Here are some things all clergy need to know:

• An annual Clergy Day is usually scheduled for the day following Ash Wednesday.

• An annual Clergy Retreat is usually held in late September.

• A sabbatical is strongly urged for all active clergy since it benefits both them and the congregations they serve. A sabbatical is not vacation time and should not be confused with vacation time. The Diocese suggests a Sabbatical Plan after five to seven years of service. Sabbatical should correspond to the length of service and should be from one to three months. Deacons may refer to the Customary for details. Priest should consult the Search Manual.

• The Canon Pastor Program exists for the care of all clergy and their families. 

Diocesan Canons Pastor: 
The Rev. Canon Larry G. Smellie (South)

The Rev. Canon Jerry Stadel (North)

Other useful links:
Clergy Compensation Guidelines
Church Deployment Office
Church Pension Fund Tax Guide

(TEC Canons - III.7.6 [a] for deacons, III.9.6 for priests)

The Commission on Ministry recommends to the Bishop that the expiration date of clergy background checks govern the termination date of all clergy licenses. The coinciding of these dates will enable a more thorough review of the licensing process and will facilitate the practice of reminders for clergy to renew their licenses on a timely basis. Therefore, the date of five (5) years following the date of the clergy background check will govern the expiration date of all clergy licenses.

The Bishop and the Commission continue to expect that all clergy meet the extra-canonical provisions of the General Convention regarding Anti-Racism training, Safeguarding All God's Children training and background checks.

Click on this link to print or download the Ordained Ministry License Application
Vocational Deacons should also download the Customary for Vocational Deacons

St. Mark's Episcopal Church
513 Nassau St. South, Venice
Guests for the day will be:
Bishop Don Johnson (Diocese of West Tennessee) and Bishop J. Neil Alexander (Diocese of Atlanta)

To register online click here.

DaySpring Episcopal Conference Center

This year the guest speakers will be:
The Reverend Canon Bruce Duncan is a Trinity Foundation for Christianity and Culture (TFCC) International Consultant. His ministry has taken him to the Middle East, Gulf States, Sri Lanka, the West Indies, Eastern Europe as well as the United Kingdom, where he has served in various inner-city and multi-cultural contexts. Canon Duncan was awarded MBE by Queen Elizabeth II for service to young people, the Cross of St. Augustine by the Archbishop of Canterbury in recognition of his work for the Anglican Communion, and Doctor of Divinity honoris causa by the Graduate Theological Foundation in the US.

The Reverend Nadim Nassar is the Director of TFCC and co-author with Bishop Michael Marshall of the Awareness Course. Fr. Nassar worked with youth groups in Syria and Lebanon for ten years. He was ordained an Anglican priest in 2003 and taught World Religions at the American Inter-Continental University in London for five years and regularly holds seminars and teaches courses for the TFCC.

The retreat will include time for discussion, question and answer sessions and fellowship. The day's schedule will be:
Monday night:
Bishop Dabney Smith - Report from Lambeth
Tuesday:
Canon Duncan and Fr. Nassar
- Session I:      Conflict of Cultures in the Third Millennium
- Session II:     The Resurgence of Religion
- Session III:     Sharing God
Wednesday:
- Session IV:      Holy Eucharist
- Lunch
- Adjournment