The Bishop’s Institute for Ministry and Leadership was established in 2015 in the Episcopal Diocese of Florida to provide opportunities to develop lay and clergy leadership in the Diocese; to prepare candidates for ordination to the vocational diaconate and the local priesthood; to prepare candidates for licensed lay ministries and to be a focus for the continuing education for laity and clergy alike. |
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Feast of St Francis (October 4th)
Earlier this month I had the pleasure of taking the Sunday services at St Francis in the Fields Episcopal Church in St Johns County. The Sunday fell within the octave of the Feast of St Francis (October 4th) so an obvious sermon topic might have included something related to the saint. The Gospel, however, was the story of the encounter of ‘the rich young ruler’ with Jesus and I could not resist preaching on that text--- it is a story teller’s dream and a wonderful frame for preaching the Gospel. I once heard the splendid detective writer and novelist P.D. James preach on the ‘rich young ruler’ and I am kicking myself for not asking her for a copy. Like so many sermons--- I remember the experience but forget the content of the experience. At any rate, I followed the close reading of the story by William Barclay because his is so good--- and it is written down and easy to find. Barclay does an interesting thing with the story—contrasting the ‘keeping of the commandments’ as a preventative virtue, i.e. ‘not doing anyone any harm’ with answering the call of Jesus to ‘go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor . . . and come and follow me’ as a positive virtue that goes beyond not doing harm to actually doing someone some good.
St Francis did come readily to mind as I prepared my sermon on the Gospel: how could you not recollect him in hearing the charge to the young man: ‘Go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor . . . ‘? But what really brought St Francis vividly to heart and mind was the sheer physicality of the campus of St Francis in the Fields---- it sits off the road in its own grove of trees and shrubs with enough land that makes you think you have been dropped into a landscape of rural fields and forest. A beautiful walled memorial garden situated some ways away from the church entrance looks at first glance like an ancient walled ruin in quiet harmony with nature. The church walls and doors are almost all glass allowing the green canopy of trees and blue sky from outside to saturate the interior. The Senior Warden shared that when Bishop Howard made a visitation he had remarked, ‘Don’t let them add stained glass here’ suggesting that the beauty of nature penetrating the interior was all the decoration that anyone could desire.
I think also, and often, of St Francis and his love of nature in another way, that troubles me. I think of him as I commute to work downtown Jacksonville from Orange Park and as I am stopped, traffic light after traffic light on Blanding Boulevard, staring at the endless shops, strip malls, fast food restaurants and gas stations until the light turns green and lets me go. I think of a Florida of limitless open fields and space that is no longer inexhaustible and now buried somewhere under all the asphalt. Sometimes I think also of how silly and limited I was as an undergraduate in the late 1960s when students were first becoming aware of ecology and threats to the environment. I laughed at the students who marched on ‘Earth Day’ or whatever it was called--- I thought they were just unwashed hippies disturbing the peace with their tambourines and shouts. But who is laughing now?
With every blessing,
Douglas Dupree
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The Sermon of St. Francis |
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From Thomas of Celano, Life of St Francis, I, xxi.
Meanwhile, at a time when many were joining the brothers, most blessed father Francis was passing through the valley of Spoleto. He came to a certain place near Bevagna, in which a great many birds of various types had congregated, including doves, crows and some others commonly called daws. When he saw them Francis, that most blessed servant of God, being a man of great fervor and very sympathetic toward the lower, irrational creatures, quickly left his companions on the road and ran over to them. When he got there, he saw that they were waiting expectantly and saluted them. Surprised that the birds had not flown away as they normally do, he was filled with joy and humbly begged them to listen to the word of God.
Among the things he told them, he said the following: "My brothers the birds, you should love your creator deeply and praise him always. He has given you feathers to wear, wings to fly with, and whatever else you need. He has made you noble among his creatures and given you a dwelling in the pure air. You neither sow nor reap, yet he nevertheless protects and governs you without any anxiety on your part."
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Camp Weed Interview with Regina Hoover |
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Regina Hoover, Administrator,
Camp Weed and Cerveny Conference Center
What brought you and your family to the Live Oak-Lake City area to make your home here?
A few family members moved to Live Oak from Miami after Hurricane Andrew hit south Florida and loved the area. In 2011 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. My husband and I started talking about making changes in our life. After my last surgery in 2012 we moved to Live Oak.
When did you first start working at Camp Weed? What had you been doing previously?
I started to work April 12, 2012 at Camp Weed and Cerveny Conference Center. We closed on our home a few days before I started work. Fun Fact: After my second interview with Joe Chamberlain, I looked down and noticed my shoes did not match. Thank goodness the heels were the same height and I was wearing slacks!
I was a licensed Realtor for many years. I worked for Waste Management, Inc, in Miami and the Florida Keys. I also worked for them in Alabama and Pennsylvania.
What are your responsibilities and duties as Administrator of Camp Weed and Cerveny Conference Center?
Booking groups/events, updating our website calendar, payroll, receivables and payables. Basically most administrative duties and anything I can help with.
What was Camp Weed like when you first arrived?
When I first drove into Camp Weed I was pleasantly surprised. My first thought was how wonderful it would be to work at a place that is about the Lord’s business. Joe Chamberlain was the Director. Some of the programs that I first experienced was Holy Smoke BBQ and Open House, Diocesan Family Day, CREDO and Training Ventures. Dee Simmons was the Chef. Things are pretty much the same, but different. Every day brings something new. New faces, new events new people, new energy.
What are some of the program groups who come to Camp Weed from the Diocese that you have particularly enjoyed over the years?
I love Summer Camp. The youthful energy and excitement. Watching them grow in years and in God. Clergy Conferences. It is great to see clergy and hear about the changes in their churches and family since our last meeting . It is like family coming for a visit.
What are some of the program groups who come to Camp Weed from groups outside the Diocese you have particularly enjoyed over the years?
Grace Anglican Women’s Retreat is always a good group. They appreciate the camp and conference center. It is like home to them. Let’s not forget Suwannee Banjo Camp- a very versatile group. The participants come from all over the US. Never a dull moment.
What do you observe, from your vantage point, of our Camp Weed summer camps?
I can see most lake activities from the courtyard. We try to be low profile when camp is in session. I meet most of the Summer Camp Staff in person during staff week to make sure their hire paperwork in in order. It is amazing how much staff loves the children that attend every session. The kids love “Ga-Ga” ball and wacky dress day.
What do you think is most valuable about having a church-related camp and conference center like CWCC?
A church-related camp and conference center offers tools to build a spiritual foundation.
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St Francis Poem: After the Crucifixion Triptych |
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You preached by starlight to night birds.
A dozen came. They perched along
the gilded branches of a tree
like jeweler’s stock. Fire-speckled larks,
blue-throated sparrows, thrushes cloaked
in silver beads, hoopoes whose crests
stood spined in gold. Fine fowls, all these:
their gaze as much upon themselves as you.
Your tired companion slept
under a chasuble of stars,
hand propping cheek. But you, fired up,
awake to God, preached on and on.
They did not stir. Perhaps each phrase
slid off their smooth enameled backs
like rain, like light. Yet on one limb
set separately the wisest bird,
wide-eyed and cowled, weighed every word.
Ann Wroe, Francis: A Life in Songs (2018).
NB: The Crucifixion Triptych in London’s Courtauld Gallery is one of the few surviving 14th century triptychs from northern Europe. The main panel shows the Crucifixion. The wings show further Biblical stories and the death of the Virgin. The depiction of three Franciscan saints, including Francis shown preaching to the birds suggests a connection to the Franciscan order to this German triptych.
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Licensed Lay Ministry Course in
Pastoral Care Information and Insights
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TO EQUIP THE SAINTS:
Licensed Lay Ministry (LLM) Course in Pastoral Care
The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ . . . Ephesians 4.11-12.
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‘The ministry of caring is at the heart of the church's life. It may include hospital or home visitation, and ministries of shared presence, listening, and support. Pastoral care can refer to the ministries of hospital chaplains, pastoral counselors and therapists, social workers, and other professionals who serve in the name of the church. It also includes parish ministries of clergy and laity who respond to human need.’
From the course description of the 2021 Diocesan Licensed Lay Ministry course sponsored by the Bishop’s Institute.
Since February 2021 every third Saturday a group of dedicated lay men and women from across the Diocese gather in Taliaferro Hall of St John’s Cathedral at 9 a.m. for Morning Prayer followed by a full day’s tuition and workshop in pastoral care. The course will be completed in December but as we approach the penultimate gathering in November the sixteen students and their teachers are already nostalgic about the marvelous learning experience this course has offered.
A core group of the current students had attended the LLM courses for lay worship leaders and catechists in 2019 and that encouraged them to seek further knowledge and experience to strengthen their lay ministries. Four of them have either completed the foundation course for licensing as vocational deacons or local priests or have been approved by the Commission on Ministry to begin their formation. Others are in the process of discernment at the parish level but the core of students are seasoned lay leaders in their local Episcopal church.
The course leader is the Rev. Laura Magevney, recently ordained to the priesthood and serving at St Mary’s Church, Springfield with Canon Beth Tjoflat. Laura holds both the M.Div. and a law degree from Vanderbilt University and has advanced CPE training and serves as a chaplain at Baptist Hospital, Jacksonville. The teaching staff has included Deacon Marsha Holmes, Dean Kate Moorehead, Fr Michael Ellis, Deacon Saundra Kidd and local educator Tammy Hodo.
In addition to completing a reading list the course requirements and written work has included a Spiritual Autobiography, Genogram, Cultural Reflection Paper, four Verbatims and a Final Evaluation.
The testimony of the students themselves a wonderful insight into the strength of this course offering complimented by their dedication. Here are a few of their insights.
Jane White, St. Paul’s-by-the-Sea, Jacksonville offers these insights of her experience of the course:
I signed up for the LLM Pastoral Care Course because it was a way for me to pay back (and pay forward to others) the wonderful support I received before and after the death of my husband, by Community Hospice and Palliative Care, my family, Rector, and parish family. It has more than exceeded my expectations. I feel more and more ready to minister to members of my parish who are in need of pastoral care, and to share the demands placed on my Rector and Deacon, particularly caused by Covid 19.
I think the biggest challenge [of the course] has been the enormous amount of reading. NOT complaining, as I've learned a great deal, but making time to read seven books has been a challenge. The tools that have been particularly valuable to me are those that helped me better learn about myself, such as the Enneagram and Genogram. How can anyone understand others, if you don't understand yourself? And the importance of truly listening to others is crucial.
This course is essential to truly preparing lay men and women for their calling to pastoral care ministry. I hope it will be offered in the future so many more parishes and missions in the Diocese of Florida can share in the benefits of this greatly needed ministry.
Click here for more observations by Arelia Donaldson (St Philip’s, Jacksonville), George Letchford (St Thomas, Palm Coast), Pamela Letchford, (St Thomas, Palm Coast) and Barbara Stevenson (St Mark’s, Jacksonville).
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This month’s trivia will be concerned with the University of the South (Sewanee), and its relationship to our Diocese.
Blessings, Allison
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All Saints’ Chapel, Sewanee |
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The Quiz
1) What is the relationship between the Diocese of Florida and the University of the South?
a) The Diocese is one of the owning dioceses of the University.
b) The current Vice-Chancellor and President of Sewanee, Rueben E. Brigety, II was raised in Jacksonville.
c) The immediate past Chancellor of Sewanee, elected by the trustees for a 6 year term was our own Bishop Samuel Johnson Howard, Jr.
d) All of the above
2) The oldest literary review in continuous publication in America is currently located at what college?
a) Harvard
b) Sewanee
c) Stanford
d) Yale
3) The size of the campus of the University is how many acres?
a) 13,000
b) 1,000
c) 850
d) 262
4) When was the University founded?
a) 1857
b) 1866
c) 1907
5) When did it admit women students?
a) 1948
b) 1952
c) 1969
d) 1973
6) When did its first African-American undergraduate student graduate?
a) 1970
b) 1965
c) 1952
d) never
7) What is the relationship between the University of the South and Oxford University?
a) the campuses look alike
b) students and faculty wear academic gowns to at both schools
c) for its size Sewanee has sent a very large number of Rhodes Scholars to Oxford over many years
d) both locales have poor weather part of the year
8) Playwright Tennessee Williams left his estate to which colleges?
a) Sewanee
b) Harvard
c) a and b
d) Yale
9) By Tradition, what leaves with those who leave the University of the South domain?
a) an angel
b) a diploma
c) a transcript
d) a spouse
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The Story of Pope St. Callistus |
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FORGIVEN
Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little. Luke 7.47
The coming month of November is a month of remembering. November 1st is All Saints Day and on November 11th we will remember all of the good men and women who have served in the armed forces of our country.
But every month is chock full of commemorations of wonderful saints and heroes. In October alone we have: Francis of Assisi (Oct 4); Hugh, Bishop of Lincoln (Oct 6); Elizabeth Fry, Quaker prison reformer (Oct 12); Teresa of Avila, Doctor of the Church (Oct 15); Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch and Martyr (Oct. 17); St Luke the Evangelist (Oct 18); Boethius, philosopher (Oct 23); Erasmus, Christian Humanist, (Oct 27) and St Jude, Apostle (Oct 28) to name just a few October worthies.
But here is my favorite October saint: Callistus, Pope and Martyr (d. 222 AD) (Feast Oct 14).
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The hero of my favorite series of historical novels, Richard Sharpe of Bernard Cornwell’s sagas that bear his name, rose from the dankest gutter of London to turn himself into the greatest soldier of the British army in the Napoleonic wars. St Callistus travels even further across a wide gulf. He began life as a slave and traveled the great distance to reach the chair of St Peter. His Christian slave master trusted him with the finances of a bank he started. The bank failed and Callistus was shipped off to the Sardinian salt mines where he toiled and languished for many years. Once released, Callistus became custodian of a Christian cemetery on the Appian Way under the patronage of Pope Zephyrinus. The Pope ordained him a deacon and made him a trusted advisor.
In 217 the pope died, and Callistus was elected to replace him. And this is where my affection for Callistus gains speed. As pope, St. Callistus was known for his leniency and forgiveness. He upheld the teaching of the Church that grave sins could be forgiven with true contrition and due penance. You and I might take that teaching on forgiveness for granted. But the way Callistus put the teaching into practice was not popular with the powerful church leaders of his day. He faced strong opposition from Tertullian the prolific north African Christian writer and also from Hippolytus, a priest of Rome and a rival candidate for Pope.
What did forgiveness look like under the papacy of Callistus? Extremely merciful to sinners. Callistus admitted adulterers and murderers back to communion after they had performed public penance. Callistus allowed priests to marry and ordained twice and even thrice-married men to the clergy. He recognized the marriages between free women and slaves, in contradiction to Roman law. He welcomed converts from heretical or schismatic sects into the church.
All of this offended Hippolytus who held a more rigorist code of Christian morality and church order. And here comes even more forgiveness. Although Hippolytus was frequent and unremitting in attacking his bishop the Pope, Callistus never tried to silence him. He remained tolerant even when Hippolytus set himself up as a rival Pope, believing Callistus had led the Church into apostasy and sin. Callistus had a short episcopate of only five years. He was supposedly killed in a riot and is included in the list of papal martyrs. What a marvelous, adventurous Christian spirit and life.
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The Archdeacon's Corner: A Deacon’s Stole |
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I am frequently asked why a deacon’s stole is different from a priest’s and why is it worn over the shoulder. Let’s look at the history behind all of the clergy stoles to answer that question.
The word stole comes from the Latin word stola, from the Greek stolē, "a garment or equipment”. There are many theories as to the genesis of the clergy stole. Some historians say that they come from the tallit (Jewish prayer mantle), because the priest puts it on when he or she leads in prayer. Others say that it is the result of scarves or shawls that were transformed from utilitarian service to emblematic representation only. Some emphasize that stoles were originally a Roman emblem of rank or status. Given the servant ministry of a deacon, some claim that a deacon’s Stole it is a kind of liturgical napkin.
The bottom line is that the origin of clergy stoles is obscure. However, the stole was in use by deacons in the Eastern Church by the 4th century as their insignia. In the West it had made its appearance in Spain by the 7th century by various priests, and by the 12th century it was accepted at Rome for all clergy.
The color of the stole was always white until the 16th century when it became customary to match its color to that of the chasuble or dalmatic and embroider a cross on it. The liturgical canons state that the stole must be worn by the clergy when they administer any sacrament and for some of the other liturgical offices. The custom of having deacons wear the stole from the left shoulder to the right waist originated in the 12th century.
A deacon’s stole may have had a very humble beginning. As stated above, there is the notion that it was originally a cleaning cloth which was worn by servants of the sanctuary. Worn about the waist, or over the shoulder, it was used for cleansing the altar and the sacred vessels. Gradually it came to be folded until it became a long narrow strip, and as such it is still worn by deacons over the left shoulder, leaving their right arm free to better serve their priest or Bishop.
This idea of the deacon’s stole as emblematic of a servant ministry is my favorite and reminds me of John 13:3-5. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
However, the most likely beginning of a stole, is linked with the scarfs of Roman Imperial officials. During and after Constantine’s reign early clergy members were often also Roman administrators. Subsequently they were granted certain honors that their clothing reflected.
Those honors and titles were designated by various configurations of the pallium or omophorion (stoles). The original intent was to designate a person as belonging to a particular organization and to denote their rank within their group, a function which the stole continues to perform today.
There is some truth in all these explanations as the clerical stole developed over time. Perhaps modern clergy stoles are a combination of the cleaning cloth of a servant, a Jewish tallit, a Roman emblem of distinction or something that can be worn when working in cold weather as a shawl or scarf.
As for me, I remember the words of Jesus after He had completed his washing of the disciples’ feet John 13:15-17 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
All clergy are servants and follow the example given by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Praying that our Lord finds you and yours well,
Archdeacon,
The Ven. Mark Richardson
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