorriqueñas desplazadas. “Dada la disposición positiva de FEMA, la pregunta era dónde colocar los alimentos para su distribución; de ahí la idea de usar la casa semiabandonada en la Iglesia Episcopal de St. John de Kissimmee, para la cual la junta dio su aprobación”, expresó de la Cruz. Al ver la difícil situación de muchos puertorriqueños que se quedaron sin electricidad, comida y más luego del huracán, los funcionarios de St. John hicieron una limpieza de la casa

y la abrieron oficialmente el 27 de diciembre de 2017 para recaudar alimentos y suministros. “Llegaron dos camionetas con 50 000 libras de alimentos, que desmontamos y guardamos el mismo día con la participación de alrededor de 22 voluntarios, incluidos nuestro obispo y su esposa Laura Lee, quienes lograron el objetivo en ocho horas, dejando la casa completamente llena con casi 6000 cajas adentro”, añadió de la Cruz. Al día siguiente, St. John comenzó la distribución de alimentos con un grupo diario de catorce voluntarios, la mayoría de los cuales provenían del Ministerio Hispano de St. John. Dos meses después, llegó un tercer vagón con 25 000 libras de alimentos, seguido por otro vagón de 8000 libras de alimentos en marzo, dijo de la Cruz. El 24 de mayo, el grupo de St. John había distribuido 83 000 libras de alimentos que beneficiaron a 1662 familias y 460 familias adicionales con ropa y zapatos que fueron donados, comentó de la Cruz. “Esta experiencia concibió la idea de hacer de esta casa un centro de servicios comunitarios. Bajo la iniciativa de Padre José Rodríguez, solicitamos nuevamente a la Junta Parroquial de St. John que entregue la casa al Ministerio Diocesano Hispano, para que sea un centro de apoyo, principalmente para las familias hispanas, así como también sea el centro de la Comisión Hispana de la Diócesis”, explicó de la Cruz. La Casa Trinidad, en sí misma, se ha beneficiado de su apoyo misionero. El 4 de abril, el Ministerio Diocesano Hispano de St. John comenzó el proceso de reparación de viviendas con la participación y colaboración de cinco misioneros de la Iglesia Episcopal Emmanuel de Hampton, Diócesis de Virginia, comentó de la Cruz. “La Iglesia Episcopal Trinity de Nueva York hizo una donación de aproximadamente quince mil dólares para un nuevo techo, y en honor a ese gesto fraternal, la casa ahora lleva el nombre de “CASA TRINIDAD/TRINITY HOUSE”, enfatizó de la Cruz.

Personas celebran la bendición de la Casa Trinidad en Kissimmee con Obispo Greg Brewer (al centro en sotana).

Muchos voluntarios locales, incluido un grupo de la Iglesia Catedral de St. Luke en Orlando, también ayudaron en la reconstrucción. “Todavía estamos renovando y reparando, pero eso no nos ha impedido tener muchas actividades en Casa Trinidad”, dijo de la Cruz. “Ya hemos comenzado con un curso de prevención de diabetes, reuniones grupales y una despensa de alimentos dos veces al mes, de las cuales unas cien familias se están beneficiando. Continuamos apoyando a muchas personas con ropa nueva y usada que hemos recibido en donación”.

CENTRAL FLORIDA EPISCOPALIAN • Sept.-Oct. 2018

FOTO PROVISTA POR ERICK PEREZ/CFE

La tremenda efusión de apoyo impresionó a Brewer, quien ha visitado la Casa Trinidad en tres ocasiones desde enero, incluyendo la bendición del 22 de julio. “Todos los días, la Casa Trinidad se está convirtiendo en un centro de influencia para muchas personas. Nuestra misión es servir a los más necesitados en un ambiente de hospitalidad, marcado por la alegría y la sencillez de todos aquellos que voluntariamente sirven en ello en el nombre de Cristo y de la Iglesia”, añadió de la Cruz. “Recibimos todo tipo de donaciones que pueden ser útiles para otras personas con escasos recursos”, expresó de la Cruz. “Necesitamos donantes que nos brinden el apoyo económico para el mantenimiento y el pago de los servicios públicos que necesitamos”.

Dirigida por doce voluntarios actualmente, la Casa Trinidad está abierta a la comunidad de 10 a. m. a 2 p. m., lunes, miércoles y viernes. La Iglesia Episcopal de St. John está ubicada en el 1709 N. John Young Parkway, Kissimmee, 34741-3218. Para información, llame al 407-847-2009.

Calendario de visitas del obispo Brewer 9/13/18 Winter Park, Trinity Prep (50.o aniversario) 9/15/18 DeLand, St. Barnabas (Asamblea de otoño de las Hijas del Rey) 9/16/18 Ormond Beach, St. James 9/23/18 Longwood, Christ Church 9/30/18 Orlando, St. Michael 10/7/18 (a.m.) Sebastian, St. Elizabeth 10/7/18 (p.m.) Lakeland, All Saints’ (Ordenación al sacerdocio –Rda. Kathy Hulin) 10/14/18 Eustis, St. Thomas 10/27/18 Orlando, St. John the Baptist (Reunión anual de mujeres episcopales [ECW]) 10/28/18 Daytona Beach, St. Timothy 11/4/18 Bushnell, St. Francis of Assisi 11/11/18 Orlando, St. Matthew 11/18/18 Port Orange, Grace 11/25/18 Orlando, San Cristóbal 12/1/18 Ocala, La Puerta a la Esperanza (en St. Patrick) 12/2/18 Ocala, Grace Las fechas de visitas del Obispo Brewer están sujetas a cambio. Por favor, refiérase a www.cfdiocese.org para la lista actualizada de visitas.

www.cfdiocese.org

2018 GENERAL CONVENTION of THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH DEPUTIES … continued from Page 12 “The Privilege and Courtesy Committee is different from most others at General Convention,” Jackson said. “The committee had no hearings – no questioning, challenging, probing that occurs in other committees. Therefore, it is a peaceful assignment.

Michael Curry, made headlines across the world with the sermon. Jackson said she was pleased with her committee’s work: “My committee worked well. We had several members who had served before and we all worked well together. It was a diverse committee in many ways.”

“Our primary task is to develop, write and present resolutions which include recognizing serElsewhere, the Rev. Phyllis Barvice of individuals and groups to tle, rector of St. Jude’s in Orange The Episcopal Church and worldCity, said she thought the GenKrisita Jackson wide Anglican Communion, and eral Convention was less controthe General Conventions; and celebrating anniversial than in the past, despite concerns about versaries of church organizations, and persons same-sex marriage and Prayer Book resolutions. serving the church,” Jackson said. “I think the overall tone was much more JeJackson said the committee worked in conjuncsus-centered,” Bartle said. “I credit our Presidtion with the parallel committee in the House of ing Bishop Michael Curry with that.” Bishops. Of the 517 resolutions submitted to the Bartle said her deputation assignment as viceGeneral Convention, 41 were presented by this chair of the Stewardship & Socially Responsicommittee. Those resolutions can be viewed at: ble Investing Committee went well. “The role https://www.vbinder.net/resolutions?house=hof vice-chair meant that I was d&lang=en on the internet. part of the leadership team of “My assignment as secretary was the committee but had no direct to record minutes of the proceedresponsibilities other than to be ings,” Jackson said. “The assistant prepared should the chair, Bransecretary was assigned the task of don O’Sullivan Hare, need me,” submitting the resolutions to the she said. Dispatch of Business Committee. The St. Jude’s rector said her “It was a bit of the challenge to recommittee reviewed approxicord and then submit the minutes mately 20 resolutions, with only in a timely manner,” Jackson said. two related to stewardship and “I was, however, able to spend a the rest tied in with socially rehalf an hour or so after the meetsponsible investing. “Those ining ended to clean up my typed cluded places to invest or divest notes and submit them.” Rev. Phyllis Bartle like gun manufacturers and Israel/Palestine,” Bartle said. Of the resolutions passed, Jackson said her favorite was A198: “Express GratiBartle said she felt the Stewardship Committude for the Royal Wedding Sermon.” The Epistee became divided with different emphases. copal Church’s Presiding Bishop, the Most Rev. “I would like to see it go back to handling just

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stewardship issues – creating workable solutions like stewardship education programs, etc., for parishes, dioceses and the like,” she said. “That being said, the investing emphasis is important; just not where my passions lie.” Erick Perez said he thought his deputation assignment as member of the Prayer Book, Liturgy and Church Music Committee went smoothly. “At first, we were assigned to look at resolutions regarding the Prayer Book revision, but the closer we got to the date of when (the) convention started, they [convention dispatch] took it away and assigned it to other committees,” he said. “Most of our discussions were based around the Erick Perez book of occasional services (BOS) and lesser feasts and fasts (LFF).” Receptionist and data base manager for the Diocese of Central Florida, Perez said one of his favorite resolutions involved a more diverse liturgical offering for congregations with large Latin-American congregants. “One such example is the Festival of Las Posadas, which mimics Joseph and Mary going through town looking for a place to stay until they reach the stable where Jesus was born,” Perez said. “This is clearing the way to also develop other rites like Quinceañeras, which is a milestone/rite of passage for teenagers when they reach 15 years old.”

CENTRAL FLORIDA EPISCOPALIAN • Sept.-Oct. 2018

2018 GENERAL CONVENTION of THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Readmittance of Diocese of Cuba into Episcopal Church Draws Cheers Island nation officially received back for first time since 1957 By Jeff Gardenour

The last time the Diocese of Cuba was in the Episcopal Church, Dwight D. Eisenhower was president, Elvis Presley had just purchased Graceland, and a gallon of gas only cost 24 cents.

ixty-one years later, the island nation located just 103 miles south of the Florida Keys was readmitted back into the Episcopal Church at the 79th General Convention of The Episcopal Church in Austin, Texas. It was one of the most joyous and historical moments of the 12-day event.

since 1957, was officially received back into the Episcopal Church by the House of Bishops and House of Deputies on a unanimous vote, abiding the reunification plan of Resolution A238. In an adjoining move, the Bishop of Cuba, the Right Rev. Griselda Delgado del Carpio, was officially received and welcomed back into the House of Bishops.

The Episcopal Diocese of Cuba, which has long been exiled and treated as a separate Anglican province

The Diocese of Cuba will be part of Province II, which includes the six dioceses of New York, the two dioceses of New Jersey, and the off-shore dioceses of Haiti, the Virgin Islands, and the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe, according to the official province2.org website. The Diocese of Cuba delegation, led by the Right Rev. Griselda Delgado del Carpio, second from left, was all smiles after being accepted back into the Episcopal Church.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY ERICK PEREZ/CFE

The Diocese of Cuba delegation gives thanks to the Episcopal Church after being readmitted into the church for the first time since 1957.

“Several bishops, myself included, stood up and spoke in favor of the resolution for Cuba to be officially received back into the Episcopal Church,” said Bishop Greg Brewer of the Diocese of Central Florida. “And when Bishop Griselda took to the microphone in tears of gratitude, she expressed deep appreciation for being welcomed back home into her Episcopal family. “It was an extraordinarily tender and joyous moment,” Brewer said, “and sets free lots of possibilities for building missionary relationships with what in fact has been a very, very beleaguered and yet faithful congregation of people. So, I urge you to give thanks with me that this has happened, and I look forward to how we might more deeply connect with the Episcopal Church of Cuba in the future.”

coming missionary neighbors with the Province II diocese. Cuba is just 300 miles south of Miami. The Diocese of Central Florida, which had 11 representatives, including Bishop Brewer, at the General Convention, maintains a long-standing companion diocese relationship with the Diocese of Honduras in Province IX. “I feel the breadth of the Holy Spirit,” said Bishop Delgado in Spanish through an interpreter, according to a news story by the Episcopal News Service. “Thank you for the support now and the support all the years and for everyone who has supported us from the Episcopal Church. I’d like this special moment to remember that special generation … those who are no longer with us who suffered with hope we would return to our family.”

The readmission of the Diocese of Cuba back into the Episcopal Church opens up the possibility of the Diocese of Central Florida be-

PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH

CENTRAL FLORIDA EPISCOPALIAN • Sept.-Oct. 2018

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LEADERSHIP PHOTO PROVIDED BY CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF ST. LUKE

Diocese of Central Florida to Ordain Eight to the Diaconate The Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida was scheduled to celebrate the ordination of eight deacons raised up from congregations inside and outside of the diocese on Saturday, Sept. 8, at The Cathedral Church of Saint Luke in Orlando. To commemorate this achievement, the ordinands joined us for a Q&A about their religious background, leadership roles, how the call to become a deacon transpired, and what their goals are for their respective ministries.

Virginia Cassady Bolton Current church/capacity: St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Lake Mary; assigned to serve at St. Peter’s after ordination. Deacon title: Vocational Diaconate. Please briefly summarize your religious background as far as your upbringing and any leadership roles you may have held. Well, I am not a religious person. Religion says be better, do more, try harder. I grew up with that in another Christian denomination. I was never good enough and didn’t know God, much less Jesus, His Son. In early adulthood, I completely turned away from God and did not believe in Him. Perhaps He existed, but He was far distant from me. In my mid-20s, I ran into some rough times. Then God made Himself known to me. I didn’t ask for Him, but He was there. I didn’t really understand how He was present with me, but over time, I came to depend on Him and pray, but I wasn’t going to church. However, I didn’t get this “Jesus thing” and didn’t know the Bible. When I met Brian (my husband) – a believer – I started going to church with him. Years later, I had another serious crisis. My dear

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brother had terminal cancer. Jesus showed up, and I knew it was Jesus. He walked with me through that very hard time. Soon after, I developed a hunger for the Bible and began to seriously learn and study. It changed me drastically, and I am a follower of Jesus.

The Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida was scheduled to celebrate the ordination of eight deacons raised up from congregations inside and outside of the diocese on Sept. 8 at The Cathedral Church of St. Luke in Orlando.

I have been a licensed chalice bearer and Lay Eucharistic Visitor since 2001. Brian and I have led many small group Bible studies over the years. I have been a Lay Eucharistic Visitor Coordinator, Chair of the Worship Commission, and Pastoral Care Coordinator at St. Peter’s.

Parish Discernment Committee, Commission on Ministry, and the excellent diaconate program through the Institute for Christian Studies, I know this call from the Lord is to be a deacon.

How did the call to become a deacon transpire for you?

How do you hope to help the Episcopal Church as a deacon?

On Sept. 25, 2015, as I was driving to work and listening to a pastor on a Christian radio station, the Lord said to me, clear as a bell in my head, “Commit to me, go part time, and I will provide you training.” The sheep (of which I am one) know the voice of their Shepherd, and I knew from experience that it was the Lord talking to me.

I cannot do a thing in the name of Jesus to advance His Kingdom unless I live into my Baptismal Covenant. The first question of our Baptismal Covenant focuses on the promises to worship regularly, be in the Word and in fellowship with other believers and pray regularly. Neglecting my own spiritual life and relationship with the Lord for the sake of ministry is counterintuitive. Acting on my baptismal promises to the Lord always must precede my work for Him and I will always encourage others to lean into this and other promises of the Baptismal Covenant.

Without knowing what He meant by “training,” I committed to Him immediately by taking steps to “go part time” in my law practice. That part was not easy because I was a shareholder in a small firm! With the assistance of St. Peter’s rector at the time, Father Charlie Holt, I began exploring various ministries to which God might be calling me, including the diaconate. With the help of my

Please see DEACONS, page 20

CENTRAL FLORIDA EPISCOPALIAN • Sept.-Oct. 2018

LEADERSHIP DEACONS … from page 19

Virginia Cassady Bolton …continued My ministry as a deacon will start with serving, ministering to, and loving the congregation. A congregation that does not feel they are loved will have a hard time offering love to others and going out into the world to love and serve the Lord, as the Great Commission commands (Matt. 28:1620). There are so many weak, marginalized, sick, and lonely people in Seminole County who need PHOTO PROVIDED BY CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF ST. LUKE believers to come alongside them to know what the love of Jesus looks like and to know about Him! My gifts lend themselves to serving those who are sick and dying and those who live in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, but not everyone who wants to serve the Lord has these gifts. I will work with the laity and rector to help members discern their gifts from the Holy Spirit and point them in the directions of serving those in need in our county. Could the five Episcopal churches in Seminole County join together and serve those in need at nursing homes and assisted living facilities, SafeHouse of Seminole, Seminole County Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) Program, Rescue Outreach Mission, and IDignity, to name a few? Perhaps our members could join with Father Jon Davis and Fresh Expressions to go to a variety of places, including pubs, parks, and other venues in Seminole County to share Christ’s message. My prayer is: “Lord Jesus, make me ever attentive to the unfolding of your will for me and the people I serve.”

Dr. William J. (BJ) Buracker II Current church/capacity: All Saints’ Church, Chevy Chase Parish, Chevy Chase, Maryland where I am a lector, LEM, and Bible Study teacher. Sponsoring parish: Trinity Episcopal Church, Vero Beach. Deacon title: Transitional Diaconate. Please briefly summarize your religious background as far as your upbringing and any leadership roles you may have held. I grew up Presbyterian (PCA) mostly and attended Presbyterian-leaning Christian schools. My mother is a devout Christian, but my father is agnostic. After graduating from North Carolina State, I was hired by Sandhills Presbyterian Church in Southern Pines, North Carolina, as a youth director (20022007) while I attended seminary at Reformed Theological Seminary. I joined the Episcopal Church in 2009 and was confirmed in 2015 by the late Bishop Ed Salmon at All Saints’ Church in Chevy Chase, Maryland. At this parish, I have served as an usher, youth Sunday School teacher, confirmation leader, Bible Study instructor, LEM, and lector. I served as a vestry member from 2014 to 2016 (at All Saints’ Church, Chevy Chase, Maryland).

I hope to help the Episcopal Church by faithfully proclaiming the Gospel of Christ where it is often ignored or unknown, by equipping God’s people to serve others and share their faith, and by supporting my bishop and priests in their ministries.

Dr. Marcus Johnson Current church/capacity: St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Geneva, Illinois, serving as a regular chalice-bearer, scripture-reader and acolyte. Sponsoring parish: All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Lakeland. Deacon title: Transitional Diaconate. Please briefly summarize your religious background as far as your upbringing and any leadership roles you may have held. I was baptized a Roman Catholic and was received into communion through confirmation. Much of my young adult life was spent in baptistic/non-denominational churches. I have since been received into the communion of the Episcopal Church by confirmation, and very gladly so!

How did the call to become a deacon transpire for you?

I have felt called into ministry for many years in some capacity, whether lay or ordained. Due to the prayers and urging of my rector, Ed Kelaher, and encouragement from friends and family, it became clear that I should pursue the ordained ministry. I love serving others, preaching and teaching, and working to help build up the Body of Christ and share the Gospel.

My call to become a deacon came through the Lord Jesus, and through the encouragement of my rector, Father Mark Tusken. It also came through an increasing desire to serve Christ’s Holy Bride, the Church.

The Cathedral Church of St. Luke in downtown Orlando was scheduled to be the site for eight ordinations to the diaconate on Saturday, Sept. 8. PHOTO PROVIDED BY CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF ST. LUKE

How do you hope to help the Episcopal Church as a deacon?

CENTRAL FLORIDA EPISCOPALIAN • Sept.-Oct. 2018

How do you hope to help the Episcopal Church as a deacon? I hope to help the Episcopal Church as a deacon by faithfully and joyfully participating in the Liturgy of Word and Sacrament, through which the people of God come to have ever-growing life in Christ Jesus. In addition, I hope to proclaim and teach the Holy Scriptures in accordance with the Truth revealed to the saints through ages and generations.

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LEADERSHIP

Palmer Kennedy

Raleigh Langley

Current church/capacity: The Episcopal Church of the Ascension in Lafayette, Louisiana. On faculty as a teaching chaplain at Ascension Episcopal School and the lay minister to young families at the church. Sponsoring parish: St. James Episcopal Church, Leesburg.

Current church/capacity: I have been the full-time minister with youth at St. Francis in the Fields Episcopal Church in Harrod’s Creek, Kentucky, for 28 years. Sponsoring parish: Church of the Messiah, Winter Garden.

Deacon title: Transitional Diaconate.

Please briefly summarize your religious background as far as your upbringing and any leadership roles you may have held.

I was raised in the United Methodist Church in Mobile, Alabama. I worked for a nondenominational/charismatic guest ranch in Northern California during the summers of my undergraduate years at Auburn University. While at Auburn, I participated in various youth and college ministries. As a seminarian at Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Alabama, I served as a youth minister at the Cathedral Church of the Advent.

I grew up attending Kilgore Baptist Church in Columbia, South Carolina. When I was 16, I became a Bible study leader and the Sunday sexton of the church. I continued to serve this Church throughout college and my role expanded to helping with youth. I became a summer counselor, an age-group director and later a program director at Ridgecrest Camp for Boys in Ridgecrest, North Carolina, where I worked for 10 summers. I also worked as a leader at a Centrifuge Camp in Mississippi for one summer. I attended and graduated from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, with a Master of Divinity degree in 1990. I was also ordained as Baptist minister. I have been employed and continue to serve as the minister with youth at St. Francis since the fall of 1990. When I was hired, the rector, Robin Jennings, told me he was looking for someone to love our youth and teach them the Bible and I knew that was my calling.

How did the call to become a deacon transpire for you? A call to ministry in Christ’s Church was impressed upon me while an undergraduate at Auburn, but it wasn’t until I got to Beeson that I began my journey into the Episcopal Church. Once there, it became clear that this call to ministry I had recognized while at Auburn was to the priesthood of the Episcopal Church. How do you hope to help the Episcopal Church as a deacon? I hope to serve the Episcopal Church in whatever capacity I am able. In the immediate future, it appears that this will continue to take place in the classroom and chapel services of Ascension Episcopal School as well as in the life of the Episcopal Church of the Ascension.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH, OCALA

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role, I will continue our missions with the David School in the Appalachian Mountains and the Dominican Evangelical Church in San Cristobal, San Rafael and Samongola.

Caroline Miller Current church/capacity: Recently accepted a call to serve at Grace Episcopal Church, Ocala. Will serve as transitional deacon at Grace and remain on staff after priesthood ordination. Sponsoring parish: St. Peter’s, Lake Mary. Deacon title: Transitional Diaconate. Please briefly summarize your religious background as far as your upbringing and any leadership roles you may have held. When I was growing up, my parents served as missionaries in Nairobi, Kenya. Needless to say, my relationship with Jesus has been a big part of my life as long as I can remember! Over the years, God has led me into a variety of roles in the church and in ministry, both formally and informally. For example, in addition to working in the diocesan office, I served as a lay Eucharistic minister and young adult group leader for several years before discerning the call to the priesthood.

How did the call to become a deacon transpire for you? I felt the call to enter the ordination process in the Episcopal Church as I served our parish and realized I was called to enter into a deeper relationship with our church family. How do you hope to help the Episcopal Church as a deacon? I am excited to be able to assist with worship and continue to serve our youth and families. In this

Following her ordination on Sept. 8, Caroline Miller will serve at Grace Episcopal Church in Ocala. Miller formerly worked as administrative assistant to the Canon for Vocations, the Rev. Canon Dr. Justin Holcomb, for the Diocese of Central Florida.

Please see DEACONS, page 22

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LEADERSHIP PHOTO PROVIDED BY CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF ST. LUKE

DEACONS … from page 21

Caroline Miller …continued

How do you hope to help the Episcopal Church as a deacon?

How did the call to become a deacon transpire for you?

I am still discerning in what capacity I might serve the Church.

All Christians are called to service. It is part of our DNA as the Body of Christ. Everyone called to ordained ministry is called to be a deacon; that type of focused, intentional, and loving service is the very foundation of Christian leadership. When I discerned my call to the priesthood with the help of my church community, my mentors, and my friends, I knew that it meant I was called to be ordained as a deacon first. How do you hope to help the Episcopal Church as a deacon? The primary role of a deacon is to serve as a bridge between the Church and the world, bringing the needs of the world into the Church and helping the Church step out in faith and love into the world with the Gospel. Deacons are especially called to love and serve the poor, the weak, and the desolate – the types of people society overlooks. As a counselor, I hope that I can fulfill my diaconal call not only by serving the poor and the “least of these” as we classically think of them (which I think is absolutely essential!), but also by serving the lonely, the isolated, and the emotionally and relationally impoverished.

Robert Osborne Current church/capacity: Sponsoring parish: Iglesia Episcopal Jesús de Nazaret, Orlando. Recent graduate of Trinity School for Ministry in Ambridge, Pennsylvania. Deacon title: Transitional Diaconate. Please briefly summarize your religious background as far as your upbringing and any leadership roles you may have held. In terms of leadership roles in the Church, I have taught Sunday school, youth group, and hosted

Mallene Stowe

The Cathedral Church of St. Luke in downtown Orlando has been the site of many ordinations through the years.

Bible studies, in addition to leading young adult outings, mission trips, and various fundraising ventures. I have also served as an acolyte, thurifer, and lector, and I have worked with prison ministries, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, and helped convene services within nursing homes. I have been involved with and worked on a number of projects with the Episcopal Church in Connecticut; the Catholic Archdiocese of Jos, Nigeria; the Anglican Diocese of Kaduna, Nigeria; the Anglican Diocese of Mukono, Uganda; the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem; and the Anglican/Episcopal Diocese of Egypt with North Africa and the Horn of Africa. How did the call to become a deacon transpire for you?

I am a cradle Episcopalian. I felt God calling me toward a life of service ever since I was a child. I felt God directing me to move toward a vocation where I would have to make morally difficult decisions. I have spent much of my life so far consumed with an interest in making simple ones: feed the hungry, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, visit those in prison, seek the welfare of my city of occupancy. In the past few years I have heard God calling me to places where I have had to make difficult decisions that are morally perplexing. Shepherding members of God’s fold and resources toward actualizing the Kingdom of God in this contemporary world is the most perplexing thing I can fathom.

CENTRAL FLORIDA EPISCOPALIAN • Sept.-Oct. 2018

Current church/capacity: St. James, Ormond Beach, assigned to serve at Church of the Holy Child, Ormond Beach after ordination. Deacon title: Vocational Diaconate. Please briefly summarize your religious background as far as your upbringing and any leadership roles you may have held. My home church for more than a dozen years, the church in which I was raised up for diaconal ministry, is St. James, Ormond Beach. I served there as a lector and lay eucharistic minister, a member of Daughters of the King, assisted with confirmation classes, sang in the choir, and assisted with Vacation Bible School. For my field work, I was assigned to the Church of the Holy Child, Ormond Beach, and God has called me to serve there as their deacon after ordination. Bishop (Greg) Brewer has made that placement official, and I have begun the transition. How did the call to become a deacon transpire for you? As a child, I was brought up in the Baptist Church, and I really don’t remember a time that I didn’t know Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Despite some time in my teenage years when I spent more Sundays at the beach than in church, I always felt like there was something more God was calling me to. I returned to church before my senior year of high school, and by the time I was a junior in college, I had been director of the Training Union, had served on a pastoral search committee, was active in Bible studies, and had been involved in the music program, including singing in a women’s trio. I later found my way to Grace Episcopal Church, Ocala, in my mid-20s and was confirmed by Bishop (William) Folwell in 1982,

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LEADERSHIP and now I have been an Episcopalian most of my life. After my children were born, they were baptized at Grace and later attended the day school there. When my family moved to Ormond Beach in 1998, we attended a Methodist church where other family members were already actively involved, but I missed our liturgy and finally visited St. James in 2005 and soon realized that the Episcopal Church was my church home. After a few years, and while I was earning my M.Ed. in Instructional Technology, a friend at St. James suggested I consider diaconal ministry at some point. She knew I had chosen the instructional technology degree path over seminary as I just could not figure out how to make that happen and continue to teach school, which I needed to do. About a year after I graduated with my master’s degree, I attended the Conference on Ministry and began classes at the diocesan Institute for Christian Studies. The diaconal program was, at that time, a three-year program, but my journey was not without some twists, turns, and delays. My mother became unexpectedly very ill and died within a few months after I began my studies. There were other major life events that occurred within my family which required me to take time out. When I resumed the process last year, things fell into place for me to complete my training. How do you hope to help the Episcopal Church as a deacon? I have learned many things through this journey, and perhaps one of the greatest is that following God and His call will be nothing short of an adventure. Things do not always happen as we expect or when we expect, but we can be assured that if we seek God’s will, He

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will bless our efforts and work out his purpose for our lives. He has changed my life in ways I never dreamed possible and is using my life experiences to be the servant He has called me to be.

Orlando’s Gillett Heeds Call to Minister in the Panhandle By Jeff Gardenour

he need to do unto others propelled the Rev. Katie Gillett into ministry, and that calling now has led her to the Florida Panhandle.

My ministry as a deacon will involve supporting others in their ministries, A former member of St. Mary of the Angels and it will involve teaching because Episcopal Church in Orlando, Gillett accepted a call that is what I do, but I believe God also Gillett as the associate rector for Outreach and Spirituality wants me to use my training with techat Christ Church Parish, Pensacola, in the Diocese of Central Gulf Coast. She nology for online outreach in addition moved from Central Florida to the Panhandle and began her new position on to online learning. We must be willing Monday, June 11. Her first Sunday preaching and serving at the altar came on to go where people are, and people are Friday, June 15. online, and they are at work and involved in many other activities when She was officially ordained into the Sacred Order of Priests on Wednesday, we typically worship. Our worship Aug. 29, at Christ Church. Bishop Greg Brewer of the Diocese of Central Florineed not be limited to Sunday mornda ordained her and celebrated Holy Eucharist. The ordination came just sevings, nor to specific locations. God is en months after she was ordained as a transitional deacon at The Cathedral of not constrained by human boundaries. Saint Luke in Orlando. When my children graduated from high school and reached their college years, I was taken aback at how little the church had to offer for them. Although my kids have moved through those years and have found their way back to church, that need is still there, and I want to explore new ways of reaching out to young adults—and many others—who may be better served by a form of church that looks a little different than what we know and love. I believe I am in a position to be a bridge between the traditional church and these new ways of sharing God’s love with our hurting and broken world. With the United States now being the third largest mission field in the world, we cannot afford, for the cause of Christ, to just hope that those who do not know Him will simply show up on Sunday. The Great Commandment and Great Commission demand more and better of us.

“I assist the rector, am primarily responsible for providing clergy support to the areas of outreach and spirituality and have the opportunity to be part of many ministries of the parish,” said Gillett, who graduated from Duke Divinity School in Durham, North Carolina, in May.

These are exciting times in which we live, and I feel incredibly blessed that God has called me “for such a time as this.”

Gillett also is a published author. Her article “Blessed Repetition” last year appeared in Anglican Episcopal House of Studies Perspectives for Duke Divinity School.

“I am very excited to be at Christ Church and am thankful for the many opportunities to learn, grow, and develop as a deacon and soon-to-be priest,” Gillett said. “I am excited to be part of the Christ Church family as we seek to be a loving family of Christians who, by God’s grace and spirit, pray, think, and serve in the name of Christ Jesus (our mission).” Gillett said the church’s outreach mission is to serve God “by helping people in need of the basic necessities of life by following Christ’s mandate in Matthew 25, ‘ … for I was hungry, and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me ...’” Also, a former member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Cary, North Carolina, Gillett said she felt a call from God to be ordained while studying abroad in London. “I had a profound experience of God’s grace and love enveloping and clothing me during a service of Evensong at Westminister Abbey,” she said in an interview earlier this year. “It was at this moment I received clarity as to my vocation in life. Throughout my undergraduate studies, I strove toward being a physician for the sick and elderly; but at this moment, I realized I was called to be a physician of souls – a representative, leader and teacher for people to learn and grow in the knowledge of God’s infinite love and grace.”

As associate rector at Christ Church, Gillett will serve under the Rev. Dr. Michael Hoffman, rector, in the Diocese of Central Gulf Coast under Bishop James Russell Kendrick. For more information on Christ Church, please visit the website https://christ-church.net on the internet.

CENTRAL FLORIDA EPISCOPALIAN • Sept.-Oct. 2018

LEADERSHIP

Diocese Celebrates New Ministry of Rev. MacMillan By Jeff Gardenour

PHOTOS BY ERICK PEREZ/CFE

hether it is delivering a sermon, teaching a Bible class, or working to raise money for his church’s special needs school, the Rev. Cameron MacMillan loves serving the Lord.

people of all ages,” said MacMillan, who follows the Rev. Sarah Bronos as rector. “I’m excited to celebrate the ministry of Good Shepherd at this point in its history. The congregation here is full of people who want to serve Jesus and see His Kingdom expand in our community.

On Sunday, July 29, the Diocese of Central Florida rejoiced in MacMillan’s spiritual commitment when it celebrated the new ministry of MacMillan in his official installation as rector at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, 331 Lake Avenue in Maitland, just seven miles from downtown Orlando.

“I’m personally excited about getting the church more actively engaged with biblical education through our Sunday morning Christian Formation series and through our small group Bible studies that are led by knowledgeable and prayerful leaders,” MacMillan said.

Bishop Greg Brewer preached and led the 1-hour celebration, which drew approximately 100 people to the Central Florida parish, including his wife, Hannah, and children, Lydia and Benjamin. A potluck dinner was held afterwards in the church’s parish hall.

MacMillan’s goal of increasing participation in biblical education

“My goal is simple: Make Good Shepherd a place of discipleship for all Above: The cross shines brightly at Episcopal Church of Good Shepherd in Maitland.

The Rev. Cameron MacMillan, far right, celebrates his installation as rector at Church of the Good Shepherd with wife, Hannah, far left, and children Benjamin and Lydia.

CENTRAL FLORIDA EPISCOPALIAN • Sept.-Oct. 2018

Left: The Rev. Cameron MacMillan kneels before Bishop Greg Brewer during his celebration of ministry.

The Rev. Cameron MacMillan, standing far right, prays while listening to Bishop Greg Brewer during his official installation as rector at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Maitland on July 29.

through the church’s Sunday morning Christian Formation series is becoming a reality. He said between 20 and 25 people are showing up for the classes, with lots of rich discussion. “I taught quite a few classes during my two years as curate,” he said. “Right now, I’m teaching a class called Praying with the Bible: Using Scripture as a Guide for Meditation, Intercession, and Praise. It’s one of my favorite parts of the job: teaching classes. I learn so much hearing from the people who participate.” The current Sunday morning classes will serve as a run-up to what should be a busy “school year.” Although Bible study groups run from fall to spring, the church also has a small “all are welcome” Bible study on Wednesday nights. MacMillan also is working on bettering the church’s special needs school, Celandine Life Prep Academy. The school is presently at capacity at 40 students but is raising money to build a covered walking path with sensory-motor exercise equipment on the “back forty” of the church’s campus. “This will be an exciting addition to the church’s grounds and will be available for all

to use,” MacMillan said. The Good Shepherd rector also looks to increase its support for Good Shepherd Academy in South Sudan. Good Shepherd in Maitland has supported the East-Central African country for two years, and recently had Father John Daau as a guest. Daau and his wife started and continue to run a school for children in South Sudan where more than 75 percent of the population is illiterate (more than 95 percent for females), MacMillan said. “We support them financially,” MacMillan said. “When Fr. John Daau was here, we sent him off with a financial gift, and we also gathered around him as a congregation and prayed for him. Having him here strengthened our relationship and there is now talk of annual mission trips over there, starting as early as next year. I will, hopefully, be traveling there next year with another priest from the diocese to help do some theological education with Father Daau.”

For more information on Church of the Good Shepherd, please call 407-644-5350.

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CHILDREN & YOUTH

Ministering to Youth Leads Jones to Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy

Jones said his number one goal as head chaplain is that the gospel of God’s grace would take root in the life of Holy Trinity. “The truth that God is actually a gracious God who loves sinners powerfully changed my life,” he said.

Former Orangewood Christian School director is HT’s new head chaplain By Nina Keck

ared Jones always has felt a calling to minister to youth, so when the opportunity arose to share the good works of God with high school students, he was thrilled beyond words. Jones recently was named head chaplain at Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy Upper School in Melbourne. He comes to Holy Trinity from Orangewood Presbyterian Church and Christian School in Maitland, where he served for four years as director of student ministries. “I have been doing student ministry for most of my ministry career, and 95 percent of ministry is present around the people you’re ministering to,” Jones said. “So, I began to notice in my student ministry positions that to really minister to these kids I would need to be in and around school with them since that’s where they spend the majority of their time. “When I heard about the position at Holy Trinity, I was thrilled!” Jones said. “Here was a job where I could do what I love (hang out and minister to students) while also be around them on a more consistent basis.” Jones brings a wealth of experience to the Brevard County private school. He has held several roles as a teaching assistant, and student ministry assistant at churches in Georgia and Central Florida. In 2015, he co-authored Live Free, a student devotional. He blends his love of writing with ministry by developing Christian content and curriculum. The multi-talented Jones holds a Bachelor of Sci-

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Jared Jones recently was named new chaplain at Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy Upper School in Melbourne.

ence degree in Biblical Studies from Liberty University, a Master’s degree in Divinity from Reformed Theological Seminary and is currently pursuing ordination with the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida. “I’m so excited to be going through the discernment process in the Diocese of Central Florida,” Jones said. “I have a huge amount of respect for Bishop (Greg) Brewer and his staff. Bishop Brewer, especially, has been a great pastor to me over the last few years. I’m excited to be in this diocese and look forward to (Lord willing!) a long and fruitful ministry here!” The path to ministry is nothing new to Jones. His father also was a pastor, and ministry has always been a part of his life. “For a while, though, I didn’t want to go into full-time ministry,” Jones said. “But early in college, I began to feel called to pursue ministry as a vocation. This call mainly centered around my love for scripture and the teaching and preaching ministry of the Church. And, as time has gone on, this call has been more clarified and confirmed throughout my ministry experience.”

Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy’s new head chaplain grew up believing that God inherently liked good people and disliked bad people. “This is soul-crushing!” Jones said. “People try to get out of it by toying around with whether or not people are all that ‘bad.’ But this goes against our common experience: we’re often our own worst enemy. We do the things we don’t want to do, and we don’t do the things we want to do (Romans 7). I finally realized that I would never improve “enough” to feel like I “arrived.” And that is where I finally understood that Christianity is about something entirely different: it’s all about grace. “My hope is that the students at Holy Trinity Academy hear the promise that ‘while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.’ (Rom. 5:8) This good news is a proclamation that you and I are forgiven, and we are loved ‘as is’ by God. It maintains the objectively verifiable reality that we aren’t “good” people, but it declares that we have been loved by God in Christ on the cross. And when this message is instilled in human hearts, it brings forth gratitude and love for our neighbor. It’s a beautiful thing to watch!” Jones said.

Jared Jones speaks to Holy Trinity students at the first chapel service of the 2018-2019 school year.

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY MICHELLE SALYER

CENTRAL FLORIDA EPISCOPALIAN • Sept.-Oct. 2018

CHILDREN & YOUTH

St. Mark’s CAN! Launches with 140th Anniversary Celebration By Jeff Gardenour

utherford B. Hayes was president when the forerunner of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church first opened its doors in 1878. And 140 years later, the church in historic Cocoa Village continues to build for the future. To commemorate its 140th anniversary, the St. Mark’s Episcopal Community on June 2 launched its St. Mark’s CAN! “Community Action Network” to build awareness, understanding, and support of campus redevelopment, according to St. Mark’s Director of Development Ken Parks. “St Mark’s launched St. Mark’s CAN! “Community Action Network” with the mission of inspiring Florida’s Space Coast and the world and to help preserve and improve its campus in historic Co-

Participating in the groundbreaking ceremony for the Al Glover Family Chapel & Classroom at St. Mark’s Episcopal Community, Cocoa, were, from left: Michael Ayers, CEO, Melbourne Regional Chamber of Commerce; Marcia Gaedcke, president, Titusville Area Chamber of Commerce; Pamela Gunthorpe, investor and community relations manager, Economic Development Council of Florida’s Space Coast; Delores Spearman and Dick Beagley, co-chairs, St. Mark’s Episcopal Community Campus of The Future; Bill Borger, warden, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church; Father Gary Jackson, St. Mark’s Episcopal Community; Tami and Russell Glover; The Rt. Rev. Greg Brewer, Bishop, the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida; Joi Robertson, head of school, St. Mark’s Episcopal Academy; Jeri Blanco, Deputy Mayor, Cocoa; Henry Parrish, Mayor, Cocoa; Nancy Elliot, chair, Historic Cocoa Village Association; Robyn Greene, chair, Main Street Cocoa; Jennifer Sugarman, president & CEO, Cocoa Beach Regional Chamber of Commerce; and Sue Davis, chair, Space Coast Inspiration Awards.

coa Village,” Parks said. The 2 ½-hour event featured the ceremonial groundbreaking and consecration of The Al Glover Family Chapel & Classroom. The expansion is part of the church’s phase one new “Campus of the Future” (1878-2078). More than 100 guests attended the event, including Bishop Greg Brewer of the Diocese of Central Florida; cake and punch were served in a festive atmosphere. “The primary intention of St. Mark’s CAN! is building support for a multiphase campus redevelopment initiative to include preservation of historic aspects of St. Mark’s Episcopal Community church and academy, as well as building

a new academy building, to include a top-floor multi-purpose room overlooking the Indian River Lagoon intercostal waterway, along the banks of which the campus is situated,” Parks said. To build regional awareness and support for the campus redevelopment, St. Mark’s Episcopal Community also launched the Space Coast Inspiration Awards, Parks said. “The awards will be presented on Saturday, October 13, featuring a performance by world-inspiring Christian academy survivor and singer Kechi, top finalist, America’s Got Talent 2017, and some of the most inspirational people of Florida’s Space Coast, our award winners,” he said. “Winners will be chosen in four categories: St. Mark’s; Historic Cocoa Village; Florida’s Space Coast; and The World!” Currently, phase one of the campus redevelopment project, The Al Glover Family Chapel & Classroom,

Left: After remarks in the church, the group followed Father Gary Jackson, rector of St. Mark’s Episcopal Community; head of school Joi Robertson, St. Mark’s Episcopal Academy; and The Rt. Rev. Greg Brewer, Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida, in song, on a pavilion to the Indian River for the groundbreaking of the Al Glover Family Chapel & Classroom.

CENTRAL FLORIDA EPISCOPALIAN • Sept.-Oct. 2018

is in the final engineering and construction phase and is slated to begin later this year, Parks said. “The family chapel and classroom were fully funded by The Al Glover Family trust. The family is very involved in our church and academy and has a long history with our community,” Parks said. Parks said the discernment phase of a capital campaign, developed in partnership with the Episcopal Church Foundation, is complete. Next up is the feasibility phase, followed by the capital development phase. “We anticipate the capital campaign getting underway later this year,” he said. The cost of St. Mark’s multi-phase campus redevelopment will be finalized once the City of Cocoa completes its review and approval process, Parks said.

For more information, visit http:// www.stmarkscan.org on the internet. The church is located at 4 Church Street, Cocoa, FL, 32922. Information about the church can be obtained by calling 321-636-3781. The Rev. Gary Jackson is rector.

Above: Some of the 140 guests enjoy the festivities at the 140th birthday celebration of St. Mark’s Episcopal Community, Historic Cocoa Village, and pose with 140 cupcakes.

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DIOCESE • Sept. 15, 9 a.m.-noon – Cursillo Cursillo Commission, diocesan office, Orlando.

Sept. 15, 10 a.m. – Daughters of the King (DOK) Fall Assembly

St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, DeLand

Sept. 20-22 – “Ancient Order, Radical Vocation” Conference

Co-sponsored by the Diocese of Central Florida, the conference will focus on the radical vocation Anglican ministry. The event is a valuable continuing education option for clergy and laity, and a chance for people discerning a possible call to ordained ministry to learn more about the faith. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, will be one of several conference leaders to attend. Archbishop Welby will preach at the opening Evensong. The conference begins at 3 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 20, and runs through 1:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 22, at Church of the Incarnation, 3966 McKinney St., Dallas, Texas, 75204. For more information, access https:// radvoco.org/ on the internet.

Diocesan Calendar •

Oct. 12-14 – Cursillo

Co-ed Weekend at Canterbury Retreat & Conference Center, Oviedo.

Oct. 13, 8:30 a.m. – ICS Live Classes

Diocesan office, Orlando

Oct. 19-21 – New Beginnings

Spiritual camp designed to respond to the issues, concerns and needs of middle-schoolers (ages 12-15). New Beginnings was created to help youth grow in their love of themselves, of others, and of the Lord, Jesus Christ. Event to be held at Camp Wingmann, Avon Park. Email the Rev. Phyllis Bartle at phlealess@aol.com for more information.

Oct 20-21 – Couples Retreat

“Journey of the Heart” weekend retreat for married couples who have experienced the loss of a child. Event to be held at Canterbury Retreat & Conference Center, Oviedo.

Sept. 22, 8:30 a.m. – ICS Live Classes

Oct. 22-Oct. 24 – Annual Clergy Conference

Sept. 22, 6 p.m. – Gospel Concert

Oct. 26-28 – Cursillo

Sept. 29, 7:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. – 4th annual Holy Trinity Charity Golf Tournament

Oct. 27 – ECW Annual Meeting

Diocesan office, Orlando

Holy Faith Episcopal Church, Port St. Lucie

Canterbury Retreat & Conference Center, Oviedo

Hispanic Weekend

St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, Orlando

2018 Blackston Financial-Holy Trinity Charity Golf Tournament at Harbor Hills Country Club, Lady Lake.

Nov 10, 8:30 a.m. – ICS Live Classes

Sept. 29 – 8th Annual Tea

Diocesan office, Orlando

Nov. 17, 9 a.m.-noon – Cursillo

St. Edward’s Episcopal Church, Mt. Dora

Oct. 7, 4 p.m. – Ordination to the Priesthood

Kathy Elizabeth Hulin, at All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Lakeland.

Bishop Brewer Visitation Schedule 9/13/18 Winter Park, Trinity Prep (50th Anniversary) 9/15/18 DeLand, St. Barnabas (Daughters of the King Fall Assembly) 9/16/18 Ormond Beach, St. James 9/23/18 Longwood, Christ Church 9/30/18 Orlando, St. Michael’s 10/7/18 (a.m.) Sebastian, St. Elizabeth’s 10/7/18 (p.m.) Lakeland, All Saints’ (Priesthood Ordination – The Rev. Kathy Hulin) 10/14/18 Eustis, St. Thomas 10/27/18 Orlando, St. John the Baptist (ECW Annual Meeting) 10/28/18 Daytona Beach, St. Timothy’s 11/4/18 Bushnell, St. Francis of Assisi 11/11/18 Orlando, St. Matthew’s 11/18/18 Port Orange, Grace 12/1/18 Ocala, Gateway to Hope at St. Patrick’s 12/2/18 Ocala, Grace 12/9/18 Oviedo, Incarnation 12/16/18 Belleview, St. Mary’s Bishop Brewer’s visitation dates are subject to change. Please refer to www.cfdiocese.org for the most current visitation listing.

50th Anniversary Revival Deanery Meetings Sunday, 9/30/18 at 4 p.m.

Central Deanery Cathedral, Orlando

Saturday, 10/20/18 at 10 a.m. Southeast Deanery Trinity, Vero Beach Sunday, 10/28/18 at 4 p.m.

Northeast Deanery Grace, Port Orange

Sunday, 11/4/18 at 4 p.m.

Northwest Deanery St. Mary’s, Belleview

Sunday, 11/11/18 at 4 p.m.

Southwest Deanery St. Paul’s, Winter Haven

Events and dates subject to change. Please check www.cfdiocese.org for the most current listings.

www.cfdiocese.org

CENTRAL FLORIDA EPISCOPALIAN • Sept.-Oct. 2018

CENTRAL FLORIDA EPISCOPALIAN 1017 E. Robinson Street Orlando, FL 32801-2023 Non-Profit Organization U. S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 4111 ORLANDO, FLORIDA

Save the Date Feb. 1-2, 2019

50th Annual Diocesan Convention with

Guest Preacher

The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry

Sept. 22 \ Growing Your Church

Grace Episcopal Church, 4110 S. Ridgewood Ave., Port Orange, FL 32127

Oct. 27 \ Growing Your Church

Canterbury Retreat & Conference Center, 1601 Alafaya Trail, Oviedo, FL 32765 For more information, access the website: http://www.cfdiocese.org/churchgrowth/

CENTRALFLORIDA

EPISCOPALIAN

NEWS FROM THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF CENTRAL FLORIDA WWW.CFDIOCESE.ORG • Volume 120, No.5 •Sept.-Oct. 2018

Bishop Brewer: Keep Saying Yes to Jesus

Page 3

Trinity House Is Blessing to Puerto Ricans, Central Florida

Page 7

Central Florida Deputation Makes Impact at General Convention

Pages 12, 17

Diocese Celebrates New Ministry of Rev. MacMillan

Page 24

Ministering to Youth Leads Jones to Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy

Page 25