This is Bishop Dabney Smith's address to the 39th Annual Convention of the Diocese of Southwest Florida, on Oct. 20, 2007 at the Venice Community Center in Venice, Fla.:

The letter of St. Paul to the Galatians contains a lengthy section that sets the tone for this address and, in fact, voices our convention theme of Live in the Spirit. The scriptural piece my focus is on begins in chapter five where he exhorts the Christian’s to live by the Spirit so as to be freed from the works of the flesh such as fornication, idolatry, enmities, strife, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy and things like these that imperil , fracture and poison the faith community.

In contrast, he continues to inform us what the fruit of the Spirit is: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These, of course, build up the faith community. Live by the Spirit means simply walk with the Spirit of God. In others words, it means conduct yourselves as the Church as guided by God’s Spirit. We are mutually interdependent upon one another in the Spirit.

We will note that Paul writes here less about sensual sin and more about the attitude of the human will in chosen opposition to God’s will. St. Paul adds in chapter six, “If you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life by the Spirit. So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith.”

It was with real pleasure that I preached at the investiture service in September that mission is not in addition to who we are; mission is who we are in the Church. Now I intend to expand on those thoughts. Active mission identifies the Church’s life, and the Church’s life energy is fueled by the Spirit of God. Again, the theme for our diocesan convention is “Live in the Spirit.” In one sense, this is theologically redundant for a Church convention because there is no Church without the Spirit. Having said that, “Live in the Spirit” is a useful and instructive phrase that quickly articulates many thoughts about what we do and who we are in the Church.

So then, Live in the Spirit, and, as Paul writes, “Whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith.” I believe that the Diocese of Southwest Florida has wonderful and multiple opportunities before it that deserve our work. If we are guided by the Spirit, sow to the Sprit, live in the Spirit, we will reap much. These are some of the opportunities I have seen thus far in my somewhat short, but very full, time here.

I see new neighborhoods in many areas of the diocese and we need to think prudently and act faithfully in planting new congregations, organized missions and/ or new fellowships. I am not defining where, when, or how this needs to develop. I am merely pointing out the obvious. I am now appointing these members of the clergy: Ray Bonoan, Donald Fishburne, Ann McLemore, Kyle Bennett, John Hiers, Shanda Mahurin and John Adler to the Congregational Development Committee. This committee is defined in our diocesan canons and I think it is imperative to re-energize this dimension of our diocese. This is a fresh beginning for this committee. It will need to evaluate demographics, resources, training needs and make recommendations for congregational strength in our diocese. The persons now appointed do not canonically complete the committee. Canon 21 states, “The Bishop shall appoint a Committee for Congregational Development. It shall consist of one clergy and one lay representative from each of the Deaneries.” This list of appointments will simply allow us to get started.

I now want to emphasize some areas of the 2008 budget. I was not able to attend all of the Deanery convocations due to my mother’s death and, therefore, missed the opportunity to clarify my thoughts regarding the formation of the budget. First, let me thank all of you again for your sustaining prayers and notes during this personal loss. Your words of affection and encouragement have helped Mary Ellen and me tremendously. You have become treasure in my heart.

There is a line item in the 2008 budget for an assistant bishop. Please recognize that the amount represents a concept, not a decision. I have been encouraged from many quarters to get an assisting bishop on board. I realize, though, that I have not even visited every congregation yet. My desire is to live into being the bishop of Southwest Florida. First, then, I want to be here doing the work. Secondly, there needs to be more detailed conversation about the need, purposes and definition of an assisting bishop’s role in the life of this diocese. I have not asked anyone to serve in this capacity. The line item in the budget simply makes it a possible position if the conversation in the Spirit finalizes it as a decision.

The next area in the budget has to do with the creation of the position Canon for Mission and Outreach. This position assumes some responsibilities of an existing staff position and adds a new dimension to our opportunity for mission.

Many of you already know that I have asked Canon Michael Durning to remain on staff as Canon to the Ordinary. His positive response is of benefit to me and the diocese. I have also asked that the responsibilities of the Canon to the Ordinary expand to include ministry development and working with the Commission on Ministry. I want to take this opportunity to express my huge gratitude to Fr. John Monsour for his diligent and detailed work in ministry development for our diocese. His work at the Samaritan Counseling Center precludes full-time presence on the diocesan staff but he has clearly left a healthy and defining mark on our workings. John will continue his beneficial consulting to the diocese and to me and I thank you for that.

The new position of Canon of Mission and Outreach will assume the particular responsibilities having to do with the vocational diaconate. I believe that one area of mission that we can strengthen and further equip is the diaconal presence in our diocese.

The Canon for Mission and Outreach will have oversight of the School for Ministry that will include the ordination track for the vocational diaconate. My sense is that the diocesan school for ministry needs to be a diocesan resource for equipping the saints. It already has many successes. I believe it needs to be strengthened and broadened. Again, Fr. Monsour will be available to consult so that the program can mature without having aspirants slip through the cracks.

An additional responsibility for the Canon for Mission and Outreach will be to explore the establishment of Episcopal Charities in the Diocese of Southwest Florida. I see this as both a financial and programmatic resource for the life of the diocese. When functioning, Episcopal Charities will seek grants and financial gifts to provide revenue for outreach programs in diocesan, deanery and parish initiatives. The canon will work with the deacons to further identify community needs and assist congregations in collaborative efforts.

One illustration points to the need. This 2008 budget includes a line item for continued ministry with the Haitian community because the need has become greater than the Naples and Fort Myers deaneries can meet alone. It is my hope that eventually, Episcopal Charities will provide some serious financial resource muscle to meet outreach needs in our diocese for generations to come. I have asked the Rev. Deacon Dennis McMannis to return to our diocese to become the canon for Mission and Outreach.

Another area of great concern to me is the Church sowing the Spirit in the lives of young adults. This is the final budgetary line item on which I will comment. The position of chaplain to the University of South Florida is being re-established. There are some who may say that paying for a college chaplain will not produce any revenues. That is correct. This position will not pay for itself. It will, though, pay rich dividends in the development of the lives of young people. It is more important for us to be intentionally present in the lives of young adults than it is to have a revenue stream from them.

College chaplains have the mission opportunity to form young adults for Jesus Christ. That needs to be in the budget. I have asked the Rev. Denise Guinta to serve as chaplain. Furthermore, I recognize mission initiative to young adults as college students at USF is simply one area of approach. We have other college chaplaincies to recognize and more to organize. The Diocese of Southwest Florida is blessed with multiple college campuses.

Beyond the budget, then, I am announcing a new commission on Young Adults and Higher Education Ministry. I am asking this group to explore the opportunities in this diocese and make available resources to help our congregations live in the Spirit with young adults. Today I appoint Charlie Farrell, Jackie Hartley, Rachael Kendzior, Vanessa Ruitta, Daniel Ruiz, Roger Schwenke, Andrea de la Torre, Justus Doenecke, and clergy members Jim Hedman, Denise Guinta, Ryan Whitley, Mike Branscombe, Chuck Hatfield, Arthur Lee, Don Nicholson and Tom Thonei for this effort. It is my hope that we will build upon the already present strengths we have in young adult ministry, such as Vocare, and that by next convention we will have goals and a strategic plan in place.

Now a word about the Anglican Communion. The bottom line is this: We are in the Anglican Communion. As you are perhaps aware, I have now been to two House of Bishops’ meetings both scheduled after the February Primates Communique.

I have also attended a consultation In Spain with both American and African bishops and which included six primates. In all cases I have heard and sensed a strong desire to remain together for the work of healthier global Anglican mission.
There are four instruments of communion in the Anglican Communion: The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Anglican Consultative Council, The Lambeth Conference, and the Primates. I am pleased to note that the report of the Standing Committee of the Anglican Consultative Council was predominately positive regarding the September House of Bishops meeting. I have been invited to the 2008 Lambeth Conference and, in fact, just received a supplementary invitation two weeks ago.

Does this mean everything is resolved within our Communion? By no means. I think it does mean that there are many agreed-upon issues of mission on our global plate: poverty, the AIDS/HIV pandemic and other urgent disease problems, clean water, ongoing disaster relief and other issues . We are best situated to address them by working together in communion, in the Spirit.

I am pleased that our diocese is now a member of the Compass Rose Society. This is an organization that supports the work of the Anglican Communion and the Archbishop of Canterbury. I do not know how the future will continue to unfold within Anglicanism but I do know God is working His purpose out. I like being an Episcopalian. I like being an Anglican. I fully expect to be both for the rest of my life.

I know that there is much in life I cannot control but I can control being faithful here with you. I am so grateful to serve Our Lord in this diocese with you. We have much to honor and celebrate. In August I met with the Standing Committee, the Diocesan Council, and the Council of Deans as a time for me to think out loud with leaders of our diocese.

In discussion we noted many pleasing elements of our diocesan life together in the Spirit. We celebrated that the Diocese of Southwest Florida has an energizing and growing Men’s Ministry initiative. We celebrated women’s evangelism and the continuing “Believe in a Miracle” event. We celebrated strong outreach to the Dominican Republic, vibrant parishes, vital youth ministry programs, a goodly number of healthy Episcopal schools, renewal programs, cohesiveness in the diocese and DaySpring.

Regarding DaySpring, our conference center, allow me make this comment. There is a difference between opinions, ideas, recommendations and decisions. You may have heard many things about DaySpring but there has been only one decision made about it. I am appointing a committee to report directly to Diocesan Council on the ongoing life and purpose of Dayspring. Fr. Ed Henley has agreed to chair this committee. It is appropriate for Diocesan Council to be directly involved in the life of our conference center as they are the elected organization with fiduciary responsibility between diocesan conventions. DaySpring is a wonderful asset to our diocese. I am thankful for it and plan to proceed with both mission mindedness and business sensibility in its operation and purpose.

I now close with something deeply personal. I hope you will not find this offensive but, rather, helpful. The hours and days after Mother’s death and entrance into larger life contained many experiences of grief.

One of those grief expressions was a sense of regret for times wasted and words left unsaid. The grief sensation defined itself as a feeling that I wanted my life to matter. Certainly the death of ones parents puts one in a clarifying sense of ones own mortality.

Yet there is an irony in that the time of deep personal loss offers a gift of clarity. The clarity is that I do not want to waste my life. I do not want to waste my life and energy on activities driven by fear, anger or anxiety. I want my life to matter and make a difference. I want my life to be expressed by the fruit of the Spirit that is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. I want to spend the energies of my life serving our Lord.

That is my earnest desire for our diocese in mission. I pray that we will matter and make a difference in the lives of people for whom Jesus died. Let us not waste our lives on things that hurt us and destroy our faith community.

Let us live in the fruit of the Spirit. Let us reap eternity because we have sown the Spirit of God. Let us live in the Spirit.