The Rev. Chip Connelly, The Rev. Bryan O’Carroll, and The Rev. Ellen Sloan (Chair). The Rev. Fred Robinson served as Liaison to the Standing Committee, and Canon Michael Durning continues to be the COM’s liaison to the Diocese. The COM remains deeply grateful to Canon Durning and Tana Sembiante, without whom it could not do its important work. A major revision of the COM Manual was completed this year, with a new title “The Discernment Journey.” All Rectors, Vicars, and Priests-in-Charge were notified by email of its availability on the Diocesan website and also in hard copy via the Diocesan Office. We hope those feeling a call to ordained ministry, and those in discernment with them, will find the new manual helpful and instructive. The COM continues to hold Bishop’s Advisory Panels (BAP) in the Fall and in the Spring. The Fall BAP (2015) is scheduled for October 27 and participants ready for that phase of discernment will be notified by the COM, through Canon Durning. The day usually consists of Morning Prayer, a workshop on Spiritual Direction, morning and afternoon interviews with all those seeking Postulancy, and social time during breakfast and lunch. The COM also holds a Vocation Information Evening every year to assist people in discerning if they have a call to serve God in a new way, and how best to begin that journey forward. The evening has been called “A Sacred Time Between Times: Reflections and Discussion on Discerning God’s Call.” It remains my hope that the COM can continue to listen deeply and well to those “still small voices” not only speaking to it, but also speaking to their congregations, to the Bishop, and to the significant people and family in their lives. Our goal is to work together to help people live into the fullness of their lives as baptized Christians. The Very Rev. Dr. Ellen M. Sloan
Companion Diocese The Companion Diocese programs for the Diocese of Southwest Florida had yet another busy year in 2015. The leaders of the various mission programs who make up the Companion Diocese Committee meet once a month from September through May at DaySpring. The many mission programs within the Diocese of Southwest Florida have continued to effect real change in our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic. More than 100 missionaries participated on various teams and thousands supported from across our Diocese. Here are a few of the highlights of the relational programs administered through our companion program. Tampa Deanery: The Tampa deanery sent three teams with 51 missionaries who returned to Santa Fe for the 4th consecutive year to complete work on the Santa Cruz (Holy Cross) church, power wash and paint the vicarage, and work on the new Santa Cruz Vocational School being built by the Dominican Episcopal Church. Additionally for the first time the Tampa Deanery team hosted a VBS for 150 students from the Santa Cruz and nearby San Pedro Apostol primary schools. Clearwater Deanery: The Clearwater deanery sent one team with 12 missionaries to build a new kitchen and cafeteria at Jesus Peregrino School in Baharona. The team also worked at the neighboring La Redencion primary school repainting the common areas and classrooms. 40
Venice Deanery: The Venice project was to build a new kitchen and modify the parish hall to become the cafeteria at the Todos Los Santos School in La Romana. The Venice deanery supplied financial resources and was joined by St. John’s Episcopal Church in Clearwater who sent a team of 6 missionaries to work with local workers and volunteers from the community. The team also repainted the sanctuary of the church. Naples Deanery: The Naples Deanery has continued to support the Buen Samaritano children’s shelter, providing lifesaving help to many children in Santiago. St. John’s Episcopal Church: (Naples) has continued to support the construction of the Iglesia Espiritu Consolador church in Dajabon. They also provided much needed surgery for a Louis Alfredo Blanco, a child with severely crossed eyes. The surgery went well and Louis is recovering well. Church of the Redeemer (Sarasota): Sent a 27-person team in June to Puerto Plata. They made much needed repairs to the Nino de Amor preschool and Iglesia Cristo Rey. They also held a VBS and worked on the construction of the new Iglesia San Simon Apostol in San Marcos. St. Peter’s Cathedral: St. Peter’s Cathedral sent one team which provided VBS for hundreds of children at Iglesia San Lucas, in Santiago and La Anunciacion in Tamboril. ECW of the Diocese of Southwest Florida: The Episcopal Church Women of our Diocese have continued to support the Santo Tomas children’s nutritional program. This program began as a Saturday morning Bible study for the children of the community, the local church women quickly realized that many of these children did not have food at home and began to cook a hot meal to go along with the Bible study. Over the years the program has expanded and now feeds over 95 children each Saturday. They have started a homework helper program for the children attending the local public schools. Each afternoon volunteer teachers come and tutor the children. The ECW also collected children’s undergarments at churches across the Diocese on designated “Undies Sundays”. The ECW also collects for scholarships for children attending Episcopal schools in the DR. Many individuals and churches have also contributed to children’s education by providing scholarships to attend the Episcopal schools in the DR and other mission programs operated in the Dominican Republic. We have also sent 2 containers full of donations from across the Diocese to assist our companion churches in the DR. Kathy Gilpin, Companion Diocese Committee Chair; Bill Kunkle, DDG Executive Director
Council on Deacons This past year the Council on Deacons focused on two areas. First, we received and evaluated the Episcopal Grant Applications and made recommendations to the Bishop and the Diocesan Council. The second area was establishing a database for continuing education for clergy in our Diocese. This list has been vetted and it is hoped to have it listed in our diocesan website. The Ven. Dennis McManis, Canon for Mission and Outreach
Cursillo The Cursillo community has had a quite a busy year, having completed two very successful weekends with another scheduled for October. The theme for the February weekend, led by Ray Mercy in Mission: