TheNet SummerFall2015 single

The Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida

www.diosef.org

Vol. 46 No. 2

THE NET SUMMER/FALL 2015

General Convention Issue

Wake Up! 2016 is Food Packing for Haiti Youth Communications Around the Corner Your Two Hands are Needed! Improvements on Deck

THE NET Summer/Fall 2015

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Feature Story

General Convention Ushers in Big Change (pictured L-R) front: Diana Frade, the Rev. Jennie Lou Reid, the Rev. Carol Barron, the Rev. Willie Allen-Faiella back: the Rev. Horace Ward, Karen Phillips Smith, the Rev. Mario Milien, Richard Miller, Canon Jim Nolan, Tom O’Brien (deputy not pictured) Bonnie Weaver

Contents 3

Bishop’s Column One For The History Books

4 Viewpoint Unbroken

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SF Haiti Project Dedicates New Church

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Young Adults In Search of Something Greater

Please consider donating to the communications ministry to help continue spreading the good news of this diocese through outlets such as The Net. The envelope provided in this issue is for your convenience. Thank you in advance for your generosity.

Cover photo: This image, captured during General Convention, is half of a Connick window set found in the Cathedral Church of St. Mark, in Salt Lake City, Utah. The individual in the picture is a representation of the Apostle John. It was placed in the Cathedral of St. Mark in August 1956 and honors two long-time members of the church, both of whom died in the late 1930s.

For more history of the Cathedral Church of St. Mark, visit www.cathedralchurchofstmark.org. Photo credit: Altoria E. White.

Official Publication of the Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida The Rt. Rev. Leo Frade, D.D. Diocesan Bishop The Rt. Rev. Peter Eaton Bishop Coadjutor

The Rt. Rev. Calvin O. Schofield, Jr. S.T.D. Retired Bishop The Rt. Rev. John L. Said Retired Bishop Suffragan

Communications Altoria E. White Director of Communications Editor, The Net

Joe Thoma Production Management pspress.com

Kenyatta Register Copy Editor, The Net

Fina Florez Graphic Designer, The Net

Kathryn Blanton Convener of Communications Ministry 2

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The Net reports news of parish ministries and activities, as well as commentary on church-related issues and events. Whenever possible, all material should be submitted electronically.

Include with all material the name, address, phone number and, email address (if available) of the contributor. Parish affiliation is also requested, when applicable.

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2015 Deadlines Information Due

Issue 3 Issue 4

October 10 November 10

One for the History Books “The apostles and elders met to consider this question.” (Acts 15:6) hat first General Convention of the Church in Jerusalem happened about 2,000 years ago. The discussion centered on whether or not the recently converted Gentiles should be circumcised.

The apostle Paul and Barnabas had a “sharp dispute” with those that were teaching that it was necessary to be circumcised to be saved.

The apostle Peter took Paul’s side and reiterated his position that our salvation is obtained through the grace of our Lord Jesus, just as we are. Eventually, it was St. James, acting as the presiding bishop of that first Council of Jerusalem, who reaffirmed Paul’s position and welcomed the Gentiles into the body of believers. It is interesting that one of the main requirements that James enforced was that the Gentiles must abstain from eating blood sausage and food sacrificed to idols, and abstain from sexual immorality.

This summer, we finished another General Convention of the church- not in Jerusalem but in Salt Lake City, Utah this time. As in any convention, we were able to discuss different issues that affect the life of our church but we didn’t discuss anything about blood sausages.

For me, this convention was kind of bittersweet. I have been attending General Convention since 1977 and the realization that this will be my last one, before resigning my jurisdiction as diocesan bishop, was not that easy. I would be lying if I told you that it did not bring a certain amount of sadness because I have enjoyed my ministry as a bishop since 1984, both here and in Honduras, where I served for almost 17 years. I recently celebrated 15 years since my enthronement as diocesan bishop of southeast Florida.

As I looked around at my sisters and brothers of the House of Bishops, I rejoiced that many of the new bishops, including our present presiding bishop, are women. I also rejoiced that more people of color form part of our body and that we have been able to carry all of our discussions with respect and with love for each other.

I was very glad that we were able to preserve the bicameral form of government and that we also were able to reaffirm the full participation of all persons, excluding none. At the same time, we made space for those who are not in full agreement on issues dealing with same sex marriage.

I was also very happy with the election of our new Presiding Bishop who will assume his post on All Saint’s Day, Sunday, November 1, 2015, at the National Cathedral in Washington, D. C. He was elected in the first ballot when

BISHOP’S COLUMN

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the immense majority of the bishops voted for him. I rejoice that my friend and brother, Michael Curry, presently the bishop of North Carolina, is the Presiding Bishop-Elect.

I rejoice because you can see he is a person of deep faith, completely unashamed to proclaim the name of Jesus Christ, loud and clear. A person totally unapologetic of his Christian beliefs and also a person that has a contagious joy, able to awaken our Episcopal Church to fulfill the role that Christ has for us.

I also rejoice that he will be the preacher at my farewell service at Trinity Cathedral, Miami, on January 9, 2016. All are invited to come hear our new presiding bishop.

Before I end this column, I also want to say that I rejoice knowing that our Diocese of Southeast Florida has elected a bishop coadjutor that will continue leading and helping us to grow our churches. The Rt. Rev. Peter Eaton’s seating as diocesan bishop will take place also at Trinity Cathedral on January 30, 2016, and the preacher will be the 104th Archbishop of Canterbury, the Right Reverend and Right Honorable Lord Williams of Oystermouth.■

The Rt. Rev. Leo Frade Bishop of the Diocese of Southeast Florida Summer / Fall 2015

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VIEWPOINT

unbroken

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nbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand, is a non-fiction account of Louis Zamperini, a wild youth who eventually became an Olympic runner. In World War II, his plane was shot down in the Pacific Ocean, and he was captured by the Japanese and sent to prison camp. Back home after the war, he became a classic, textbook example of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Bird, his Japanese tormentor, haunted him at night and alcohol turned his days into episodes of violence. His constant obsession was to stalk and kill “the Bird”.

Hillenbrand noted, “the paradox of vengefulness is that it makes men dependent on those who have harmed them, believing that their release from pain will come only when they make their tormentors suffer.”

On the verge of losing everything, including his wife and baby, something miraculous happened that transformed his life.

After being dragged by his wife, Cindy, to a Billy Graham rally in Los Angeles, and after walking out three times, something Graham said touched him and he turned around and walked down the sawdust trail. “In a single sullen moment, his rage, his fear, his humiliation and helplessness had fallen away,” the author noted.

Louis became a new creature, and the desire to forgive led him back to Japan where he visited the old prison camp and embraced his former captors. All were there except for the Bird, whom many thought had committed suicide. In the book’s epilogue, it was reported that Bird had not died but now lived in Tokyo as a prosperous businessman.

When Louis returned to Japan to carry the torch at the Olympics, he sought a meeting with his former tormentor with this letter:

A book review by The Rev. Bob Libby 4

To Mutsuhiro Watanabe: As a result of my prisoner of war experience under your unwarranted and unreasonable punishment, my post war life became a nightmare. …The post-war nightmare caused my life to crumble, but thanks to a confrontation with God through the evangelist Billy Graham, I committed my life to Christ. Love replaced the hate I had for you. …At that moment, like the others, I also forgave you and

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“In a single sullen moment, his rage, his fear, his humiliation and helplessness had fallen away.” now would hope that you would also become a Christian.

The Bird never replied to the letter. The two men never met, but Louis Zamperini was a free man in more ways than one.

The Rev. Bob Libby, a retired priest of this diocese is the author of The Forgiveness Book.■

Wake Up:

2016 Is Quickly Approaching

VIEWPOINT

By The Venerable Canon Dr. J. Fritz Bazin Archdeacon for Immigration and Social Justice

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ore than ever, people of faith and people of God are being called to stand and be counted all over the world and especially in these United States of America. We are the most powerful and richest nation in the world; a nation whose laws and customs are greatly influenced by the Judeo Christian tradition. Fortunately, we are a country that allows the practice of all faiths, with a constitution that separates church (religion) and state.

Therefore, it is incumbent on all Christian denominations in this land to take to heart the words of the prophets of old when speaking about justice. As it says in Micah 6:8, “What does the Lord require from you but to act justly, to love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.” We Episcopalians, in particular, have in our baptismal covenant the promise to strive for justice and promote the dignity of every human being. These are not words to simply recite in church but a call to a serious commitment of making choices that are in accordance with such promises. The year 2016 is fast approaching. All eligible US citizens are expected to vote about issues of paramount importance for the future of this county and the world.

Justice is at the core of these next electoral campaigns.

Republicans, democrats, and others are already vying for our votes and it is all about justice: social, economic, gender equality, sexual orientation, immigration, environmental concerns, religious freedom, education, and job opportunity.

It is indeed a heavy load. We have a duty to be informed about these issues, to speak about them, and decide to vote with a clear conscience that what we are seeking is “justice flowing in this land like a river.”

It is all about republicans, democrats, and other parties that might express a “center” political philosophy. Unfortunately, individual politicians are too often tempted to take a stand for political expediency instead of standing for what they know in their heart is the right thing to do.

To some, studying the issues before deciding to vote seems complicated, yet we are talking about the future of social security, jobs,and equal pay for equal work. Such challenges cannot be ignored. It is one of the sacrifices everyone must make. It is not about reading some big books with words that send us to the dictionary. Using the internet wisely, we can find out a lot about the issues. Our various

church groups can come together to respectfully and honestly discuss many topics without turning such sessions into campaigning for one party or another.

A few pertinent issues I suggest church groups discuss with a good moderator include: law enforcement and race, capital punishment, same-sex marriage, the undocumented in our midst, and access to and quality of education. These are just a few of the hot topics that are fueling national discussion. What else can you come up with in your parish?

Indeed, not every one of these topics is directly related to the program of the person who will be our next president.

However, he or she sets the tone and offers the vision that will allow necessary reforms to heal our broken systemswhether immigration, racial harmony, health care, or religious tolerance.

We, at the Office of Social Justice, will endeavor to offer materials and contact experts in these and other fields to assist groups in deaneries or congregations. This will help us become more engaged in view of the next elections and encourage a good healthy praxis as Christians and Episcopalians.■ Summer / Fall 2015

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NEWS & VIEWS

South Florida Haiti Project Dedicates New Episcopal Church in Bondeau, Haiti

By David Gury, St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church “Building a house of worship was a logistical step.”

Beautiful view of the altar inside the newly constructed church.

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outh Florida Haiti Project, a nonprofit outreach ministry based in south Florida, joined in the dedication of a newly built Episcopal church in Bondeau, Haiti, on July 12, 2015. Formerly known as St. Marie Madeleine, the new Bon Samaritan Episcopal Church will hold approximately 800 congregants and will be the largest Episcopal church in Haiti.

The daylong dedication celebration drew nearly 1,000 people and included a worship service, music, food, and fellowship. Clergy and laypeople from across Haiti attended, including the Rt. Rev. Jean Zache Duracin, bishop of Haiti. Also in attendance was Linda Turner, widow of Jim Turner, the first American supporter of South Florida Haiti Project’s outreach to Bondeau.

The need for a new church, however, became increasingly clear. Services 6

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were held in a primary school classroom big enough for about 75 people; however, more than 350 attend each Sunday, meaning congregants would stand or sit outside. “It’s easy to see how, next to water, the church is their number one priority right now,” said David Gury, treasurer of South Florida Haiti Project. “Having the new building will be like going from a one-bedroom apartment to a 5,000-square foot house. It will be an amazing transformation and a better home for the congregation.”

“Building a house of worship was not only a logical next step, but also one that the people of Bondeau deeply desired,” Fr. Sherman said. “The congregation provided the first $2,300 for the church, a testament to their vision for a church to anchor the thriving community we have created together.

Many of the congregants live on less than a dollar a day. Their contribution represents a significant sacrifice in relation to their resources, and it is proof of their profound faith.”

The children of Bondeau provided special music for the dedication with instruments gifted by South Florida Haiti Project through a United Thank Offering grant from the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Episcopal Church. The grant, which covered the purchase of 55 refurbished instruments, will launch a new music program at the Bon Samaritan School and provide a salary for a music teacher for one year.

St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church began its outreach program to Bondeau in 2003. In 2010, the South Florida Haiti Project was formed to advance the work of St. Gregory’s and today includes the following south Florida partners: St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Delray Beach, The Chapel of St. Andrew in Boca Raton, St. Andrew’s Schools in Boca Raton, The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Tequesta, The Episcopal Church of the Advent in Palm City, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Palmetto Bay and many others. Significant support also comes from private donors in south Florida and other regions of the U.S.■

Your two hands are capable of more than you think!

Food Packing for Haiti

By The Rev. Sanford H. Groff, Jr. Associate Rector, St. Mark’s, Palm Beach Gardens

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ood Packing for Haiti is an annual service event where volunteers of all ages pack dry food to be sent to hungry children in Haiti. This year, the goal is to raise funds and recruit volunteers to pack over 50,000 meals!

Last year, over 550 volunteers helped set-up, pack food, promote the event, and assist in clean up. In total, there were 17 Episcopal parishes represented in the 2014 inaugural outreach effort. The energy in the gym was palpable, and it was clear that the Spirit was at work!

St. Mark’s, Palm Beach Gardens, is excited to share news of the second an-

nual Food Packing for Haiti event on Saturday, October 17, 2015, at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church and School in Palm Beach Gardens. Together with partner parishes, Church of the Advent, Palm City and St. Paul’s, Delray Beach, members of parishes around the diocese and community are invited to join in this important outreach ministry.

Registration for this year’s event is open now. One of the most important ways to get involved is to help pack the food. To register, visit http://www.foodpackingforhaiti.org.

Food packers will be asked to register for two-hour shifts. At the end of the

Volunteers prep meals at last years event.

day, boxes are loaded into a truck and driven to the port where they are then sent to Haiti and distributed to families in need.

In addition to participating in this outreach, financial support is encouraged. The food and supplies cost a little more than $.30 per meal, bringing the total expense for this event to almost $20,000. To help meet this goal, individual donors and corporate sponsors are encouraged to assist.■

Baptism in the

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Bell

By Abigail Hooper, St. Paul’s, Key West

n the morning of July 25, 2015,the Rev. Larry D. Hooper, rector of St. Paul’s, Key West, baptized Cooper Harvey Karas aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Charles David, Jr. Cooper is the son of Boatswain Second Class Matthew and Kaylee Karas based in Key West. Fr. Hooper was invited to perform this baptism on the ship’s deck with the bell acting as the baptismal font, as is Coast Guard tradition. Upon arriving on base that morning, Fr. Hooper was given a tour of the ship, ending in the uncovering of the ship’s bell on the bow. The bell had been removed and polished (and plugged) for the occasion the day before. Cooper was baptized with the sounds of waves crashing against the side of the ship in an intimate service with his parents, sister, grandparents, and three of Matthew’s shipmates.

The bell of a ship is considered sovereign territory of the country of a ship’s origin. The tradition of baptizing children in the ship’s bell began so that the children born underway could be made citizens of the ship’s home country. Once the baptism is finished, the child’s name is then engraved inside the bell with the date of baptism. The bell remains with the ship until such time as it is decommissioned.■

Fr. Hooper stands with the family as little Cooper receives water from the baptismal font, held by the ship’s bell.

Summer / Fall 2015

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FEATURE STORY

78th General Convention Highlights of the History Making Triennial policies relating to Christian Formation. These commissions recommend resolutions to General Convention for adoption.

Newsmakers of #GC78 Several national and international newsmakers came out of the 78th General Convention this summer. For a full summary log-on to the Episcopal News Service website (www.episcopaldigitalnetwork.com) and click ‘78th General Convention.’

North Carolina Bishop Michael Curry elected presiding bishop

DIOSEF deputies celebrate the 230th birthday of the House of Deputies

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eographically, The Episcopal Church is divided into nine provinces, and 110 dioceses. Dioceses are made up of the congregations and missions within those dioceses.

At the top level is General Convention, a “lawmaking” body with a House of Bishops (about 200 bishops) and House of Deputies (880 deputies – 4 clergy and 4 laypersons elected from 110 dioceses). To be enacted, both Houses must approve resolutions.

Next is Executive Council, which is the board of directors of the corporation (the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society, Inc.), which encompasses The Episcopal Church.

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Executive Council has 38 members (20 elected by General Convention and two elected by each of the nine provinces). The presiding bishop and president of the House of Deputies are voting members, and there are three ex officio non-voting officers. The Executive Council conducts the “business” of The Episcopal Church between conventions by implementing resolutions and the budget adopted by General Convention deputies.

Between conventions, the work of the church is also conducted by 15 “standing commissions” which study and propose changes to such things as our Liturgy and Music, the Constitution and Canons of the Church, and

The Episcopal Church’s General Convention made history June 27 when it chose Diocese of North Carolina Bishop Michael Curry to be its 27th presiding bishop.

The House of Bishops elected Curry, 62, from a slate of four nominees on the first ballot. He received 121 votes of a total 174 cast. Diocese of Southwest Florida Bishop Dabney Smith received 21, Diocese of Southern Ohio Bishop Thomas Breidenthal, 19, and Diocese of Connecticut Bish-

Curry is the first AfricanAmerican to hold the position and the first bishop to be elected on the first ballot.

Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori and Presiding Bishop-elect Curry meet the media after the election of the 27th presiding bishop.

Members of the DIOSEF deputation and all deputies stand to applaud Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori for her service after a video presentation of her tenure.

op Ian Douglas, 13. The number of votes needed for election was 89.

Curry’s election was confirmed an hour later by the House of Deputies, as outlined in the church’s canons, by a vote of 800 to 12.

27 on 27 Following the history-making steps of the current (and first woman) presiding bishop, the Most Rev. Katharine

Jefferts Schori, Curry is the first African-American to hold the position and the first bishop to be elected on the first ballot. Bishop Katharine, as most affectionately call her, was elected in 2006 at the 75th general convention in Columbus, Ohio and served a nine-year term.

It was a joyous day as the announcement was made to the House of Deputies that the House of Bishops voted to elect Curry. Earning 121 out

of 174 votes, the bishops overwhelmingly and clearly wanted to see him as the church’s next leader.

The Rt. Rev. Leo Frade, the most senior bishop of the Episcopal Church, and bishop of the Diocese of Southeast Florida had very kind words for the presiding bishop-elect. This is Bishop Frade’s last general convention as a sitting bishop, as age restrictions require him to resign in January of 2016.

He calls Bishop Curry a true friend.

“This is something wonderful,” reflected Bishop Frade. “This is my fourth election for a presiding bishop and I’m elated. He started as bishop when I was transferred to the United States as a bishop. We’ve been close these past 15 years. What he says about Jesus is true. He is a true believer in our Lord Jesus Christ. It excites me and the church needs that kind of evangelism today, telling the world that Jesus Christ is alive and well.”

The Rt. Rev. Peter Eaton, one of the church’s newly ordained bishops, and bishop coadjutor for the Diocese of Southeast Florida is also looking forward to beginning his ministry in concurrence with Presiding Bishop-Elect Curry. “He was at my consecration in May and I have known him for many Summer / Fall 2015

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years. We enter into this next chapter of our lives with a leader around whom so many can gather and support and whom we know can preach so clearly and eloquently the gospel of Jesus Christ. It was wonderful to affirm the election of our great friend and bishop.”

Personal Perspective Canon Richard Miller Holy Family, Miami Chair of Deputation The 78th General Convention (GC) of The Episcopal Church was my 11th GC attendance. I have had the privilege of representing the Diocese of Southeast Florida as a deputy for the past ten General Conventions. This experience was different for me because for the first time, I did not serve on a legislative committee during convention- meaning there were two to three fewer meetings per day for me to attend. Of course, I attended committee meetings, the two plenary sessions each day, and meetings of the deputies of color and black deputies.

One exciting aspect of this convention was serving as sergeant-at-arms for the House of Deputies, an appointment made by the president of the House of Deputies (the Rev. Gay Jennings). In addition to my duties as chair of our diocesan deputation, my job was to escort special guests of the House of Deputies to the head platform. These guests included past House of Deputies presidents, past officers of GC, and the Episcopal Church Women’s newly elected president.

Perhaps my greatest privilege during convention was escorting the presiding bishop-elect of The Episcopal Church, Bishop Michael Curry, his family, and his diocesan deputation in a parade through the House of Deputies. Cameras were snapping and flashing to get the first photos of the new presiding bishop-elect and the crowd moved quickly to the side aisle to get a better view of the procession. The long 10 THE NET - www.diosef.org

walk from the rear to the front of the House of Deputies, in the presence of a few thousand cheering people, was exhilarating for me and a moment I will forever remember. My chest was extended proudly and I was walking on clouds with my walking cane. I was honored to escort the first African-American to be elected to serve as the primate and presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church.

For me, a notable take away from this General Convention was how we conducted the business of the church via cyberspace. We made full use of electronic media in our deliberations and voting. Deputies appeared to be friendlier to each other, more spirit-filled, and more cooperative. General Convention created a new structure for our church and provided the impetus and incentive for the church to spread the gospel and to do God’s work.

Marriage equality In the wake of the June 26 U.S. Supreme Court ruling legalizing samesex marriage for all Americans, General Convention followed suit on July 1 with canonical and liturgical changes to provide marriage equality for Episcopalians.

The House of Deputies concurred with the House of Bishops’ approval the day before of a canonical change eliminating language defining marriage as between a man and a woman (Resolution A036) and authorizing two new marriage rites with language allowing them to be used by same-sex or opposite-sex couples (Resolution A054).

Personal Perspective The Rev. Willifred Allen-Faiella 1st Clergy Alternate Rector, St. Stephens, Coconut Grove The 78th General Convention was my fourth GC since 1997.

It was radically different from the other three.

At each of the previous GCs that I attended, there was one overriding hot button issue: human sexuality- specifically, the full inclusion of LGBT people in the life of the church. Over the years, the conversations were heated, acrimonious, and very often, far from the expectations Jesus established for how his followers are to treat each other. One particular low point in the conversation came at the 2000 General Convention in Denver, when a deputy from a diocese in Texas strewed salt around the table where the president of Integrity, himself a deputy from Newark, was seated. Since the 1970’s, the mission of Integrity has been “to inspire and equip The Episcopal Church, its dioceses, congregations, and members to proclaim and embody God’s all-inclusive love for LGBTQ persons and those who love them.” Salt is used in rituals of warding off evil spirits and casting out demons. Thankfully, I was not present to witness the deputies and bishops of South Carolina walk out of the 2012 General Convention and then ultimately leave our church.

With the passage of Resolutions A036 and A054, the 78th General Convention completed its journey to include our LGBT sisters and brothers in the full life of the church. The 2012 resolution authorizing the blessing of same sex unions was a step in that direction, but many of us felt that it represented an “equal but separate” half-step. In my pastoral pre-marital conversations with all couples, straight and gay, I have always emphasized a theology of community. We have been created in God’s image to mirror a community of self-giving love, and in marriage we are invited into, perhaps, the most intense, focused, and lasting way of living into and out from that profound invitation.

This is the theological core of the sacrament of holy matrimony and it applies equally to all, no matter our sexual identity or that of our spouse.

In Salt Lake City, our church took a bold move forward in “respecting the dignity of every human being.” We did

so by acknowledging our differences in an irenic and respectful way, pledging to each other that staying together is more powerful than splitting apart. I think I saw the face of Jesus break forth in a smile; this, my brothers and sisters, is how we are to treat each other.

I felt truly blessed to have been part of this history-making General Convention. I couldn’t be prouder of our church.

Major Structural Changes The General Convention approved two resolutions making major changes to the structure of The Episcopal Church.

Substitute Resolution A004 slightly expands Executive Council’s appointment power concerning three members of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society’s executive staff, including the chief operating officer, chief financial officer and chief legal officer (a position created in the resolution).

Substitute Resolution A006 reduces the number of the church’s standing commissions from 14 to two. The two would be the Standing Commission on Structure, Governance, Constitution and Canons, and the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music. The presiding bishop and House of Deputies president would appoint study committees and task forces to complete the work called for by a meeting of General Convention, with council’s approval. All of those bodies would expire at the start of the next General Convention unless they are renewed.

Personal Perspective Tom O’Brien Bethesda-by-the-Sea, Palm Beach Vice Chair Legislative Committee on Governance and Structure One of the Diocese of Southeast Florida’s deputies, Tom O’Brien, Bethesda-bythe-Sea, served as the vice chairperson of the

Legislative Committee on Governance and Structure (G&S) the committee tasked with taking on resolutions related to TREC (Task Force to Reimagine the Episcopal Church) and other matters. He provided background information and a detailed account of the important work of this committee, from the perspective of vice chair.

In 2012, General Convention created TREC to study ways to streamline The Episcopal Church. Its 25 members – bishops, clergy and laypersons – from all over the church issued a 100 page report proposing, among other things: (1) unifying General Convention into one House, but allowing the orders (bishops, clergy and laity) to vote separately; (2) reducing deputies per diocese from eight to six; (3) reducing Executive Council to 20 members; (4) encouraging dioceses to collaborate and combine; (5) eliminating standing commissions except for Liturgy/Music, Constitution & Canons, and Structure; and (6) paying the president of the House of Deputies a stipend.

In addition to seven complex resolutions from TREC, we considered 40 other resolutions calling for the elimination of provinces, strengthening provinces, establishing a new budget process, and numerous other matters. Our focus was to make changes to structures to assist dioceses and congregations to live into God’s mission for the Church.

After hours of hearings and discussions, the committee on G&S presented resolutions to the House of Deputies (HOD) that would: (1) eliminate all standing commissions except for Constitution and Canons, Structure, and Liturgy and Music; (2) “sunset” all task forces and interim bodies at each General Convention; (3) keep the Executive Council at the same size and have the work of “disappearing” standing commissions performed (if necessary) by task forces reporting to the Executive Council; (4) maintain General Convention with two Houses, but amend the Constitution to permit the Houses to sit, debate and vote to-

gether when they consent to do so; (5) keep the number of deputies the same; (6) encourage dioceses to collaborate and combine; (7) require provinces to develop and share “best practices,” and (at the same time) establish a task force to present in 2018 a thorough plan for subject-matter networks to take the place of provinces – if provinces were eliminated; (8) establish clear lines of authority and accountability for officers of General Convention, the Executive Council, and the Domestic Foreign Mission Society, Inc. (DFMS); (9) streamline the budget process; and (10) grant the president of the House of Deputies a stipend.

One proposal of G&S was rejected by the House of Deputies – that Executive Council, by two-thirds vote, could direct its chairperson (the presiding bishop) to dismiss the chief operating officer, the CFO, or the chief legal officer, but only after regular facilitated mutual ministry reviews and annual performance reviews by the chair. This was intended to give the Executive Council authority consistent with its fiduciary duties as directors of DFMS, Inc. and was recommended by TREC. The amended “package” of resolutions was sent to the House of Bishops. The HOB concurred on all the resolutions approved by the House of Deputies with one major exception – granting a stipend to the president of the House of Deputies (PHOD) – and two technical issues. These differences arose near noon on the last day of Convention, and threatened to scuttle the entire budget reform resolution.

To try to save the legislation, the PHOD established a “Committee on Conference” to meet with representatives of the House of Bishops. The last time this has been done was in 1997.

The PHOD (the Rev. Gay Jennings) selected Sally Johnson of Minnesota (the Chancellor of HOD and Chair of G&S), Byron Rushing of Massachusetts (VP of the HOD) and me to serve on the committee to meet with the bishops selected by the continued on p. 14 Summer / Fall 2015

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YOUTH

Convention 2015

By Remington Fiore, Vice President of Youth Commission Read more about the youth officers online: www.diosef.org Everyone is all smiles at the end of #YC15.

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ach year, the youth hold a “Youth Convention” where the election of new officers occurs, business is discussed, and fun activities are held. Youth Convention 2015 was held at Trinity Cathedral, Miami on June 6, 2015.

This year, the new officers elected are: Wendy Ortez, President; Remington Fiore, Vice President; Daphne Officer, Secretary; and Morgan Williams, Administrative Assistant. A business item of note dealt with the issue of plastic water bottles. Those in attendance voted to change the amendment of “No plastic water bottles at church events” to

The

read “Fewer plastic water bottles at church events” and all of the plastic water bottles are to be recycled.

We didn’t just sit inside and make speeches and amendments. Once business was handled, we went outside and went on an “urban adventure” where we were given clues to a landmark, took the “people mover” to get there, and then said a prayer involving the landmark’s meaning. After our adventure, we headed back inside to meet with Bishop Frade and Bishop Eaton and held a question and answer session about various topics. The day concluded with the commissioning of the new officers in the beautiful Trinity Cathedral.

Youth Convention 2015 was not only fun, it was meaningful. We learned about Christ and how He fits into regular Miami life. We learned that in our busy lifetime, Christ is always with us, and we should take a moment to thank Him for all He has done for us. Youth Convention 2015 was full of fun events and next year will be even more eventful.■

Commission’s Communications

By Remington Fiore, Vice President of Youth Commission

C

ommunication is a simple word, but it is not a simple task. The Youth Commission struggled with communicating important dates, times, and events to the youth in the diocese. People were late, at the wrong place for meetings, and our attendance levels were low. All of these problems boiled down to the lack of proper communication.

In the month of June, we simplified our communication difficulties. We began subscribing to Constant Contact, which enables us to send beautifully designed emails, with an abundant amount of information, to a large number of people with one click. Constant Contact also allows us to track who has opened the emails and we have seen that most of the people who receive our emails actually open them. The use of Constant Contact has grown our attendance levels dramatically. If you would like to join our email list, please email us at episcopalyouthministry@ gmail.com with your name, email, and church.

As youth ourselves, we also noticed that social media is a huge part of our society today. Therefore, we also creat-

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ed Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts so that even more people can see our news flashes about events.

Communication can never be perfect as there will always be exceptions. People switch emails, don’t check Facebook, etc…

Because of this, the Youth Commission took steps to make our announcements even more accessible. With these few changes, attendance levels are boosted, more youth will be involved in church events, and more youth are exposed to Christ.

Find the youth of the Diocese of Southeast Florida on social media by typing in DIOSEFYouth on Facebook, Twitter and/ or Instagram.■

My Adventure in Ecuador

YOUNG ADULTS Sandy and one of her small groups.

By Sandy Milien, Diocesan Young Adult

Enjoying the outdoors

The interns paused to take a selfie.

could honestly say that this summer God had a plan for my life because during those two months, I felt much closer to God than I ever have before. There were many challenges along the way, but what is an adventure without ups and downs. This summer, I was one of five interns that lived in La Hacienda El Refugio, facilitating retreats for youth groups and family groups from the United States as well as Ecuador.

My job was to facilitate the experience designed by the designated host, depending on the necessity of the group.

We were trained to facilitate those deeper conversations about God and how it applies to our lives. We would accomplish this by guiding the groups through different activities, which would increase in difficulty, with the mindset of accomplishing the goals set for the team.

La Hacienda El Refugio is a training and retreat center that facilitates a deeper relationship with Christ through nature and outdoor adventure. The summer intern program is called “base camp,” this is composed of three key areas: service, development of potential, and spiritual formation. Service includes working in specific areas of El Refugio, such as the kitchen, maintenance, programming, and construction. Development of potential involves assigning each intern a mentor who would guide them in the process of discipleship by getting the intern to experience God more fully in all aspects of their lives. Finally, spiritual formation focuses on living and practicing spiritual disciplines that we probably know but don’t take into consideration as often as we should.

These three main components allowed me to seek God in a different

I

UPCOMING EVENTS

way, and ultimately, pushed me out of my comfort zone to help those who came to the camp to seek God and strengthen their relationship with Him. Overall, the most rewarding aspect of this summer was being able to share my God story with everyone that came to El Refugio. I also loved the idea of facilitating those deeper questions about God and seeing people’s lives transformed by the power of God. What I learned from this summer experience is that I need to be more bold about my faith, that God is guiding my life into better things, and that I don’t need to be afraid of what may come because “I can do anything through Christ who strengths me” (Philippians 4:13).■

October 10

November 24

December 19

Tune In Kick Ball Event St. Joseph’s, Plantation

Thanksgiving Dinner Spanish Monastery, North Miami Beach Cost: $10.00

Christmas Party St. Paul’s, Delray Beach Cost: $5.00

Summer / Fall 2015

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presiding bishop – Bishop Rob O’Neill (Colorado), Bishop John Howard (Florida), and Bishop Sean Rowe (N.W. Pennsylvania).

After almost three hours of direct but respectful discussions, the six of us agreed on the text of an amended resolution acknowledging the cogency of the reasons the HOD wants to grant compensation to the PHOD and the fairness of the request. A task force will be formed to report on the matter at General Convention in 2018. The HOD and HOB each passed the new resolution by more than a 90% vote.

Both houses approved two resolutions proposed by Bishop Leo Frade.

One (B001) to add Fr. Atilano Coco to Holy Men, Holy Women church calendar, and the other (B003) to support the end of the embargo of Cuba.

You may read the final draft of both resolutions in the general convention guidebook: www.generalconvention.org/ gc/2015-resolutions/.

Several other important stories were documents as a part of our diocesan convention coverage. Log on to www.diosef.org to view perspective

People, Places & Parishes Boca Raton Resident Leaves Large Gift to Diocese of Southeast Florida Mrs. Vera Rowland, a homemaker and long time resident of Boca Raton, Florida passed away last November at the age of 98. Rowland established a charitable mutual fund with the Episcopal Church Foundation, which designated that upon her death a portion of that fund would be provided as a gift to the diocese. Created as a pooled income fund in 1987, the money is meant to provide dividends for both the donor and the intended organization. Rowland specified that the funds “be used only for helping people who are [homeless] and demonstrate a desire to improve their lives.” The total amount of $11,204.43 has been equally divided and dispersed to diocesan ministries that work directly with our homeless brothers and sisters in our diocesan area: St. George’s, the Jubilee Center of South Broward, Holy Redeemer and St. Laurence Chapel.

If you would like to find out more about planned giving go to: www.ecsefl.org/planned-giving/index.php The Rt. Rev. Onell Soto Passes Away At Age 82 The Rt. Rev. Onell Soto, a great friend to the Diocese of Southeast Florida, passed away on August 5, 2015 surrounded by family in Chicago, Illinois. A funeral mass was held in Miami on September 5 at Holy Comforter Episcopal Church.

Bishop Soto was born on November 17, 1932 in Cuba. He began his ministry as a deacon in Gadsden, Alabama in 1964 and later pursued a graduate degree from the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest. In 1987, Soto was elected bishop of the Anglican Church of Venezuela. The following year, Bishop Soto was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Divinity for his long time service to the mission of the Episcopal Church. Although officially retiring in 2002, he did not tire of good works and serving God, Bishop Soto still assisted Bishop Frade in the Diocese of Southeast Florida with confirmations. In July of this year, the bishop celebrated 55 years of marriage with his wife, Nina, who survives him. She is comforted by their four children and six grandchildren. He will be greatly missed.■ 14 THE NET - www.diosef.org

from first-time DIOSEF general convention deputy, the Rev. Mario Millian.

He provides his view on service on the legislative committee of Environmental Stewardship and Care of Creation.

Also, take the time to read our former youth president turned Episcopal Peach Fellowship Young Adult Representative Eva Ortez’s account of her deputation experience.

Article contributors: The Rev. Willie Allen-Faiella, Canon Richard Miller, Tom O’Brien, Altoria E. White; ENS staff: Matthew Davies, Mary Frances Schjonberg, Sharon Sheridan.■ General Convention images p. 15 1.Bishop Larry Provenzano of Long Island and DIOSEF Bishop Peter Eaton.

2.The entire diocesan deputation gathers to break bread after a long day at the office.

3.Bishop Leo Frade with wife Diana, young adults Adia Milien, Melanie Veizaga, and Eva Ortez, and communications officer, Altoria White.

4.The Rev. Terrance Taylor pauses with a fellow clergy member at the Episcopal Relief and Development celebration.

5.ERD celebration with Karen Philips Smith, Canon Richard Miller, and Bishop Chip Stokes of the Diocese of New Jersey.

6. We bet you can’t find Bishop Frade! Look closely…(hint: check out the head gear) 7. Bishop Peter Eaton and his wife Kate pause in the exhibit hall in front of her booth: Mishkhah.

8. Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori and Presiding Bishop-Elect Michael Curry prepare for entry to the House of Deputies for the first time after the election.

9. Former diocesan youth president, Eva Ortez speaks in favor of a resolution as a young adult representative for Episcopal Peace Fellowship. In the background is former Diocese of Southeast Florida Archdeacon for Deployment, Bishop Mary Gray-Reeves.

10. Bishops walk together against gun violence in a powerful, moving show of unity in the streets of downtown Salt Lake City. Photo credit: Melodie Woerman, Diocese of Kansas.

11. The Rt. Rev. Michael Curry answers reporters questions immediately after the election at his first press conference as presiding bishop-elect.

12.Two of our deputies, the Rev. Jenny Lou Reid, and the Rev. Mario Milian take a brief break from the business at hand.

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CALENDAR September 30th - 1st: Nehemiah Fall Retreat October 12th: Columbus Day Holiday 23th: Happening #34 St. Joseph’s, Boynton Beach November 6th: Bishop Frade’s Ministry Celebration West Palm Beach 7th: Assembly of the Daughter’s of the King Chapel of St. Andrew, Boca Raton 13th-14th: 46th Annual Diocesan Convention St. Paul’s, Key West 26th - 27th: Thanksgiving Holiday December 4th: Bishop Frade’s Ministry Celebration Coral Gables

Join Archdeacon

Bryan & Annabel Hobbs on their 16th day Holy Land, Jordan & Petra Pilgrimage

February 17 – March 3, 2016

The cost is all-inclusive and at a specially reduced rate.

The tour is being organized by Bob Bell, world-renowned tour leader This is Bob’s last pilgrimage and he has arranged for the specially reduced rate. Space is limited.

For further tour information and application contact Archdeacon Bryan Hobbs, dochobbs@bellsouth.net or 954-558-7790 Bob Bell at Global Travel, rbell1926@aol.com or 305-788-3704

12th: Youth Christmas Ball Santa Cruz/Resurrection 24th – 1st: Christmas Holiday

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