The Diocese of Southwest Florida welcomes you to its School for Ministry Development.

Our focus is to serve anyone who desires to expand their knowledge, enhance their Christian journey or pursue either a lay license or the vocational diaconate.

 The school has announced it will no longer offer “general studies” courses to anyone who wishes to enroll but instead will concentrate on training those seeking ordination and those seeking lay licensure who are endorsed by their congregations.

The changes are a “quantum shift” from the school serving anyone with a sense of God’s call to ministry, to those who are being lifted up by their faith communities, according to Archdeacon Dennis McManis, the school’s dean. Click here to read more.

Starting this fall, all students must be formally nominated for diaconal formation or lay licensure before enrolling. Students will be expected to have completed a parish-based discernment process and have formal support from their clergy and vestry. The discernment and nomination process must be complete no later than Aug. 16. For more information, contact Deacon Dennis McManis at (941) 556-0315.