In addition to closing this Thursday and Friday, the Diocesan office is now closed today, through the end of the week.

If you have an urgent pastoral or physical need this week, please contact The Rev. Cn. Allison DeFoor, Canon to the Ordinary, at 904-864-5141. We are currently planning to re-open Monday, Oct. 3.

Due to preparation for and potential impacts of Hurricane Ian, the following events have been affected.

• Women's Cursillo at Camp Weed: Postponed to Nov. 3-6
• P.O.S.T. Retreat at Camp Weed: Cancelled, to Re-Convene in Spring 2023
• Please contact Gina at Camp Weed (386-364-5250) for reimbursements.
• Special Electing Convention Registration: To Open Tuesday, Oct. 4

Please join us in praying for one another and our parishes as we prepare and make the appropriate arrangements for this major storm, which is projected to impact the majority of our Diocese. We pray that its impacts are minimal and those in its path are spared from harm.

On Thursday, September 15, Jacksonville native and St. Peter's Episcopal Church (Fernandina Beach) parishioner Dr. Johnnetta Betsch Cole was honored with the ATHENA International Global Award.

Through this award, Chicago-based ATHENA International recognizes the torchbearers and trailblazers who have personified professional excellence in amplifying the importance of giving women a voice of empowerment.

The first global award was given to groundbreaking journalist Nina Totenberg in 1994, and only 40 women have received it since.

Dr. Cole joins a powerful list of recipients, including the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, tennis star Billie Jean King, American labor leader and civil rights activist Dolores Huerta and NASA astronaut Christina Koch.

Among her accomplishments, Dr. Cole was named the first African American woman president of Spelman College and later became president of Bennett College. This made her the only person to serve as president of both historically Black colleges for women in the United States.

She also served as director of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African Art and as president of the National Council of Negro Women in Washington. She is also an author and speaker about civil rights, diversity, equity and inclusion.

In an interview with the Florida Times-Union, Dr. Cole said she takes such recognition not as acknowledgment of past work, but fuel to keep educating and keep campaigning for the rights of women, the LGBTQ community, people of color and the disabled, among others. You may read the full Times-Union story by clicking the button below.

Join us in congratulating Dr. Cole on this incredible recognition. We are proud to call her a member of our Diocesan family.

In case you missed it, the Standing Committee recently announced that the Special Electing Convention, where we will elect a Bishop Coadjutor, will take place the morning of Saturday, November 19, 2022 at Camp Weed & Cerveny Conference Center.

You may stay up-to-date on the key information leading up to the convention by visiting this webpage: https://www.diocesefl.org/news-events/electing-convention/.

Key Dates

September 20-October 3: Petition Process Open

October 4: Registration Opens (Postponed from This Week Due to Hurricane Ian)

Early November: Final Slate of Candidates Announced

November 19: Special Electing Convention at Camp Weed

Frequently Asked Questions

The Standing Committee has received many questions leading up to and following the election announcement. Their continued goal is transparency at every step of this process, ensuring all understand how and why decisions are made.

As a result, they recently prepared a video answering many of these questions. If you have a burning question that was not answered, please contact the Standing Committee at standingcommittee@diocesefl.org.

Episcopal Relief & Development is in contact with Episcopal and Anglican partners in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos in response to Hurricane Fiona.

The storm made landfall in Puerto Rico as a Category 1 hurricane. Almost 30 inches of rain caused flooding that led to several deaths and left over 1,000 people in need of rescue. In the Dominican Republic, 90-mph winds and heavy rain caused mudslides, damaged highways and more.

Please pray for the people impacted by the storms. Donations to the Hurricane Relief Fund will support Episcopal Relief & Development and its partners as they respond.

NOTE: the Diocese and Episcopal Relief & Development will closely monitor the impact of Hurricane Ian and will share support opportunities as needed.

On Sept. 8, the Rt. Rev. Samuel Johnson Howard celebrated his birthday with close friends, family and colleagues at the Episcopal Diocese of Florida office in Jacksonville.

On Sept. 11, Mary Love Strum celebrated her 100th birthday at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Jacksonville. This year, the church also celebrated 100 years.

Mary Love Strum has been a member at the church since the 1960s when she and her late husband, Capt. Gray Strum, began attending when they lived on base at Jacksonville Naval Air Station. They raised their children as part of the church, and a grandson, his wife and two great-grandchildren are continuing the tradition.

Happy 100 years to Mary Love Strum and St. Mark's Episcopal Church!

At the 80th General Convention of The Episcopal Church, the House of Bishops and the House of Deputies approved the Annual Commemoration of The Rev. Fred Yerkes from the Diocese of Florida by passing Resolution C049. The annual commemoration will be on January 30 every year.

For more information on Resolution C049 as well as Father Fred Yerkes, read the article linked below.

In addition to the resolution, a hymn was written by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette to commemorate Fred Yerkes titled: O God, Through the Witness of Servant of Yours. The hymn can be downloaded here.

Happening #145 

Happening #145 took place Sept. 9-11. There were about 80 people in attendance. Check out a few photos!

Men's Cursillo #144

Men's Cursillo #144 took place Sept. 22-25. Thank you to those who made it a success!

If you are still interested in pursuing a license in lay ministry, there is still time to sign up!

The Bishop's Institute for Ministry and Leadership Foundations Course is an introductory curriculum that puts participants on a path to lay ministry licensure.

The first in-person class took place on Sept. 17, and the next class will be held on Saturday, October 15. Watch-ahead video lessons, reading materials, and writing assignments for the first session are available once you sign up on the Thinkific website here.

Watch-ahead video lessons, reading materials and writing assignments for the second in-person session will be published ahead of time - registrants will be emailed when this material becomes available.

To learn more about the course, click here.

On Sept. 6, the staff of Community Health Outreach, a non-profit organization in Jacksonville, and Baby Luv came together with St. Peter’s Episcopal Church for a blessing of the space that will house Baby Luv for the next several months. The current space on the Community Health Outreach campus is at capacity so it has moved to a temporary location at St. Peter's Episcopal Church.

Baby Luv is a program to support pregnant women and young families by collecting diapers and formula for babies in our community. You may help support this program by donating items on their Amazon Wishlist.

For more information about the Baby Luv program, please click here.

Coming Up:

October 9-18: Bishop's Institute Assisi & Rome Trip

October 23 @ 10 a.m.: Bishop Howard to visit St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church, Jacksonville

October 30: Bishop Howard to visit St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Quincy

November 19: Special Electing Convention