The following persons were elected to offices at the 40th annual convention of the Diocese of Southwest Florida: 

Standing Committee: (three-year term)
Elect two presbyters; one lay person

What they do: The Standing Committee acts as a confidential council of advice to the bishop. It acts either at the bishop’s call or on its own initiative. The Committee is required, by canon, to consider and approve requests for the ordination of bishops in other dioceses, and of clergy within the Diocese of Southwest Florida. It becomes the ecclesiastical authority of the diocese in case of the death, incapacity, or prolonged absence of the bishop. Membership consists of five presbyters and four laypersons, each of whom serve a three-year term. No member either can serve more than two consecutive terms. Meetings are monthly by tradition on the third Tuesday of the month and as required through the year.

Those elected were:

Maisie L Reddy

Parish: St. James House of Prayer, Tampa
Occupation: Retired medical office manager
Diocesan/Deanery activities: Tampa Deanery mission trips to Dominican Republic, 2006-2008; Tampa Deanery convocations; Currently serving first term on Commission on Ministry; rectora for Cursillo #113; member of bishop coadjutor nominating committee 2005-2007; Cursillo secretariat, 2003-2006; alternate delegate to 2008 diocesan convention. 

Nominee's statement: I have been an active member of this diocese for more than 25 years. My parish activities have included serving on the vestry and Altar Guild. I'm a choir member, a lay reader and the current chair of our priest search committee. Through prayer, I have been led by the Holy Spirit to offer my dedicated service, organizational skills and enthusiasm to this council. I would be honored to be a working member of the Standing Committee.  

 Elected to fill a one-year expired term was:

Charles H. Scruggs III
Parish: St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Tampa
Occupation: Attorney
Diocesan Activities/Committees: DaySpring board of directors, 1990-1995; president of DaySpring board, 1996; DaySpring recording secretary, 1997; Standing Committee, 1998-2003; lay leader (rector) men’s Cursillo #25; associate justice of Ecclesiastical Trial Court, 2003-2007; Gulf Coast Kairos (prison ministry) board of directors (three terms); president of Kairos board, 1994; served on numerous Kairos prison weekend teams, including lay leader (rector) ZCI #16; two terms on St. Andrews vestry (former secretary); two terms on St. John’s vestry (former senior warden); St. Mary’s Angel Tree committee; Tuesday morning men’s Bible Study; co-lay leader of St. John’s Discovery Weekend #2.

Nominee’s statement: I have been blessed to serve our Lord in numerous and varied ways in the past. At this moment of my life I feel again called to serve as a member of the Standing Committee for the Diocese of Southwest Florida. Professionally, I have been a member of the Florida Bar Association for almost 40 years, 12 of those as a trial judge. I presided over traffic, criminal misdemeanors, juvenile delinquency and dependency and termination of parental rights, felony (including capital murder) and all manner of civil litigation. I believe my six-year tenure on the Standing Committee and the Ecclesiastical Court, 44 years practicing law and 12 years as a trial judge uniquely qualifies me to serve for another term as a member of the Standing Committee.
 

 
Clergy nominees:

The Rev. Sharon L. Lewis
Rector, Church of the Holy Spirit, Osprey
Deanery/ Diocesan activities: Standing Committee, 2004-2006; 1997-2000; Deputy, General Convention, 2006; 2003; 2000; 1997 (alternate); Social Urban National Committee, 2006; 2003; Reconciliation and Conversation Commission: 2003-2006; ECW spiritual advisor executive board: 2005 to present; Cursillo secretariat, 2001-2004; Cursillo spiritual director; Happening spiritual director; Mission trips for Healing and Reconciliation Conferences to Uganda and Rwanda 2004 and Costa Rica 2001; Women’s Conference speaker, Christian retreat, Bradenton 2002- 2008; teacher, diocesan deacon school 1994-1999, diocesan response team: 1994-1998; examining chaplain, 1997; deanery clericus meetings; ministerial association.

Nominee’s statement: Our diocese, by God’s grace and guidance, has continued on together in worship of God and mission for God in the midst of challenging doctrinal and relational times in the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion. We need to continue on together the good work of healing and reconciliation through Jesus Christ in this diocese as we do God’s mission. I commit to that work if re-elected to Standing Committee.

The Rev. Cesar Olivero

Rector, St. James’ Episcopal Church, Port Charlotte
Diocesan/deanery activities: Vice president, Standing Committee; liaison to the Commission on Ministry; member of Hispanic Committee. I have served on mission trips and supported our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic.

Nominee’s statement: Serving on the Standing Committee for me has been a great honor, challenge and pleasure. I served as vice president for two years and have learned many things about the workings of our diocese and the National church. If re-elected for another term I promise to continue to serve this diocese and our Bishop with total dedication to the spreading of the Gospel and the work God has called all of us to do.

Diocesan Council: (two-year term)
Elect one presbyter, at-large seat

At fall convocations, deaneries will also elect the following to Council:
Clearwater: One lay person
Fort Myers: one lay person
Manasota: one presbyter
Naples: one lay person
St. Petersburg: one lay person
Tampa: one presbyter
Venice: One presbyter

What they do: The Diocesan Council is the board of directors for the corporation of the diocese and serves as an “interim body” between conventions. It is responsible for the oversight of the work of the diocese including finance, property issues, diocesan policy, DaySpring, and other matters concerning the “fabric” of the diocesan community.

Council usually meets on Saturdays at DaySpring, the third Saturday of the month, about six times a year. Currently, Council is being convened for a required leadership retreat weekend meeting and business sessions in January, March, May and August. There is an October meeting that precedes convention. The bishop, president of the corporation, chairs the meetings. Council representatives are elected at the fall deanery convocations, where each deanery elects either one clergy or one lay representative.

Because of the need for members to communicate between meetings, Council members must have frequent access to the Internet and are expected to be able to have their own e-mail address. MS Word, MS Excel and Adobe Acrobat are formats frequently used as members communicate with staff and each other. Council representatives serve two-year terms and may not serve longer than six consecutive years. An election to fill an unexpired term is counted as a full term.

Elected was:

The Rev. Glad McCurtain

Rector, All St. John’s Episcopal Church, Clearwater

Diocesan/deanery activities: Clericus; convocations; officer in county-wide interfaith justice network; Current Diocesan Council member, Cursillo Secretariat Spiritual Director; Diocesan Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Officer; Multicultural Committee; Multicultural Committee

Nominee’s statement: As a native Floridian and lifelong Episcopalian, I have served our diocese for more than 25 years in various lay and clergy leadership positions. They include: senior warden, vocational deacon (7 years), and now rector of a mid-size congregation. Outside our church I have been a county planner, member of community boards, and a hospice program developer. I offer my analytical, managerial and leadership experience as support for the ministries of our diocese.

Diocesan Review Committee: (three-year term)
Elect one presbyter; two laypersons

What they do: The Diocesan Review Committee receives and reviews disciplinary matters under Canon IV of the national canons. The committee:

• determines the canonical sufficiency of any charge;
• receives an investigative report from the Church Attorney concerning disciplinary charges;
  
• reviews the temporary inhibition of clergy, upon their request;
  
• determines whether a factual basis exists to present charges to the Ecclesiastical Trial Court.
• Membership consists of two priests, one deacon and two laypersons.

Elected was:

The Rev. Hayden G. Crawford
St. Bartholomew’s, St. Petersburg
Diocesan/Deanery activities: Deputy to General Convention: 2000, 2003 and 2006; Standing Committee: 1999 - 2005; National Advisory Committee to the Executive Council for Jubilee Ministries: 2003-2009; Union of Black Episcopalians.
Nominee’s Statement: In my 27th year of ordained ministry and having spent the last 12 years in this diocese – rector, interim associates and supply -- it would be an honor to serve in this capacity as I have observed the legislative development of Title IV as a member of Standing Committee as well as that of Deputy to General Convention’s Legislative Committee.

Elected after being nominated from the floor:
Greg Hearing of St. John’s, Tampa.
Charles Henry, St. George’s, Bradenton.

Ecclesiastical Trial Court: (three-year term)
Elect one layperson, two clergy

What they do: The Ecclesiastical Court is the Episcopal judicial body that conducts formal proceedings involving actions of the clergy. The court meets as necessary. NOTE: Service on the Ecclesiastical Court disqualifies you from simultaneous service from both the Standing Committee and the Diocesan Review Committee.

Elected by acclimation were:

The Rev. Arthur Lee
Rector, St. David’s Englewood.
Diocesan/Deanery activities: Served as Venice Deanery representative on Diocesan Council, 2000-2006; served four previous three-year terms on the Ecclesiastical Court; Fresh Statrt presenter, 2007–present.

Nominee’s Statement: Having served four terms on the Ecclesiastical Court, I have good experience on the workings of the court. including one trial, and an understanding of the current state of canon law. I would bring to the court a passion for truth and a conviction that the court must not act in the heat of the moment, but instead must advise the bishop with wisdom and a sense of what God’s Kingdom demands: a deep regard for the ultimate good of everyone involved — the accused, the victims and the Church.

Roger D. Schwenke
Parish: Church of the Ascension, Clearwater.
Occupation: Attorney/Senior Partner, Carlton Fields, P.A., Tampa (where, I am proud to say, I have practiced law for 38 years)
Diocesan/Deanery activities: Previous deanery lay representative for both the Tampa and Clearwater deaneries to the Diocesan Council; presiding judge, Ecclesiastical Court (1997-present); Member Commission on Young Adult/Higher Education; past member of Standing Committee (1989-92); Diocesan Council (1979-85); lay deputy to 2003 and 2006 General Conventions and elected lay deputy to the 2009 General Convention; alternate lay deputy to General Convention (1985,1988, 1994 and 1997 attended and seated at all but one of these); team member of several Cursillo weekends; former delegate to diocesan conventions; past member of numerous diocesan committees, including Youth Committee, Companion Diocese Committee, Committee on Counseling Centers, and Special Committee on Diocesan Assessments.

Nominee's Statement: I have been honored to serve as a member of the diocesan Ecclesiastical Court for the past 12 years, serving as presiding judge for 11 of these. Based on my experience as a member of the Canons Committee at the last General Convention, and a desire to provide some continuity to the court, after prayerful reflection, and especially in light of possible changes to the Canons which govern Ecclesiastical Discipline, I have decided to run again.If elected, I will bring to the court the same commitment to compassionate
understanding, yet adherence to canonical requirements, that I believe I have brought to the court in the time I have served. I had the experience of serving as presiding judge during the only full trial ever demanded in our diocese under the current Title IV provisions. My prayer is that all who are elected to the court never have to go through that process again.

 
The Rev. Charles E. Connelly
Parish: St. John’s, Tampa
Curate, St. John’s Church and Assistant Chaplain to St. John’s School
Diocesan/Deanery Activities: Currently serve on the diocesan Schools Committee and on the Clergy Advisory Committee to A Journey in Disciple Making

Nominee’s Statement: I believe that the canons and the Book of Common Prayer define our identity as Episcopalians, and that adherence to both is crucial to shaping our common life in Christ’s Church. Having been ordained relatively recently following a 32-year business career, I would offer a pragmatic and spiritual presence on the court. I am acutely mindful of the gravity of the issues that may come before the court, and I would consider them prayerfully, compassionately and deliberately.

Trustee, University of the South: (three-year term)
Elect one lay person

What they do: The University of the South, located in Sewanee, Tenn., is the only university in our country owned entirely by the Episcopal Church. Each of the owning dioceses, located in the Southeast is represented by its bishop(s) and three additional delegates to the Board of Trustees, one of whom is to be a priest. Continuity and longevity in tenure of the office is desirable as influence tends to increase with experience and familiarity with the University’s various offices. The Trustees meet annually and have a great deal of ultimate authority regarding the life of the University. The Board meets once every May on a Thursday and Friday.

Elected was:

Heather M. Whelan
Parish: Christ Episcopal Church, Bradenton
Occupation: Manage nonprofit grants in Manatee County for the Community Services Department.
Diocesan/deanery activities: Altar Guild (Christ Church); Music Committee (Christ Church)

Nominee's statement: My participation at Sewanee during my first term was rewarding. I have worked on the Admissions Committee and enjoy this thriving group. Personally, my husband is the chair of the history department of St. Stephen's School, and both my children attend St. Stephen's. This background has made me value Christian education and understand the stresses and blessings that accompany it. As a parent of a teenager (Kyle is 15) and a younger son (John is 7 now), I come to the position from the perspective of a mother. I feel that Sewanee is a place where both spiritual maturity and intellectual curiosity are encouraged. The University of the South needs the participation of its churches to make sure that this heritage continues at Sewanee, University of the South.
 

Bishop Gray Inns Foundation:
Elect one trustee, lay or clergy

What they do: The Bishop Gray Inns are two facilities for the elderly formerly owned by three dioceses: the Diocese of Southwest Florida, the Diocese of Southeast Florida and the Diocese of Central Florida. Each diocese elects four representatives to the Board, who serve along with the Bishop of each diocese. Members elected to the board should be able to attend the board meetings, which are held in a regular rotating basis in Davenport, Fla., Lake Worth, Fla., and by conference call (with members gathered at central locations). The term of service is three years and each board member is eligible for re-election for an additional three-year term. The position can be filled by either clergy or laity. The following skills are examples that would be helpful to a board member in their service:

• Knowledge of the nursing home industry.
• Knowledge of the health care industry.
  
• Interest in the care of the elderly.
  
• Legal expertise.
  
• Accounting expertise
  
• Knowledge of nonprofit fundraising.
  
• Expertise in dealing with government agencies and regulatory bodies.

Elected was:

Dr. C. Thomas Gooding
Parish: Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, Venice.
Occupation: Emeritus professor of psychology, academic administrator, retired.
Diocesan/deanery activities: Trustee, University of the South, 2002-2005; Diocesan convention delegate.

Nominee’s statement: Dr. Gooding has more than 40 years experience as an educator. He served from 1964 as professor of psychology at the State University of New York, Oswego. In 1989 he was appointed dean of graduate studies and research. He served as university provost from 1995 until his retirement in 1998. He also has held faculty appointments at the University of Florida and at the University of Liverpool, UK. Dr. Gooding has more than 10 years experience on university and foundation boards. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of the South, Sewanee, from 2002 to 2005. He is currently is serving as a member of the board of directors of the SUNY Oswego Foundation, and he will be pleased to bring his experience to the important work of the Bishop Gray Inns Foundation trustees.