Episcopal Diocese of Florida

Coordinates: 30°19′42″N 81°39′13″W / 30.3282°N 81.6535°W / 30.3282; -81.6535
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Diocese of Florida

Dioecesis Floridensis

Diócesis de la Florida
Dorsey F. Henderson, Jr.
(Assistant Bishop)
Map
Location of the Diocese of Florida
Location of the Diocese of Florida
Website
diocesefl.org

The Episcopal Diocese of Florida is a

St. John's Cathedral in Jacksonville
.

Major cities in the diocese are Jacksonville, Tallahassee and Gainesville. The diocese includes the eastern half of Franklin County, and all of the following counties: Liberty, Gadsden, Leon, Wakulla, Jefferson, Madison, Taylor, Hamilton, Suwannee, Dixie, Lafayette, Levy, Gilchrist, Columbia, Baker, Union, Bradford, Alachua, Nassau, Duval, St. Johns, Clay, Putnam and Flagler.

The diocese is a part of

Province IV of the Episcopal Church. The diocese currently comprises 77 churches.[1]

History

On January 17, 1838, the Episcopal Church in Florida was begun in Tallahassee with seven

parishes
spread throughout the state:

The group composed a constitution and rules of order which were submitted to the

General Convention, and on September 7, 1838, the Diocese of Florida was accepted into the national church body.[2]
However, for all practical purposes, the Diocese existed in name only. There was not a Bishop of Florida and only a handful of clergy. Their relative geographical locations posed a huge challenge; the distance between St. Augustine and Pensacola is about 400 miles (640 km). Travel was slow and difficult, as was communication between clergy.

A few new churches were founded, but they had almost no connection to the diocese. As of 1851, there were but 260 communicants in the entire state, and many parishes were struggling to survive. That changed after the Reverend Francis Huger Rutledge was elected in October 1851 as the first Bishop of Florida.[3]

Bishop Rutledge's work transformed the diocese into an effective organization. Funds were raised, clergy was recruited and every parish was visited. Then came the Civil War. In 1861, Florida joined the Confederacy and the war devastated the South. Four Florida churches were burned down with the remainder in desperate need of repair. Some priests had abandoned their parishes and nearly everyone was destitute. Bishop Rutledge died in 1866, and the outlook was grim.

Reverend John Freeman Young (Oct. 30, 1820 – Nov. 15, 1885), translator of the Christmas hymn, "

reconstruction was a hardship to the people, as well as the church. Growth was slow but promising. Bishop Young visited parishes throughout the state, but he saw most churches once each year. A trip from Jacksonville to Key West might take a month or more. Bishop Young reported "eleven churches built or in progress in one year"[2] in 1880. He died five years later. During his service as a bishop, he established parishes for Cubans living in Florida and for Blacks, many of whom had come to Florida from Anglican parishes in the Caribbean. At the time of his death, he was working on a Spanish translation of the Book of Common Prayer.[5]

Reverend

missions and 13 parishes, but fewer than 3,000 members. Bishop Weed decided to move his seat from St. Augustine to Jacksonville because transportation was more readily available. He accomplished the move by 1895, but severe freezes in 1896 & 1897 destroyed most of North Florida's citrus industry and the Great Fire of 1901 in Jacksonville left the diocese broke. The following year, however, all parishes and missions made their Diocesan payments in full. Moreover, by 1906, the diocese had more than 50 parishes and missions, served by 33 clergy. In 1913, Bishop Weed realized that the missionary Southern diocese had grown much more rapidly than the original diocese, due to the expansion of railroad service to Tampa and Key West. He suggested returning Marion and Volusia Counties to the original diocese, but that suggestion failed when only one of the thirteen parishes in the missionary district agreed.[6]
In addition, the Woman's Auxiliary gained importance and became a major source of funds during the early 1900s. Their efforts helped keep many churches from closing their doors. Bishop Weed died in 1924.

The Right Reverend

Frank Alexander Juhan was the youngest American bishop when he was consecrated in 1924 at St. John's, Jacksonville. Bishop Juhan took special interest in youth and college ministries. The diocese acquired property in 1926 for use as a Summer camp and ministries were begun at Florida State College for Women (now Florida State University) and the University of Florida. In early 1929 the diocese consisted of sixteen parishes and fifty-one missions. The Wall Street Crash of 1929 and the Great Depression
that followed did not spare Florida's churches; as was the case everywhere, salaries were cut, people were let go and missions folded. The diocese quietly celebrated its centennial in 1938. With the depression subsiding, the bishop implemented a comprehensive three-year plan of improvement and advancement. Many clergymen enlisted during World War II and ministering to the thousands of servicemen in Florida became an added burden for the remaining clergy. Bishop Juhan reported in 1943: "Believe me when I say that I can get four new tires and four hundred pounds of beef tenderloin easier than I can get able clergy now."[2] However, no church closed during the war years, and during the next decade, eleven missions became parishes and new missions were organized in sixteen communities, doubling church membership. Twenty new clergy were hired. St. Johns Church in Jacksonville became
St. John's Cathedral
for the Diocese of Florida. A diocesan house and bookstore were established, and a retirement home for women. In 1956, Bishop Juhan retired at age 68.

The Right Reverend Edward Hamilton West was consecrated as the Fifth Bishop of Florida on February 1, 1956, after serving as

Episcopal High School of Jacksonville
opened its doors in 1966 and a new Diocesan House was constructed in 1971. The diocese built three high-rise retirement apartment buildings in downtown Jacksonville: the Cathedral Towers in 1968, Cathedral Townhouse in 1970, and Cathedral Terrace in 1974. Bishop West retired in 1974 after having guided the diocese through a difficult period of time.

The Right Reverend

Frank Stanley Cerveny was selected as the sixth bishop of the diocese in 1974. During his episcopate the church began ordaining women and made major revisions to the prayer book. Bishop Cerveny chose to focus on evangelism and spiritual growth which included a close relationship with the diocese of Cuba. Cursillo
, a renewal movement for lay people led by lay people, was begun in the diocese in 1976. In 1980, Camp Weed was moved to its current location near Live Oak and became a year-round center for spiritual reflection, renewal and recreation. Bishop Cerveny retired at the end of 1993.

The Right Reverend

Stephen Hays Jecko became Bishop in 1994. He began and supported ministries for the homeless, incarcerated, and the poor. Spiritual renewal programs such as Discovery and Alpha were introduced and implemented. Continuing education programs were developed to assist priests and laity. The election and consecration of Gene Robinson
, an openly gay priest in the Episcopal church, was controversial, resulting in heated debate and intense feelings throughout the Episcopal Church in the United States. Bishop Jecko conducted a series of discussions and meetings for clergy, vestries and parishioners in an attempt to resolve the issue that was dividing conservative and liberal Christians. Privately, he was opposed the church’s position on the issue, and decided to leave the diocese rather than enforce the will of the national church.

Following Bishop Jecko's "retirement", the Right Reverend

defrocked. The Diocese of Florida has been a leader in the efforts to rebuild in Mississippi following 2005’s Hurricane Katrina. The diocese sent 53 mission teams comprising 300 volunteers and nearly $1 million in materials to St. Patrick's Church and its parishioners in Long Beach, Mississippi. A partnership was formed between the diocese and the organization, Prisoners of Christ
which addresses the pastoral needs of incarcerated and released prisoners. Bishop Howard has announced that he will retire before the end of 2023.

Two elections have been held to choose a successor for Howard, the first in May 2022, the second in November 2022. The Reverend Charlie Holt won each election, but renounced his first election and failed to receive the required number of consents from the bishops and standing committees of other dioceses of the Episcopal Church for his second election.[7][8] Formal objections to the first election process were filed with the national church, and, in August 2022, the Court of Review of the Episcopal Church released a judgement siding with the objectors on most counts.[9] The court's finding would have been forwarded to other dioceses for their consideration as they decided whether or not to supply the required consent to the election, but Holt rescinded his acceptance of the election later in August because he desired to have a clean process.[10] The second election was also contested on procedural grounds, and again in, February 2022, the Court of Review sided with some of the objections. The diocese responded to these objections in March 2023.[11] Other dioceses had 120 days to supply their consent. Some groups also asked for consent to be withheld because of Holt's past statements or actions regarding race and LGBTQ+ individuals. Holt provided clarifications, apologized for his missteps, and stated he will not stand in the way of parishes or clergy who wish to hold same-sex weddings.[12] On July 21, 2023, the diocese and the presiding bishop announced that Holt had not received the required consents. Bishop Howard will need to retire within three months of turning 72 on September 8, 2023. Upon his retirement, the standing committee will become the ecclesiastical authority for the diocese. An assisting bishop may be appointed or an election for a bishop provisional held.[13]

Camp Weed

The first summer camp in the Diocese was held near St. Augustine Beach in June, 1924, attended by 40 children from the Jacksonville young people’s service leagues. The following year, camp was moved to a location near Panama City on St. Andrew’s Bay. The camp was successful and was given the name Camp Weed to honor the late Right Reverend Edwin Garner Weed, Third Bishop of Florida.

The camp remained in Bay County and the Diocese purchased 10 acres (40,000 m2) of land that included four screened cottages and a former hotel in 1929. The next year, the Diocese began holding multiple camp sessions with Church school teachers and leaders conducting their own programs for 130 children. Attendance had risen to nearly 400 by the start of World War II.

The US Army commandeered Camp Weed for training during the war. The

St. John’s River
. After the war, the camp was resumed at St. Teresa. The army buildings were transformed into dorms, a dining hall, a chapel, recreation and craft centers. The 1950s ushered in the
Post-World War II baby boom
and growth.

In 1971, the Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast was formed and the Diocese of Florida lost 9 parishes and 13 missions in the panhandle. Camp Weed was no longer at the center of the diocese; it was on the western border. The Diocesan convention authorized the search for and purchase of a "centrally located site of adequate size" in 1976. Property near Live Oak was selected in 1978 and 500-acre (2.0 km2) on White Lake was purchased. The St. Teresa property was sold that same year.

The first few years were spent in tents, with primitive conditions more typical for Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts. The first permanent facilities were constructed in 1981 and the following year, 7 cabins were completed, roads were cleared, the swimming and recreation areas were built, all with the help of campers. A kitchen and dining hall were constructed in 1983. Each year, a new project was completed. Amenities now include the Cerveny Conference Center, "motel" rooms and a swimming pool. A beautiful worship facility, Mandi’s Chapel, was dedicated in 1995, and many weddings are held there. On April 18, 2012, the AIA's Florida Chapter ranked Mandi's Chapel second on its list of Florida Architecture: 100 Years. 100 Places.[14]

The Ravine building, with guest rooms and a conference room, was opened in 2004, as was the Varn Dining Hall, which seats 300. The Snell/McCarty Youth Pavilion was dedicated in 2006, providing a year-round gymnasium with a capacity of 500.

Bishops

The following is a list of the Bishops of the Diocese of Florida:

Parishes and missions

The table can be sorted by any column; left mouse click on the arrow box in the heading. P=Parish, M=Mission

Parish Name City website Region P/M
Advent Tallahassee [2] Apalachee P
Ascension Carrabelle Apalachee P
All Saints
 Jacksonville [3] Archived December 16, 2014, at the Wayback Machine 1st Coast East P
All Saints Chapel Hastings River M
St. Gabriel's Jacksonville 1st Coast West P
All Soul's Chapel Starke Santa Fe M
Bethany Hilliard 1st Coast West M
Chapel of St. Dismas Baker Correctional Institution Santa Fe M
Christ Church Ponte Vedra Beach [4] 1st Coast East P
Chapel of the Incarnation Gainesville [5] Santa Fe M
Christ Church – San Pablo Jacksonville [6] 1st Coast East M
Christ Church Monticello [7] Apalachee P
Christ Church Cedar Key [8] Santa Fe P
Church of Our Saviour
 Jacksonville [9] 1st Coast East P
Church of the Holy Communion Hawthorne River P
Community of St. Paul Liberty Correctional Institution Apalachee M
Emmanuel Welaka River M
Epiphany Jacksonville [10] 1st Coast West P
Florida State Prison Starke Santa Fe M
Good Samaritan Jacksonville 1st Coast West P
Good Shepherd Jacksonville [11] Archived February 11, 2008, at the Wayback Machine 1st Coast West P
Grace Episcopal Church Orange Park [12] 1st Coast West P
Grace Mission Tallahassee Apalachee
Holy Comforter Crescent City [13] River M
Holy Comforter Tallahassee [14] Apalachee P
Holy Trinity Gainesville [15] Santa Fe P
Mediator Micanopy Santa Fe P
Redeemer Jacksonville [16] 1st Coast East P
Resurrection Jacksonville [17] Archived May 16, 2017, at the Wayback Machine 1st Coast East P
San Jose Jacksonville [18] 1st Coast East P
St Alban's Chiefland Santa Fe P
St. Andrew's Interlachen River P
St. Andrew's Jacksonville [19] Archived July 19, 2008, at the Wayback Machine 1st Coast East P
St. Anne's Keystone Heights [20][permanent dead link] Santa Fe P
St. Barnabas Williston Santa Fe M
St. Bartholomew's High Springs [21] Archived June 28, 2008, at the Wayback Machine Santa Fe M
St. Catherine's Jacksonville 1st Coast West P
St. Cyprian's St. Augustine River M
St. Elizabeth's Jacksonville [22] 1st Coast West P
St. Francis in the Field Ponte Vedra Beach [23] Archived July 26, 2008, at the Wayback Machine 1st Coast East P
St. Francis of Assisi Tallahassee [24] Apalachee P
St. George
 Jacksonville [25] 1st Coast East P
St. James Lake City [26] Santa Fe P
St. James Perry [27] Apalachee P
St. John's Cathedral
 Jacksonville [28] 1st Coast West P
St. John's Tallahassee [29] Apalachee P
St. Joseph's Newberry [30] Santa Fe P
St. Luke's Jacksonville 1st Coast East P
St. Luke's Live Oak [31] Santa Fe P
St. Margaret's
 Hibernia [32] 1st Coast West P
St. Mark's Jacksonville [33] 1st Coast West P
St. Mark's Palatka [34] Archived July 23, 2008, at the Wayback Machine River P
St. Mark's Starke [35] Santa Fe P
St. Mary's Palatka River M
St. Mary's Mission Jacksonville [36] 1st Coast West M
St. Mary's Green Cove Springs 1st Coast West P
St. Mary's Madison Apalachee P
St. Matthew's Mayo [37] Apalachee M
St. Michael and All Angels Tallahassee [38] Apalachee P
St. Michael's Gainesville Santa Fe P
St. Patrick's Jacksonville [39] 1st Coast East P
St John's Chapel Jacksonville [40] 1st Coast East M
St. Paul's by the Sea Jacksonville Beach [41] 1st Coast East P
St. Paul's Federal Point River P
St. Paul's Jacksonville [42] 1st Coast East P
St. Paul's Quincy Apalachee P
St. Peter's Fernandina Beach [43] 1st Coast West P
St. Peter's Jacksonville [44] 1st Coast West P
St. Philip's Jacksonville [45] 1st Coast West P
St. Teresa of Avila Crawfordville [46] Apalachee M
St. Teresa Prison Ministry Wakulla Correctional Institution Apalachee M
St. Teresa Prison Ministry Franklin Correctional Institution Apalachee M
St. Teresa Prison Ministry Wakulla Work Camp Apalachee M
St. Thomas
Palm Coast
 River P
The Community of Transformation St. John's County Detention Center River M
Chapel of the Resurrection Tallahassee [47] Apalachee M
Trinity Melrose [48] Santa Fe P
Trinity Parish St. Augustine [49] River P

See also

References

  1. ^ The Episcopal Church Annual (2007) Harrisburg: Morehouse Church Resources, pp. 359–361.
  2. ^ a b c [1] Archived October 14, 2007, at the Wayback Machine Episcopal Diocese of Florida website, History
  3. ^ Cushman, Joseph D., Jr.: A Goodly Heritage: The Episcopal Church in Florida, 1821–1892, Gainesville: University of Florida Press, 1965
  4. ^ Underwood, Byron Edward, "Bishop John Freeman Young, Translator of 'Stille Nacht,'" The Hymn, v. 8, no. 4, Oct. 1957, pp. 123–132.
  5. ^ Underwood, Byron Edward, op.cit.
  6. ^ George R. Bentley, The Episcopal Diocese of Florida, 1892-1975 (Gainesville: University of Florida Press, 1989), pp 76-77
  7. ^ Paulsen, David (July 21, 2023). "Diocese of Florida is denied churchwide consents needed to ordain Charlie Holt as bishop". Episcopal News Service. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  8. ^ "Florida Bishop Election Nullified as Consent Period Ends". The Living Church. July 21, 2023. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  9. ^ Paulsen, David (August 16, 2022). "Court of Review concludes Diocese of Florida bishop election was conducted improperly". Episcopal News Service. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  10. ^ Paulsen, David (August 19, 2022). "Charlie Holt withdraws acceptance of election as Diocese of Florida bishop coadjutor". Episcopal News Service. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  11. ^ Paulsen, David (March 22, 2023). "Diocese of Florida issues formal request for churchwide consent to disputed bishop election". Episcopal News Service. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  12. ^ mmacdonald (December 20, 2022). "Florida Bishop-elect Charlie Holt commits to allowing same-sex marriage, gay ordinands if consecrated". Episcopal News Service. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  13. ^ Paulsen, David (July 21, 2023). "Diocese of Florida is denied churchwide consents needed to ordain Charlie Holt as bishop". Episcopal News Service. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  14. ^ Florida Architecture: 100 Years. 100 Places

External links

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