Episcopal bishop to Marco Rubio: 'Go to Jesus for wisdom about Parkland'

From Central Florida-

Dear Senator Rubio,

I follow you on Twitter and I am grateful that you trust in Christ. On February 15, 2018, you quoted the Gospel of John, “in the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.” I replied, “True. Jesus has overcome. But as a senator I implore you to go to Jesus for wisdom about Parkland. Things legislatively have to change. We are too broken and sinful for things to remain as they are. The violence will only continue.”

I appeal to you as a bishop and as a fellow Christian who cares for the well being of all in our community. Politicians who only offer thoughts and prayers for the victims and their families are not enough. Politicians who attribute these acts of unspeakable violence only to mental illness are not acting in accordance with the responsibilities of their office.
More here-

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/opinion/os-ed-marco-rubio-go-to-jesus-about-parkland-open-letter-20180220-story.html

Kissimmee psychotherapist accused of battering patient, police say

From Central Florida-

A pastoral psychotherapist at a behavioral health center is accused of battering a female patient on multiple occasions, according to the Kissimmee Police Department.

The victim contacted police on Dec. 27 and she said that she had been a patient of Gerardo "Jerry" James DeJesus, Ph.D., at Mindful Behavioral Healthcare on East Oak Street for the past three months.

She said DeJesus touched her multiple times in an "unwanted manner, outside of the scope of his care," according to a news release.

He was arrested Friday on three counts of battery.

Mindful Behavioral Healthcare's website lists DeJesus as an adolescent and adult psychotherapist who treats anxiety, depression, dreams and self-destructive behavioral patterns. He is also an Episcopal priest, according to the website.

More here-

https://www.clickorlando.com/news/kissimmee-psychotherapist-accused-of-battering-patient-police-say

Staying Sane, Involved, Prayerful, and Kind in an Election Year

From Central Florida-

In this election season, isn’t it tempting to get caught up in the frenzy? Everyone we encounter seems to want to polarize and divide us. “Whose side are you on?” “If you vote for him/her you are voting to dismantle our democracy!” “If you don’t vote at all, you’re just giving a vote to him/her.” “How can you call yourself a Christian and vote for him/her?”

Yes, the upcoming election is very important, but losing our kindness and generosity in the process can be worse than voting for any particular candidate.

All of this touches me, too. It’s easy to get frustrated when other people don’t see it your way, right? But I know that if I find myself demonizing people on the other side, I’m on spiritually dangerous ground. The world may act that way, but such behavior has no place in the body of Christ.

More here-

http://cfdiocese.org/bishopsblog/staying-sane-involved-prayerful-and-kind-in-an-election-year/

Bishop resigns from seminary board following Orlando baptism flap

The previous post not withstanding-

The Bishop of Central Florida has resigned from the Board of Trustees of the Trinity School for Ministry (TSM) in the wake of the controversy over the baptism of an infant presented by a same-sex couple at the Cathedral Church of St Luke in Orlando.

On 16 June 2015, the Rt. Rev. Gregory O. Brewer met with the the Dean of TSM, the Very Rev. Justyn Terry at an Orlando airport hotel to discuss concerns raised by the board’s executive committee. At the close of the meeting Bishop Brewer, who was the sole serving Episcopal bishop on the seminary’s board, wrote to the board tendering his resignation.

Bishop Brewer, who served on the faculty of TSM twenty years ago and who continues to have close ties to the school, declined to respond to questions about his resignation. No member of the board contacted by Anglican Ink was willing to speak on the record about the incident. Dean Terry also declined to speak to the dispute, but the school’s spokesman, the Rev. Christopher Klukas, gave AI a statement on 23 June 2015. He wrote:

- See more at:

http://anglicanink.com/article/bishop-resigns-seminary-board-following-orlando-baptism-flap#sthash.N5tDM7mH.dpuf

Baby With Two Dads Will Get Baptized, Bishop Says

From Central Florida-

A pair of gay Florida dads will have their son baptized this summer, following a soul-searching controversy within their Episcopal church that concluded with a meeting with — and the blessing of — their local bishop.

“We talked about my being a part of the baptism and I told them I would be happy to do so,” said the Rt. Rev. Gregory O. Brewer, head of the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida, in a statement. “We look forward to celebrating Jack’s baptism at the Cathedral in the near future.”

More here-

https://www.yahoo.com/parenting/baby-with-two-dads-will-get-baptized-bishop-says-118708740992.html

From Central Florida-

Episcopal Bishop Greg Brewer said today that Jack, an infant whose parents are gay parishioners of Cathedral Church of St. Luke, will be baptized at the church after all.

Brewer made the decision to baptize Jack after meeting with parents Rich and Eric McCaffrey on Thursday night.

"It was a very good meeting," Brewer said.

Neither Rich nor Eric McCaffrey could be reached for comment. But Rich McCaffrey later posted a statement on his Facebook page that Brewer was supportive of Jack being baptized at the cathedral.

 More here-

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/religion/os-church-baptism-gay-parents-baby-20150508-story.html

Episcopal Presiding Bishop Visits Orlando March 3-5

From Central Florida-

The Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, the Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, is scheduled to visit the Central Florida Episcopal diocese Sunday, March 3 through Tuesday, March 5.

Schori will preach at Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, Longwood, on Sunday; tour the diocese on Monday; and meet with diocesan clergy at Canterbury Retreat and Conference Center, Oviedo, on Tuesday morning, Central Florida Bishop Gregory Brewer said.

“It is both our responsibility and our privilege to welcome the Presiding Bishop, Katharine Jefferts Schori, to the Diocese of Central Florida,” Bishop Brewer said. “It be an opportunity for our diocese to be a witness for Christ as we showcase a number of our vital ministries that are making a difference in people’s lives here in Central Florida.”

More here-

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/features-the-religion-world/2013/02/20/episcopal-presiding-bishop-visits-orlando-sunday-tuesday/

At 120 years old, St Mark's Church plans growth

From Central Florida-

St. Mark's Episcopal Church is planning a week-long celebration of its 120th anniversary, ending Oct. 14 when Bishop Gregory O. Brewer will celebrate a 4 p.m. Mass in honor of the occasion.

Immediately following is a ground-breaking ceremony for "A Bigger That" -- a new sanctuary to be built on the property to accommodate the growing parish.

The "little white church on the hill," 102 N. Ninth St., was founded in 1892 as a monument to peace, a published church history said.

It was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1994, which means the original church cannot be modified.

More here-

http://www.newschief.com/article/20121006/NEWS/210065035

Florida’s new Episcopal Bishop faces big challenges

From Central Florida-

It’s a confusing time to be a member of the Episcopal Church. More than two decades of bickering over a range of theological issues, notably the question of whether openly gay and lesbian people can be ordained as priests and bishops, has left one of America’s oldest denominations splintered.

Over the past eight years, the ordinations of gay and lesbian priests as bishops has prompted strong objections from traditionalists, and some bishops have gone as far as schism — leaving the Episcopal Church for an array of more conservative Anglican groups.

Into this situation comes the Rev. Gregory Brewer, who recently was elected bishop of the Diocese of Central Florida, based in Orlando. Brewer, who was pastor of Calvary-St. George’s Episcopal Church in New York City, has big shoes to fill. He will succeed the Rt. Rev. John Howe, who is retiring in March.

Howe has been a stalwart of the traditionalist wing of the Episcopal Church, and his voice — unwavering yet charitable toward those who disagreed with him — has wielded influence far beyond Orlando.

Howe lobbied for policies that would allow conservative dioceses like his to have a measure of independence, remaining within the Episcopal Church as a kind of loyal opposition. He was willing to talk with those he disagreed with, including Bishop Gene Robinson, the first openly gay Episcopal bishop. Howe’s approach earned respect and kept most of the traditionalists in his diocese pacified.

The controversy about the role of gays and lesbians in the church has proved nearly insoluble among mainline Protestant churches that have been debating it actively since the 1980s. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Presbyterian Church (USA) have within the past year loosened their policies to allow the ordination of gays and lesbians in some situations. The fallout has been predictable: Significant minorities of congregations — especially large and wealthy congregations — are planning to leave.

Read more:

http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/12/16/2550106/floridas-new-episcopal-bishop.html#ixzz1gnNz2XGs