The following committees and ministries have submitted reports to the 2009 diocesan convention:

Diocesan Altar Guild
For the purpose of closer communication, the diocesan Altar Guild is divided into North and South. Sarah Hill is Director of the North with three deaneries. Florence Holden is deanery directress of Clearwater and Donna Hoffman of the St. Petersburg deanery.

In the South, Carol Ann Brumbach was installed by Bishop Dabney as director, succeeding Thelma Wallis at the Annual South Meeting in February. There are four deaneries here with Marcia Symington in Manasota, Mary Vernon in Fort Myers and Nancy Shield in Naples. We still need directors for Tampa and Venice.

We report to, and assist the bishop in any way we can, take care of the chapel at DaySpring and set up any Eucharists which take place during retreats etc., at DaySpring or other locations..

Diocesan Altar Guild offered a scholarship for the convention in Anaheim and it was used by Marietta Loudon, designer and maker of the new crozier for Bishop Smith and the diocese. We also offered a scholarship to the annual Province IV Altar Guild Meeting in Kanuga and five members from the diocese took advantage of this.

Communication, throughout the many altar guilds in the diocese is much closer with this arrangement of individual churches reporting to, or receiving help from their deanery directress and she in turn, having Sarah or Carol Ann to assist her in any way at meetings or on the telephone.

Believe in a Miracle
Find one person ready, willing and able to take on the responsibility.

Pray for a Miracle Team to accept this ministry with you.

Together with the support of your Bishop, approach your diocesan financial committee for assistance.

Plan monthly meetings with your team and be sure to include a Bible reflection and study each month.

Begin setting your themes for a three-year program.

The Holy Spirit will guide your way!

Commission on Ministry
The Commission on Ministry is comprised of six priests, two deacons, four lay persons, a liaison from Standing Committee, and the canon to the ordinary.

The Commission’s first task following Diocesan Convention 2008 was to produce a report to convocations on the issue of deacons voting at Diocesan Convention. The report was completed and adopted by the Commission on Ministry on Feb. 19, 2009 and submitted to the spring convocations.

The Commission on Ministry has continued to engage with people discerning a call to ministry and refining the diocesan procedures that allow nominees, postulants and candidates to be effectively trained for ministry and meet all canonical criteria for licensing or ordination.

The largest single change to Commission on Ministry policy is the introduction, in January 2010, of a Bishop’s Advisory Panel who will meet all potential postulants for a full day of interviews and evaluation.

This refinement to the current system will remove the need for ad-hoc postulancy interviews and the time pressures associated with them. This refinement will allow the Commission on Ministry to fulfill its responsibilities while spending more time with each potential postulant.

To promote vocations within the diocese and help those who are interested understand the possibilities for ministry in Southwest Florida, the Commission on Ministry will host one Vocation Information Day in May 2010, the location of the event is yet to be determined.

The Commission on Ministry’s policy manual has been edited by the Commission on Ministry to take account of changed national canons since 2006. A revised edition of the manual was adopted in February 2009. The policy manual can be downloaded from the diocesan website.

The Commission on Ministry has been delighted to see the School for Ministry Development get off to a sound start in its first year of operation. We will continue to monitor those training for ordination as deacons in the School for Ministry Development. The Commission intends to develop the criteria necessary for training licensed lay ministers in the Diocese of Southwest Florida. The the School For Ministry Development will provide that training.

It remains my hope that the Commission on Ministry can continue to promote and enable a breadth of ministry in the Diocese of Southwest Florida. Whether such ministry is lay or ordained, it is always centered on people responding to God’s work in their lives. The Commission on Ministry is promoting a culture of discernment that provides nurture and encouragement to all who step forward in faith to serve their Lord.

-- The Rev. Dr. Mike Branscombe, chair

Diocesan Green Team
Mission Statement: The Mission of the Green Team of the Diocese of Southwest Florida is to live out the scriptural imperative to care for this fragile earth, our island home, God’s perfect creation and gift to humankind. We provide information and resources to our diocese on how to live sustainably in our homes and in our churches by conserving resources, recycling, and making wise choices of products and services.

Last year the deacons in our diocese presented a workshop at convention called “Greening Our Congregations.” After convention, a Diocesan Green Team was formed and will be presenting a workshop at convention again this year.

We are in the process of enlisting a Green representative from each parish in our diocese to encourage our parishes to become more eco-friendly. They have been invited to be present at our convention workshop this year to share what they are doing in their parishes.

This year’s theme is “Leaner and Greener: Financial and Ecological Stewardship.” In an age when our planet, as well as our economy, is facing serious issues, the faith community has a moral responsibility to encourage the making of wise choices that foster sustainability in our homes and churches.

This workshop will help provide insight and resources which included:

• MDGs and Creation Stewardship
• The Planet and Spirituality
• Eco Mindfulness for Gatherings
• Parish Energy Audit

We are in agreement with the resolution from General Convention 2009 Resolution A045:

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, that the 76th General Convention ask the
Church to restrict the use of bottled water at General Convention and at other Church-
sponsored activities where safe, because of the extreme negative environmental impact
that attends its production; and be it further

Resolved, That every baptized Christian be encouraged to practice simple energy and
water conservation techniques so that, by working together, w e may restore the beauty
of God's creation and ensure that this resource may again be available to all God's
children in abundance.

The Diocesan Green Team will be selling stainless steel bottles that one can safely use (and reuse) for water. The price will be $10. This will cover the purchase price and will help to begin a fund for the work of the Green Team.

We are looking forward to making a difference in our home, our parishes, this diocese, and the world.

Respectfully submitted,
Deacons Fran McKinney and Kathy Gilpin, co-conveners, Diocesan Green Team

The Dominican Development Group: 2009
The DDG’s purpose is to assist in the development and self-sufficiency of the Dominican Episcopal Church. It is a 501(c)(3) ministry with its office located at DaySpring Conference Cneter, thanks to the graciousness of Bishop Smith and of DaySpring staff. In October 2008 we celebrated the DDG’s 10th anniversary. What a great time we had. People shared their experiences in D.R. mission that spanned these 10 years, and the depth of meaning it has had for them. In God’s good grace, the DDG has played a significant role in the development and self-sufficiency of the Dominican Episcopal Church. For this we give thanks to God and rejoice in the privilege of being so involved.

A Dominican priest once told me, “Now is the time of the Episcopal Church in the Dominican Republic.” Clarence Jordan’s “Cotton Patch” translation of Hebrews 11:1 describes this dynamic: “Now faith is the turning of dreams into deeds; the betting your life on unseen realities.” Over the years the DDG has been a major vehicle for mission with the Dominican Episcopal Church transferring close to $8,000,000 to the D.R. of which over $1,700,000 was for the new D.R. Endowment.

We have helped build churches, schools and shelters, provide scholarships for children, disaster relief, support for the seminary, support for a child born with AIDS, and many other smaller items. In God’s grace, Southwest Florida has played a significant role in this dynamic.

Because of the DDG, many people have become involved in mission in life changing ways. By working together we have truly seen a multiplier effect for mission in the D.R. over and above what any one of us could have done alone.

In 2009 the Clearwater and Naples deaneries continued their productive ministries respectively with the Jesús Peregrino and La Redención churches in Barahona, and the El Buen Samaritano Shelter in San Francisco de Macorís. The Tampa Deanery began a two-year project building the new San Pedro y San Pablo church/school in La Barquita, Santo Domingo. The Venice Deanery sent a team to San José in Andrés, Boca Chica. The Church of the Ascension sent its annual construction and VBS team to San Matías; The Cathedral sent its annual VBS team to La Anunciación and San Lucas; the Church of the Redeemer sent a construction team to Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, a VBS team to Santa María Llena de Gracia, Mao, and a deputation led by the Rev. Fred Robinson, who taught a short course at the seminary and led a devotional at a clericus. More than 110 persons traveled to the D.R. on mission teams in 2009.

Also during 2009, Redeemer brought Bishop Holguín and his wife, Milagros, to Southwest Florida where he spoke at Sunday services, and visited with Canon Michael Durning and other members of Redeemer.

While Bishop Holguín and Milagros were here in Southwest Florida the Clearwater and the Tampa deaneries each held receptions for them, and Tampa celebrated the 10th anniversary of its deanery projects. Bishop Holguín also met with representatives of the Naples Deanery who earlier in the summer brought the Rev. Hipólito Fernández and his wife, Lilian, to Naples.

As a note regarding financial reporting, let me say that DDG follows the recommendation for all nonprofits, and has a full review of its books done each year by McCay, Kiddy & Associates of Charleston, SC. In the precise language of public accountants, the DDG was given (as it should be) a clean bill of health saying: “we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the accompanying financial statements in order for them to be in conformity with the cash basis of accounting.” This type of clear, transparent bookkeeping is absolutely essential for anyone in our type of ministry. We have this result thanks to the computerized accounting system we use and to help from the DaySpring accountant.

Episcopal Church Women
Episcopal Church Women in the Diocese of Southwest Florida continue to be an active and vital ministry. Since the founding of ECW in 1876 by Julia Chester Emery, women have followed her inspiring lead into mission and ministry and spreading the Gospel around the world.

The women of Southwest Florida are leaders in thank offerings and ministry of the United Thank Offering and Church Periodical Club. Challenged 10 years ago by the women of the Diocese of California to raise 10 miles of pennies, the women of Southwest Florida have raised 70 miles of pennies leading every diocese in the entire church in the nine provinces.

“Grow in Grace” is the theme of our board for the next three years, taking our lead from the Triennial Meeting in Anaheim , Calif., where four women, diocesan President Carol Eisenbaugh, President-elect Barbara Counts, UTO Chairwoman Barbara Willis, delegate Shirley Judson, and Province IV President Jackie Robe represented our diocese for the 11-day meeting. It was at this meeting where Joan Kline, immediate past president, was presented as our Most Honored Woman.

We plan to bring some of the new ideas into our programs for the triennium.

Last May, the Executive Board sponsored Inspirations Day at DaySpring, presenting a profound program on Human Trafficking. This is an example of education programs we have planned in the future.

President Council meetings are held in each deanery two times each year. This is a time when the leaders of each parish branch get together and share with other women and the diocesan officers.

Deanery meetings in March are presented to bring the women together for a day of education and fellowship.

In November, we will hold our annual business meeting and will have a wonderful presentation by Rev. Dr. Ellen Sloan, of St. Michael’s and all Angels Church in Sanibel, and who was the chaplain at the Triennial Meeting. There will also be a special presentation given by our diocesan Triennial delegates and our Province IV president.

The ministry done by our women is remarkable. We exist to make a difference in the world. Today’s work is “hands-on,” whether it is feeding those who are hungry in our communities, or helping to keep Sami alive in the Dominican Republic, or helping to build a Jericho Road house in New Orleans.

It is great to be an Episcopal Church Woman today.

-- Carol Eisenbaugh, diocesan president, Episcopal Church Women

Episcopal Men’s Ministries 2007 - 2017: A Journey in Disciple Making
The formal launch of our 10-year initiative to men, “A Journey in Disciple Making,” took place at the September 2007 “Journey” conference for men at DaySpring.

“A Journey in Disciple Making” is a culmination of 10 years of men’s ministry experience in Southwest Florida (1996-2006). The initiative offers a variety of programming opportunities, prayer groups, bible and small group studies, and other events for spiritual growth and personal development for men. These programs and events serve as opportunities to draw men (and their families) into the life of a church, and provide a proven path to an authentic and fulfilling Christian manhood.

We seek to promote the development of intentional congregational ministries to men in our diocesan congregations and other Christian churches and fellowships in Southwest Florida. It is our goal to serve as a men’s ministry resource center for all local churches, while helping prepare Christian men to disciple the men of new faith who will be raised up in our region from 2007 to 2017.

We welcomed Scott B. Brewer of St. Margaret of Scotland Church in Sarasota, as the new ministry director in January 2009. Former director Jay Crouse (1999-2008) is enjoying a much-deserved sabbatical and will rejoin our leadership team as Director of Strategic Projects in October.
Highlights from our 2009 calendar include:

• March 27-28 Men’s Healing Conference at Bahia Vista Mennonite Church, Sarasota (presented by Church of the Holy Spirit);
• April 18 Equipping the 70 DISCIPLING Seminar with Dr. Dan Erickson held at Woodland Community Church, Bradenton;
• May 9 Equipping the 70 DEFENDING YOUR FAITH Seminar with Rev. Greg Davidson held at Church of the Palms, Sarasota;
• June 13 Equipping the 70 SHARING YOUR FAITH Seminar with Alex McFarland held at St. Margaret of Scotland, Sarasota:
• June 18 Men’s Ministry CLERGY ADVISORY TEAM Lunch with Bishop Smith, Director Brewer, and diocesan clergy in Lakewood Ranch;
• October 9-10 MEN AT THE CROSS event for all men in Southwest Florida at the Sun Dome in Tampa.

Please contact Scott B. Brewer, Director, Episcopal Men’s Ministries, at scottbbrewer@disciplemaking.com, or call (941) 957-1271, for more information about men’s ministry in the diocese, and A Journey in Disciple Making.

Office:
303 S. Palm Avenue, Sarasota 34236
Phone: (941) 957-1271
Fax: (941) 351-1367

Standing Committee
At the Annual Convention of the Diocese of Southwest Florida held at Christ Church, Bradenton, Florida, the following persons were elected to the Standing Committee: the Rev. Sharon Lewis, Ms. Maisie Reddy and Mr. Charles Scruggs. The members listed below submit this report of their canonically required work since the 2008 convention. Pursuant to canon, the vast majority of the work of the Standing Committee is required to be confidential and is therefore not reported.

President: Mrs. Karen O. Patterson
Vice President: The Rev. Cesar Olivero
Secretary: Mr. Charles Scruggs
Lay Members: Ms. Maisie Reddy
Dr. Michael Howell (resigned)
Clerical Members: The Rev. Canon Georgene Conner (resigned)
The Rev. Bob Hennagin
The Rev. Sharon Lewis
The Rev. Douglas Zimmerman

The newly constituted Standing Committee elected Mrs. Karen O. Patterson as president, The Rev. Cesar Olivero as vice president and Mr. Charles Scruggs as secretary. These elections are reflected in the roster shown above.

Many of the actions taken throughout the course of the year were taken pursuant to canon and they are listed in the paragraphs that follow.
The Rev. Cesar Olivero was appointed as the Standing Committee’s representative to the Commission on Ministry.

The Rev. Georgene Conner and Ms. Maisie Reddy were appointed as the Standing Committee’s representatives to the Grants and Loans Committee.

The Rev. Georgene Conner and Mrs. Karen Patterson were appointed as the Standing Committee’s representatives to the Safe Church Committee.

Gave consent to hold an election to the following dioceses: Long Island, Los Angeles and Springfield.

Gave consent to the elections held in the following dioceses: Northwest Texas and Southern Virginia.

Approved the ordination of Denise Vaughan (priest), Jane Kelly (deaconate), David Jackson (deaconate), and Sarah Kerr (transitional deaconate).
Received under Canon X - Ronald Kowalski and Dwayne Varas (priests).

-- Karen O. Patterson, president