Episcopal Church expands missions

From Sarasota-

Leaders from area Episcopal churches are looking at strategies to reach out to the unchurched or those missing a spiritual life.

A mission conference last month in Bradenton that brought together clergy and churchgoers from Tampa to Naples was moderated by the Rev. Eric Cooter, the diocesan missioner since Jan. 1 under Bishop Dabney Smith.

"The purpose of the event was to stir enthusiasm and also to create an educational opportunity to bring in some people that are not theorists, but doing it 'boots on the ground' in other parts of the church," he said.

Speakers included the Revs. Karen Ward and Bob Leopold, both of whom knew Cooter when he led a young adult ministry at Lamb of God, a federated Lutheran Episcopal church in Fort Myers. Cooter also served as rector at St. David's in Englewood.

More here-

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20130218/ARTICLE/130219587

S.W. Florida Reduces Parish Apportionment

From The Living Church-

The Diocese of Southwest Florida’s 41st annual convention restored voting rights to deacons, decreased the annual apportionment for parishes by 1 percent, and heard of the bishop’s hopes to move diocesan headquarters back to DaySpring Episcopal Conference Center.

Clergy and delegates, meeting on Oct. 9 and 10 in Punta Gorda, reduced the parish apportionment from 10 percent to 9 percent. They voted to strip any congregation of seat, voice and vote at the convention if it is in arrears in apportionment payments to the diocese.

The diocese’s budget for 2010 is $2.8 million. The diocesan office’s budget was reduced by $533,000.

The decision to restore voting rights to deacons reversed a policy that was enacted during the episcopacy of the Rt. Rev. John Lipscomb, who said deacons should be freed from the debates of church politics. Deacons may now vote again if they are canonically resident; have an assignment from the bishop to serve a congregation; have a written agreement with that congregation; and are not retired from active service.

The convention also received St. Andrew’s Church, Boca Grande, as a self-sustaining parish. The congregation had been a mission for the past 100 years.

The Rt. Rev. Dabney Smith, fifth bishop of the diocese, said discussions about moving the diocesan office to DaySpring are preliminary.

“DaySpring is important in the life of the diocese as a gathering space that is beautiful and central,” the bishop told clergy and delegates. “It is a place where multitudes meet Jesus and each other. Preliminary conversations have started with the Manatee County Planning Department. It is essential that we proceed with an approach that is thoughtful and responsible. I have no need or desire to rush things. I want the decisions to make sense for us and for generations to come.”

Jim DeLa, the diocese’s director of communications, has written an extensive convention report on the diocese’s website.

http://www.livingchurch.org/news/news-updates/2009/10/14/sw-florida-reduces-parish-apportionment