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Friday, Sept. 19 - Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025

Camp Weed & Cerveny Conference Center

11057 Camp Weed Place, Live Oak

Dear Diocese of Florida,

In case you missed it: Registration is now open for the 182nd Annual Convention.

We’ve also published the pre-submitted resolutions and have a few important reminders about nominations.

Please see below for more details.

Registration is Open

Registration is open for the 182nd Annual Convention. We encourage all delegates, alternates, clergy, and guests to register as soon as possible. 

Voting delegates wishing to participate by Zoom will be required to complete a mandatory Zoom training. A scheduled day and time will be provided later.

All details can be found in our Convention webpage. Registration will close on Monday, September 8 at 5 p.m. ET.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Hannia Reyes at hreyes@diocesefl.org.

Resolutions

We recently published nine resolutions to be considered on Sept. 20 at Camp Weed. They are published on our website, and you may view them at the button below.

• Resolutions 1-7 are proposed by the Convention Committee on Charter and Canons. You may view the full report on Resolutions 1-6 here.
• Resolutions 8-9 are proposed by the General Convention Deputation.

Call for Nominations:

Forms to submit nominations for open positions are live on our website. Please visit the Convention webpage or click the button below to start a submission.

Submissions for nominations will close on Friday, August 22, at 5 p.m. ET. The slate of nominees will be published by the Diocese on Saturday, August 30. You may submit forms online or via mail.*

*Mail-in Nominations forms must be sent to 4420 Apalachee Street, Jacksonville, Florida 32210, Attn: The Rev. Cn. Laura Magevney and The Rev. William Stokes, and received by the deadline date above in order to be considered.

Calling Youth Delegates for 2025 Diocesan Convention

We are seeking 10 youth delegates to participate in the 182nd Annual Convention of the Diocese! This marks the second year of this meaningful and growing tradition.

We are inviting 2 youth from each region of the Diocese to serve as delegates. This is a wonderful opportunity for spiritual growth, leadership development, and deeper connection within our diocesan community.



We deeply value the voice and perspective of our youth, and we believe their presence will enrich the convention experience for all involved.

The deadline to submit is Friday, August 15, at midnight. Please complete the form at the button below to nominate your youth today!

In case you missed it: We recently shared two important updates regarding the Search and Transition Committees. Mtr. Sarah Minton, President of the Standing Committee, has prepared a video as well. You can view the video by clicking the link below.

Search Committee Slate

The Standing Committee has appointed the slate of clergy and laity who will serve on the Search Committee. The Standing Committee engaged in a thoughtful and prayerful process to determine this group, reviewing each of the 39 nominations received.

Every nomination was carefully considered in light of the Gifts & Skills document to ensure the final slate reflects the heart, diversity, and spiritual depth of our diocesan community.

You may view the slate for the Search Committee at the button below and anytime on our Bishop Election webpage.

Transition Committee Update

There were not enough applications for the Transition Committee, and as a result, the Standing Committee reopened nominations through Monday, July 21, 2025. They are reviewing applications now and will announce the Transition Committee slate in the coming weeks.

George Guy departed from Holy Trinity, Gainesville, this month.

George Guy, Ph.D., served 29 years at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church after being called to Micanopy, Florida, in 1996 from St. Augustine Episcopal Church in Asbury Park, New Jersey.

A Vietnam combat veteran, he began a journey of spiritual reconciliation, completing the Education for Ministry (EFM) program and answering a call to minister to fellow veterans.

With guidance from his mentor, the late Malcolm Randall, and support from Father Young and Bishop Howard, Dr. Guy founded a Veteran Ministry at the VA Hospital, where he became a licensed Eucharistic Visitor. Special permission was granted to serve real wine for communion, and his chaplain training was led by the late Dr. Charlie Gass.

Through ministering to others, Dr. Guy found spiritual healing himself. Recently honored with a chaplaincy award, he now looks forward to continuing his Veteran Ministry at the VA Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware.

We give thanks for Dr. Guy’s faithful ministry and send him forth with our love and prayers as he continues to serve others with compassion and grace!

The Rev. Canon Raja B. Zabaneh departed from St. Paul’s, Episcopal Church on June 9.

Father Raja served as Rector at St. Paul's, Episcopal Church for the past three years. He is a native of Jordan who came to Jacksonville after serving as a priest in the Episcopal Diocese of Egypt. Father Raja is a graduate of the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo, Egypt. He was ordained a priest in 1993 in the Diocese of Jerusalem and the Middle East and served there until he began ministry in the Diocese of Egypt in 1998.

We give thanks for Father Raja’s faithful service, and we send him forth with our prayers and gratitude as he enters this next chapter of his ministry!

Dr. Lucinda Allen Mosher, music director at St. Mary’s, Green Cove Springs, and newly appointed Ecumenical and Interreligious Officer for the Diocese of Florida, was recently featured in a series by The Episcopal Church.

This is a series of articles highlighting The Episcopal Church’s diocesan ecumenical and interreligious officers. Part of a national network, these officers are designated by their bishops to encourage wider unity in Christ’s church and collegial relationships with members of other religions.

She hopes to establish and chair a diocesan ecumenical and interreligious commission for the Episcopal Diocese of Florida.

Read the full spotlight below.

Did you know that the beloved Right Reverend Frank Cerveny brought the Cursillo movement to our diocese in the 1970s? For decades, this ministry has been a source of deep spiritual renewal, friendship, and growth for countless Episcopalians across our diocese and other countries.

Cursillo, which means “a short course in Christianity,” is more than just a weekend. It’s a movement that equips lay people to live out their faith with joy, purpose, and community. Through worship, witness, and small group support, Cursillo has helped transform lives and strengthen congregations throughout our diocese.

But today, our Cursillo movement is at a crossroads. Registration for our upcoming weekends is critically low, and participation on teams and for events has declined. Without renewed support from our diocesan family, we risk losing this life-giving ministry that has shaped generations of faithful leaders.



If you have ever experienced the power of Cursillo—or if you’ve witnessed it in others—we ask you to prayerfully consider getting involved.

Here’s how you can help:

• Attend a Cursillo weekend for the first time
• Return to serve on a team
• Sponsor someone from your parish
• Support a weekend with your presence, prayers or gifts
• Invite others to experience the joy and transformation of Cursillo

Upcoming Cursillo Weekend Dates:

• Men’s Weekend: September 25–28, 2025
• Women’s Weekend: October 2–5, 2025

To learn more about Cursillo, visit: diofl-cursillo.org

To register, visit: campweed.campbrainregistration.com

Let’s keep this beloved ministry alive and thriving for the future of our Diocese. With your support, we can continue walking together in faith and service.

De Colores!

Migration with Dignity Prayer Vigil at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Gainesville

On Saturday evening, June 28, Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Gainesville held a Migration With Dignity prayer vigil for immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers. We were joined by folks from many other local churches, so we numbered more than a hundred.

The arrest on Sunday night, June 22, of an Iranian Christian family fleeing persecution whose case had been heard favorably by ICE overshadowed our vigil. They were sponsored by First United Methodist Church, Gainesville.

100th Anniversary Celebration at St. James, Perry

On July 13, St. James, Perry celebrated their 100th anniversary.

Congratulations to the parish!

St. Paul's, Quincy



Annual Founders Day Celebration

St. Paul's, Quincy, celebrated its 186th Founders Day with a special service. Both the City and County declared the 2nd Sunday in July to be Founder's Day! 

They were featured on WTXL 27 news and in an article published. To view the article, please click the button below.

St. Paul’s, Quincy, Certified as New Emergency Shelter

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church has officially passed its Site Inspection and received Final Certification to become Gadsden County’s newest American Red Cross Emergency Shelter.

This achievement fulfills a key goal unanimously set by the church’s Vestry during its 2024 annual planning retreat.

While St. Paul’s has previously opened its doors as a cold-weather shelter, this formal step allows the church to more effectively serve the community with coordinated, planned use of its resources.

The church’s location and well-known Resurrection Window at 10 W. King Street make it a convenient and easily identifiable landmark for the public to find coming south on the Florida Hurricane Evacuation Route.

The news was shared in multiple outlets, including Channel 27, the Tallahassee Democrat and in the Faith section of USA Today.

The following write up was provided by All Saints, Jacksonville.

Since establishing a companion parish relationship with La Trinidad in Bermejas, Cuba in February 2025, All Saints Episcopal Church in Jacksonville has been eager to foster deeper connections. In early July, members of All Saints made their first visit to Cuba.



The trip included time in Havana learning about Cuban history and culture, visiting historic sites, and engaging with the work of the Episcopal Diocese of Cuba. They met with leaders from Catedral Santísima Trinidad in Havana and then traveled to Bermejas, where they spent time with the leadership and congregation of La Trinidad—visiting sick parishioners, meeting with the Vestry, and participating in the weekly Eucharist.

The visit was a wonderful learning experience. Members of All Saints were deeply moved by the beauty of the country, the warmth of its people, and the vibrant faith of the Episcopal Church in Cuba. Plans are already underway to build on what was learned and strengthen the partnership with La Trinidad. A return trip is being planned for 2026.

We extend our warmest farewell to Sydney Gorak, who is embarking on a new career opportunity in early August. Sydney has been an integral part of our communications team for nearly four years. We appreciate all of her work, and we wish her well! Her last day is August 6. 

Tyler Holder continues to seamlessly lead our communications team and you may contact him or email communications@diocesefl.org with any questions or requests moving forward. We will inform you when someone new joins the communications team alongside Tyler. 

The Diocese of Florida is a member of TENS (The Episcopal Network for Stewardship), and we encourage all congregations to take advantage of this valuable resource, especially as you plan your upcoming stewardship campaigns.

This year’s theme, “Tell Out My Soul,” invites us to reflect on God’s generosity with joy and gratitude, deepen our relationships, and boldly share our resources in faith.

TENS offers a wide range of tools to support your congregation’s stewardship journey, including:

• Pledge campaign materials
• Weekly reflections
• Sample letters and pledge cards
• Logos, timelines, and liturgical resources
• Free webinars and an extensive online resource library



Many of these resources are also available in Spanish, making it easier to engage your entire congregation in stewardship formation.

To access these materials, please contact Hannia Reyes at hreyes@diocesefl.org for this year’s login credentials.

We hope you’ll make full use of these offerings to enrich your ministry. If you have any questions or need help getting started, don’t hesitate to reach out!

On July 27, Bishop Stokes visited St. James, Lake City, for 9 confirmations, 3 receptions, and 1 reaffirmation!

On July 29, Bishop Stokes visited Christ Church, Ponte Vedra Beach, for the ordination of The Rev. Dn. Catherine Montgomery to the Sacred Order of Priests.

Congratulations!

The annual Fall clergy retreat for all clergy of the Diocese will start with lunch at 12 p.m. on Monday, October 20 and conclude on Tuesday, October 21 at 2 p.m.

The clergy conference offers an opportunity for continuing education, fellowship and worship with our clergy brothers and sisters from across the Diocese.

To register, please click the button below.

Coming Up:

August 3 @ 10 a.m.: Bishop Benhase to visit St. Mary's, Madison

August 24 @ 10:30 a.m.: Bishop Benhase to visit All Saints, Jacksonville