The following resolutions were considered at diocesan convention. The first three were filed by individuals and distributed to voting clergy and delegates before the Aiug. 20 deadline. Resolution 2007-4 was submitted by the Manasota and Venice deaneries at their joint fall convocation on Sept. 5:
For a complete wrap-up on the results of the discussion on these resolutions and the voting outcomes, click here.
Resolution 2007-1: Resolution for the authority to divert apportionment funding.
(Editor's note: This resolution failed 146-121)
Offered by the Rev. Joel Morsch, Rector of Christ Episcopal Church, Bradenton.
RESOLVED, the 39th Annual Convention of the Diocese of Southwest Florida meeting at Venice on the 20th day of October, 2007:
That this Convention grants the Ecclesiastical Authority the ability to continue to respond pastorally to those congregations and individual members in the Diocese of Southwest Florida who, for reasons of conscience, desire to redirect funds which would otherwise be sent to support the program work of the national church (TEC) and to send those funds to the Episcopal Diocese of the Dominican Republic in support of the ministries in that diocese; and
That this authority is granted through the calendar year 2008.
Explanation: No additional explanation provided.
Resolution 2007-2: Resolution to amend Canon VIII concerning the selection of a congregation’s wardens.
(Editor's note: This resolution failed 155-105)
Offered by the Donald Fishburne, Rector, and the Vestry and Congregation of Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, Sanibel.
RESOLVED, the 39th Annual Convention of the Diocese of Southwest Florida meeting at Venice on the 20th day of October, 2007:
That Section 1 of Canon VIII Of Wardens, Vestries, Bishop’s Committees and Electors be amended as follows:
Section 1. In every Parish and organized Mission in this Diocese there shall be an annual meeting of the congregation, within one hundred twenty days before or on the twenty eighth day of February, and at said meeting an election by ballot, of a Vestry or Bishop’s Committee, consisting of no fewer than five persons as may be fixed by the Congregation’s Charter, and who shall continue in office until their successors are elected and qualified. In such election a majority of votes shall decide the choice, provided, however, that in the case of an Organized Mission, the names of those chosen shall be submitted to the Bishop for his approval and appointment. As to a Parish, of the persons so chosen, one QUALIFIED ELECTOR shall be appointed Senior Warden by the Rector and one QUALIFIED ELECTOR shall be designated and elected Junior Warden by the Vestry. As to a Mission, of the persons so chosen, the Vicar or Priest-in-Charge shall nominate a Senior Warden and the Bishop’s Committee shall nominate a Junior Warden and other officers. The names of all Mission Officers so nominated shall be submitted to the Bishop for his approval and appointment. Nothing herein contained shall prevent a Congregation from establishing terms of office more than one year, provided the term of one or more members of the Vestry or Bishop’s Committee shall expire each year.
Explanation: The proposed Amendment would provide more flexibility in the appointment and election of Churchwardens, to enable a Rector and Vestry to appoint or elect a Senior Warden and Junior Warden, respectively, from among qualified Electors rather than only from among Vestry members. The effect of the Amendment would be permissive but not obligatory; no congregation would be required to change its method of appointing and electing Wardens.
Benefit: The proposed change would allow clergy and congregations to reach beyond the Vestry to recruit or retain key leaders, especially in times of emergency or transition.
Case in point: Should a hurricane or other unusual circumstance call for continuity of leadership and flexibility in recruiting the best leaders, it would be disadvantageous to have a Senior Churchwarden (or other leaders) to be forced to rotate off Vestry at the end of their normal Vestry terms. We (Rector and Vestry) would like the option of being able to provide continuity of leadership by reappointing or reelecting key leaders, or being able to reach beyond Vestry members (or Vestry nominees) to name or elect the best people for the jobs. Crises are but one example of the need and desirability for this flexibility. (We have changed our parish Bylaws to allow for an expansion of the number of Vestry members so that we may broaden leadership circles in a growing congregation; it would be helpful to have the ability to increase flexibility in appointing and electing Churchwardens as we enlarge the Vestry.)
This would also allow for a true "Rector's Warden" and "People's Warden."
Resolution 2007-3: Resolution to include the Rev. John Edwin Culmer, D.D., in the calendar of Lesser Feasts and Fasts on the date of June 19th.
(Editor's Note: This resolution was passed by voice vote.)
Offered by the Rev. Hayden Crawford, the congregation of St. James House of Prayer, Tampa, and The John E. Culmer Chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians of Southwest Florida.
RESOLVED, the 39th Annual Convention of the Diocese of Southwest Florida meeting at Venice on the 20th day of October, 2007:
That the Convention establish a task force for the purposes of making application to the Standing Liturgical Commission of the General Convention of The Episcopal Church to alter the calendar of the Episcopal Church to include the Reverend John Edwin Culmer, D.D. in the Calendar of Lesser Feasts and Fasts, with a commemoration date of June 19; and
That the completed application shall be submitted to the Standing Liturgical Commission of the General Convention of The Episcopal Church at least eighteen (18) months before the next meeting of the General Convention.
Explanation: The Reverend Doctor John Edwin Culmer served untiringly and faithfully as priest and as Archdeacon for Negro Work in the Diocese of South (Central, Southeast and Southwest) Florida for forty-four (44) years. The Rev. Dr. Culmer help build and establish several churches in Florida, including St. James (St. James-House of Prayer), Tampa; St. Augustine’s, St. Petersburg; Church of the Transfiguration, Opa Locka; St. Cyprian’s, Homestead; St. Ann’s, Allandale; and St. Matthew’s, Delray Beach.
In addition to establishing congregations, the Rev. Dr. Culmer was a faithful parish priest, serving St. Agnes Episcopal Church in Miami for thirty-four (34) years, during which time he baptized more than 3,000 people and presented more than 2,000 for confirmation. As a result, St. Agnes was the third-largest Black American church in the nation of its time and the largest congregation in the South. He also served at the national church level; in 1943 the Rev. Dr. Culmer was the first black priest to be elected deputy to the General Convention in fifty years, subsequently serving again in 1946, 1955 and 1958.
During his lifetime, the Rev. Dr. Culmer was cited for his churchmanship and meritorious achievements by a number of bishops: the Rt. Rev. Cameran Mann, the Rt. Rev. John D. Wing, the Rt. Rev. Henry I. Louttit, Sr. and the Rt. Rev. James L. Duncan. The Virginia Theological Seminary recognized the humanitarian contributions the Rev. Dr. Culmer had made by awarding him an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree in 1960; this was the first time VTS had so honored a Black American. He was also recognized by numerous national, state and local civil authorities, including Harry S. Truman, 33rd President of the United States of America (1950); Florida governors Dave Sholtz (1935), Spessard L. Holland (1942) and Fuller Warren (1952); and Florida mayors: D. B. McKay of Tampa (1929), and Robert High King of Miami (1960).
Finally, the Rev. Dr. Culmer was a published author, with works including A Manual of Catholic Worship (1945), Seven Years in Retrospect, and Born in a Washtub.
Because of these extraordinary contributions, the Rev. Dr. Culmer exemplifies the kind of person who should be commemorated in the Calendar of the Episcopal Church. As the Diocese where several of the congregations he established are located, it is appropriate that this Diocesan Convention assume the responsibility of commencing the application process.
Resolution 2007-4: Resolution for the establishment of a diocesan fund to aid the funding of clergy children.
Editor's note: This resolution was referred to Diocesan Council).
Offered by the Manasota Deanery and the Venice Deanery, meeting in joint convocation on Sept. 5, 2007.
RESOLVED, the 39th Annual Convention of the Diocese of Southwest Florida meeting at Venice on the 20th day of October, 2007:
That this Convention directs the Ecclesiastical Authority of the Diocese of Southwest Florida to establish a Scholarship Fund providing financial aid for post-secondary education to the children of those clergy members of the Convention who have the right to seat, voice and vote. Funding will be established by a transfer of 1% of the actual expenses of the diocese for the immediately preceding fiscal year.
Awards from this Fund shall be as determined by a Scholarship Committee consisting of three clergy members of Convention who are presbyters, and two electors of congregations that are members of Diocese. The Committee members shall be appointed by the Bishop for staggered three-year terms, with the initial terms made in a manner to effect staggered terms. Criteria for receiving a grant shall be based primarily on financial need, as determined by the Committee. The decisions of the Committee shall be final and non-appealable.
“Children” shall include natural, adopted and step-children under twenty-six (26) years of age, and persons under twenty-six (26) years of age for whom the clergy member of Convention is the legal guardian.
