Diocese Explores Creative Solutions for Struggling Churches

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE DIOCESE OF SOUTHEAST FLORIDA www.episcopalsouthflorida.org

VolumeVolume 40 40 No. No. 3 3 June June 2009 2009 Diocese explores creative solutions for struggling churches

By Mary W. Cox, editor

“We want to save our churches, not close them,” Archdeacon Thomas Bruttell told the congregation at Church of the Resurrection on Pentecost. His words echoed a statement by Bishop Leo Frade at the forum on “The Future of Black Congregations” a day earlier: “There is no plan to close churches!” At a time when changing demograph- ics and economic decline are threatening the survival of many smaller congregations of all denominations, the Diocese of Southeast Florida is committed to helping its struggling churches find creative ways to thrive and grow. The Nehemiah Process, now in its seventh year, has involved more than 50 congregations in a transformational process of discernment, training and implementation of a ministry plan for congregational growth. As a direct result of this process, in the past six months three congregations that had been on mission status (receiving aid and/or assessment reduction from the diocese) have become self-supporting. In February the Executive Board approved Photo by C. M. Guerrero/El Nueveo Herald the restoration of Todos los Santos, Miami, to parish status, and in May, All REBIRTH AT CHURCH OF THE RESURRECTION Saints’, Jensen Beach, and All Souls’, A standing-room-only congregation helps Church of the Resurrection, Biscayne Park, celebrate Pentecost. Bishop Leo Miami Beach, were also recognized as Frade has asked for the support of the diocese for rebuilding the ministry of this struggling church. (See story p. 3.) self-supporting parishes. The diocesan Mission Church Initia- purchased for these congregations and training is un- gregational model of ministry to a new flexibility in tive presented by Bruttell at last November’s Diocesan derway for those who will use the program. collaborative efforts that involve several congrega- Convention is providing clear guidelines for financial In a growing number of situations churches have tions, a deanery or the entire diocese. accountability and meeting measurable goals and ob- begun sharing resources in a variety of partnerships Three of these new collaborations are featured in jectives. QuickBooks accounting software has been and regional ministries, moving from a strictly con- the stories that follow on pages 3 and 4. ■ ‘Padre Alberto’ becomes an Episcopalian By Mary W. Cox, editor

In a brief service on the afternoon of May 28 at Trinity Cathe- dral, Bishop Leo Frade received the popular Roman Catholic priest Fr. Alberto Cutié and his fiancée, Ruhama Buni Canellis, into the Episcopal Church. In his homily Frade spoke of change as a part of life, and noted that many clergy have moved from one branch of Christian- ity to another. “The road between Rome and Canterbury—and Canterbury and Rome—gets a lot of traffic,” he said. “That doesn’t mean that one church is better or worse than another…it’s just different. The Episcopal Church is a welcoming church, he said. “We don’t look at…if you’re rich or poor, or if you’re perfect or im- perfect—just that you’re a creation of God, and you’re welcome.” Present at the service were a number of the Hispanic clergy of Photo by Danilo Fajardo the diocese, several women priests and five rectors or priests-in- charge who, like Cutié, began their ministry as Roman Catholic NEW EPISCOPALIANS clergy. Ruhama Buni Canellis and Fr. Alberto Cutié pray as Cutié was already well-known nationally and throughout Bishop Leo Frade receives them into the Episcopal Church. See PADRE ALBERTO,Page5 The 76th General Con- guage. Both houses have the right to amend legisla- vention of the Episcopal tion, but the amendment must be accepted by the Church will meet in Ana- other house. heim, California from Q ■ Resolutions presented to convention come from Wednesday, July 8 through A four sources: committees, commissions, agencies and Friday, July 17. The ques- & boards of the church; bishops; dioceses and provinces; tions and answers below, and deputies. adapted from material pre- ■ Debate on the floor is governed by the Constitu- pared by the Diocese of Texas, provide some basic in- tion and Canons of the church, Rules of Order for each formation about this triennial gathering of our house, Joint Rules of Order (that apply to both houses) church. and Roberts’ Rules of Order. Deputies are expected to listen respectfully to the views of others and to adhere Q: What is General Convention? to the rules, which require, for example, that persons A: General Convention is the Episcopal Church’s of different points of view alternate at microphones. triennial gathering of bishops and ■ In the House of Deputies three lay or MILLER ELECTED PRESIDENT elected clergy and lay deputies. Its bi- clerical deputations may request a vote by OF PROVINCE IV SYNOD cameral makeup is the House of Bish- orders. In a vote by orders each diocesan ops, and the House of Deputies, in The Province IV Synod, meeting at Kanuga Con- deputation has two votes: one lay vote and which lay and ordained deputies are ference Center in Hendersonville, N.C., June 3-5, one clerical vote. To cast that vote the dep- equally represented. It is a combination elected Canon Richard Miller as Synod president, to utation is polled. If a majority of a deputa- of legislative assembly, bazaar of take office at the end of the 76th General Conven- tion is in favor, the diocesan lay or clerical goods and services and family reunion. tion next month. vote is cast as a “yes.” If a majority of a deputation is opposed, the vote is cast as a He will be the first layperson and the first person Q: What is a deputy? of color to be elected to the “no.” Tied deputations count as “divided” A: Deputies are elected by the and, in effect, as additional “no” votes. position. Diocesan Convention; four lay and Miller, a member of Holy four clergy deputies are elected, as well as four lay Q: How are the committees made up and what Family, Miami Gardens, is and four clergy alternates. Deputies are not delegates; is their function? secretary of Diocesan Con- that is, they are not elected to represent the electing A: Much of the work of convention is carried out vention; an honorary canon of dioceses. Deputies vote their conscience for the good by legislative committees. The Presiding Bishop and Trinity Cathedral and member of the church. They cannot be instructed to vote one the President of the House of Deputies determine the of the Cathedral Chapter; na- way or another, for to do so would preclude godly de- number of persons who serve on committees and their tional treasurer of the Union bate and preempt the work of the Holy Spirit. membership. Deputies are asked to indicate their pref- of Black Episcopalians Deputies are expected to serve on committees, if ap- erence for membership on committees, and the presid- (UBE); and the senior deputy Miller pointed, to attend forums and hearings, to read the re- ing officers make their choice considering previous from Southeast Florida to Gen- ports to the church from its commissions, committees, experience, expertise and interest, ensuring the com- eral Convention. The 76th Gen- agencies and boards, to listen to, and if so moved, to mittees represent diverse points of view, geographic, eral Convention next month will be Miller’s eighth respond to resolutions on the floor of the house. The ethnic and gender diversity and participation by as a deputy from our diocese. House of Deputies is chaired by the President of the younger deputies. The Province of Sewanee, otherwise known as House, Bonnie Anderson. The Fourth Province of The Episcopal Church, is Q: Is there worship at General Convention? made up of twenty dioceses from the nine southeast- Q: Who are the deputies from the Diocese of A: General Convention meets prayerfully. Each ern states of the United States. Southeast Florida? day bishops, deputies, registered alternates and dele- The Synod president, elected for a three-year term, A: Deputies: Thomas G. O’Brien III, Bethesda-by- gates to the ECW Triennial gather for Bible study and plans the agenda for and presides at Synod and Execu- the-Sea, Palm Beach; Richard Miller, Holy Family, Holy Eucharist. Both the House of Deputies and the tive Committee meetings; works with the Vice Presi- Miami Gardens; Bonnie Weaver, Holy Trinity, West House of Bishops have chaplains, who lead their dent and Executive Committee on program planning Palm Beach; Char Vinik, St. Gregory’s, Boca Raton; houses in regular prayer at the beginning and end of for Synod; represents the province in the Provincial The Rev. William “Chip” Stokes, St. Paul’s, Delray sessions and daily at noon. Chaplains are also asked Leadership Conference; and communicates for the Beach; The Ven. Dr. Bryan Hobbs; The Rev. Horace to pray before the enactment of important legislation. province with the diocesan bishops, the Executive Ward, Holy Family, Miami Gardens; The Rev. Carol Organizations within the church sponsor additional Committee, delegates to Synod, deputies to General Barron, St Luke’s, Port Salerno worship services, while volunteers staff a prayer room Convention, other provinces and the Church Center Alternates: Saulo Salvador, Holy Cross, Miami; in which there is continual intercession for the work ■ staff and networks. Evelyn Moss, St. John’s, Homestead; William Carr, of convention. St. John’s, Homestead; The Rev. Jennie Lou Reid, St. SE FLORIDA YOUTH TO ADDRESS Thomas, Coral Gables; The Rev. Martin W. Zlatic, St. Q: What additional events take place during HOUSE OF BISHOPS AT GC Joseph’s, Boynton Beach, The Rev. Bernard Pecaro, General Convention? For the third consecutive St. Martin’s, Pompano Beach; The Rev. Willie Allen- A: The national Episcopal Church Women’s organ- General Convention, a young Faiella, St. Stephen’s, Miami ization meets concurrently with General Convention, man from Southeast Florida as do the Daughters of the King. There are also pro- will not only be one of two Q: Are all bishops members of the House of grams for youth and young adults. One of the most in- youth representatives from Bishops? teresting parts of convention is the Exhibit Hall, a Prov. IV, but will also address A: All bishops of the Episcopal Church, active and marketplace of goods and ideas in which the organiza- the House of Bishops on be- retired, are entitled to seat, voice and vote in the tions and interest groups within the church present half of the Official Youth House of Bishops. The House of Bishops is chaired their wares, recruit members and do their best to influ- Presence at GC. by the Primate of the Episcopal Church, Presiding ence legislation. Michael Sahdev, a member Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori. Many church-related organizations hold meetings of St. Benedict’s, Plantation, in conjunction with convention, and there are lunches and a rising senior at American Sahdev Q: How are resolutions considered? and dinners hosted by seminaries, provinces, soci- ■ Heritage High School in Planta- A: Resolutions proposed for discussion at conven- eties, boards and staff offices of the church. tion, was re-elected at the diocesan Youth Conven- tion are referred to legislative committees, which con- tion last month for a third term as president of the sider, amalgamate and perfect them before presenting More information on General Convention, including the legislation that will be considered, can Youth Commission. He has participated in various them on the floor of convention (either to the House of Deputies or the House of Bishops). Legislative be found on the General Convention pages of the provincial youth activities, and attended the Episco- Episcopal Church website at http://www.episcopal Youth Event (EYE) last summer. committees hold hearings on legislation at which the following can speak: deputy, registered alternate or palchurch.org/gc2009.htm. When he addresses the House of Bishops, Sahdev As he did during the Lambeth Conference last registered visitor. will be following in the footsteps of Erin Ferguson of summer, Bishop Leo Frade will be blogging during ■ St. George’s, Riviera Beach, who spoke in 2003, and The House of Bishops and House of Deputies General Convention; you will be able to access David Pringle of Trinity Cathedral, Miami, who had meet, deliberate and vote separately. To be enacted, his updates at the “Bishop Frade’s Blog” link at that honor in 2006. ■ resolutions must pass both houses in the same lan- www.diosef.org.

2 The Net, June 2009 Diocesan family Photo by John Nganga INTENSE CONVERSATION rallies to support a At their joint vestry retreat, leaders from St. Mary’s, Deerfield Beach, and St. Philip’s, Pompano Beach, tackle some challenging questions about future ways in which they might come together for ministry. Taking notes, left, is St. Mary's Senior Warden Oveta McKeithen; the others in the group are (left to right) Gwyn Clarke- struggling church Reed, St. Mary's; Granville Lamey, St. Philip’s; Dorothy Duncan, Saint Mary's; and (back to camera) Calvin Clark, St .Philip's. By Mary W. Cox, editor In a May 14 letter to diocesan clergy and congre- Two Broward churches explore gations Bishop Leo Frade used the language of the law enforcement community to describe the plight of Church of the Resurrection, Biscayne Park, “a possibilities for a shared future church that has fallen on hard times over the years and is in urgent need of support if it is to be saved.” By Lauren Losson sessions to Jesus Christ; and Test God’s promise of “When a police officer is hurt or injured, the call faithfulness by stepping out with courage. on the radio of ‘officer down’ evokes an instant re- Leaders from two small Broward churches with The balance of the day was devoted to group dis- sponse from the police community to rush to the of- rich history but limited resources met May 16 at the cussions, which were given focus by three questions ficer’s aid and to take care of the officer and the Duncan Conference Center for a vestry retreat with a assigned to each group. Topics included such areas as officer’s family. Our ‘officer down’ is the Church of unique format. Instead of meeting as independent parish history; which programs and practices are the Resurrection,” the bishop said. bodies, a total of about 25 vestry members and church working and which are not; how members feel about Resurrection was selected for this special initia- leaders from St. Mary’s, Deerfield Beach, and St. the possibility of merging the two congregations; and tive, he explained, not only because of its need, but Philip’s, Pompano Beach, joined possibilities for expanded mission, also because it “has good potential to recover and forces to brainstorm and dis- outreach, and evangelism ef- prosper.” It is located in a heavily populated subur- cuss plans for their sepa- forts in the future. ban area and is the only church of any denomination rate—or perhaps Conversations were in- in the Village of Biscayne Park. merged—futures. tense at times, particularly Parishioners from around the diocese would be The two congregations have long around the issue of merger and the pos- asked to help in three ways, the bishop said: by join- histories in their respective communities. Both were sibility of losing independent identities or properties; ing Resurrection’s congregation for worship on a started largely by Bahamian families who had relo- however, all participants agreed that coming together Sunday; by helping with needed maintenance and cated to the United States in the early part of the 20th for a respectful exchange of viewpoints had been both repair to building and grounds; and with financial century; but both are now on mission status, having enlightening and helpful in forming a more realistic assistance. experienced dwindling memberships and financial understanding of these difficult, emotionally-charged He invited everyone to Resurrection’s Pentecost struggles in the face of a weak economy. situations. service, at which he would be celebrant. The Rev. Dr. John M. Nganga, recently-appointed A five-page Parish Action Report, which summa- On May 31 it was obvious that many people priest-in-charge of both St. Mary’s and St. Philip’s, rizes the day’s discussion and outlines some suggested from throughout the diocese and the community had felt that a joint vestry retreat would pave the way for immediate steps for joint events and programs, has accepted the bishop’s invitation; the congregation more cooperation and mutual support between the two been compiled and will be circulated within the mem- numbered more than 400, a standing-room-only congregations, creating more opportunities for fellow- bership of both St. Mary’s and St. Philip’s. New mis- crowd in the small church. ship, successful events and fund-raisers, and the bene- sion statements will be prepared or old ones revised, Some were present in support of Fr. Alberto fit of sharing positive ideas for membership expansion and ministry teams will be formed to begin identified Cutié, the popular Roman Catholic priest who had and financial growth. initiatives. been received into the Episcopal Church a few days The day-long agenda began with Holy Eucharist, Among the first joint efforts will be a Union Sun- earlier and was the preacher for the service. Cer- followed by a presentation by the Rev. Tim Lott, a day and Mission to Saint Laurence Chapel every fifth tainly the media gathered outside the church were colleague of Nganga’s in chaplaincy at Vitas Hospice. Sunday. The two congregations will alternate hosting not there simply to witness the beginning of rebirth Lott, an experienced fund-raiser and membership co- the joint worship service, and members from both for a small suburban Episcopal parish. (See p.1 story ordinator for several churches, spoke on the serious churches will prepare a hot lunch for Saint Laurence’s for more on “Padre Alberto.”) commitment that congregations must make to the Sunday guests and participate in the worship service But the vestry had also contacted all lapsed scriptural imperative of stewardship and tithing in for the homeless that follows. members, inviting them back to church on Pente- order to grow and have their ministries flourish. Using Other proposals include a joint parish picnic in Au- cost, and the effort paid off. the acronym, TRUST, Lott stressed a process by gust and shared visits from Bishop Leo Frade in Sep- “I saw people here today I haven’t seen in years,” which individuals can: Take an inventory of where tember and Bishop Laish Boyd of the Bahamas in said vestry member Gerry Sweeting. they are trustworthy stewards; Recognize God as the November. ■ ultimate source; Understand God’s principles of abun- Lauren Losson is a member of St. Mary’s, Deer- dance; Surrender all decisions about money and pos- field Beach. See RALLYING SUPPORT, Page 4

The Net, June 2009 3 Photo by Mary W. Cox

NEW BEGINNING At a brunch in Elnser Hall at St. Margaret’s, Miami Lakes, on June 7, Fr. Richard Aguilar introduces his daughter, Michelle, (center) and his wife, Janet, to members of his two new congregations, St. Margaret’s and San Francisco de Asis. Miami Lakes congregations move toward shared bicultural ministry By Mary W. Cox, editor garet’s and San Francisco de Asis…led me to discern that this was the place for me.” On June 7 the tables in Elsner Hall at St. Margaret’s, Aguilar admitted that the Miami area has an addi- Miami Lakes, were laden with pastelitos and bagels, tional appeal for his family: His wife, Janet, has two sandwiches and croquetas, cheesecake and flan, at a eight children in a Mexican-American family. He is a brothers and sisters and their families, as well as her brunch held between St. Margaret’s English-language graduate of TMI—The Episcopal School of Texas; mother, living in Miami-Dade County, not far from service and the service for sister congregation San the University of the South in Sewanee, Tenn.; and Miami Lakes. Francisco de Asis, which would be in Spanish. the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, The move is a “homecoming, if not a reward, for my The celebration was a welcome for Fr. Richard Tex. wife,” Aguilar said, “and I’m pleased with that.” Aguilar, who began his new ministry as priest-in- He has served several churches in the Diocese of The couple’s 15-year-old daughter, Michelle, is look- charge of the two Miami Lakes congregations on Trin- West Texas, and for a time was Latino Missioner for ing forward to being near her cousins and, like her par- ity Sunday. the Diocese of Southern Ohio. He and his family— ents, to the adventure of living in Miami, her father said. In his sermon at St. Margaret’s service, Aguilar told wife Janet and daughter Michelle—have come to After many visits over the years to his wife’s family the congregation that “St. Margaret’s, San Francisco Miami from Brownsville, Tex., where Aguilar had here, Aguilar said, “This area has grown on me. I like and you” would form a trinity for ministry. been rector of Church of the Advent since early 2004. the diversity, the climate, the variety of peoples and “You and I will walk together in that trinity,” he Wayne Dott, St. Margaret’s senior warden, said of languages and foods—Miami’s a cool place!” said, assuring the congregation that “God is always the new priest, “He brings with him impressive creden- He added, “I truly believe that being a Christian with us in new beginnings.” tials and experience to further the growth of our diverse means to be on a journey and to accept the adventures Since it was founded in the fall of 1998, Iglesia congregation here in Miami Lakes.” that God sets before you.” Episcopal San Francisco de Asis has held its services at Manny Mesa, who holds the same office for San Aguilar said that his first task in his new ministry St. Margaret’s, but the two congregations have not Francisco de Asis, calls Aguilar, “very spiritual,” and “a will be “to listen—to listen to the people who are St combined resources for shared ministry—until now. standing priest.” Margaret’s and San Francisco de Asis, to hear about San Francisco has never had fulltime clergy leader- “There are standing priests and sitting priests,” the ministry…and discuss and discern what is going ship, and St. Margaret’s had been without a priest since Mesa explained. “A sitting priest sits there and waits for well, and what we would like to make better.” Then, he last July, when the Rev. Denise Hudspeth resigned to people to come to him, but a standing priest is one who said, he wants to get to know the community, and to let accept a call to ministry as a hospice chaplain. goes and gets people—Fr. Aguilar is a standing priest.” the people of in the area know “who we are here at the In the current recession, neither church’s budget “The possibilities for the Episcopal Church in Episcopal Church in Miami Lakes.” seemed sufficient to support a fulltime priest, so Southeast Florida, and particularly in Miami Lakes, are Noting that he will begin his ministry here in the Archdeacon Thomas Bruttell, working with the two exciting to me,” Aguilar said on an April visit to his season of Pentecost, when the church celebrates the vestries, suggested a creative solution: Find a bilingual, new community. coming of the Holy Spirit, giving the apostles the abil- bicultural priest who could serve both congregations “The opportunity to work with and build a multicul- ity to share the Gospel in many languages, Aguilar and lead them in shared ministry in the culturally di- tural, bilingual—in some respects, multilingual—com- spoke of the ministry of St. Margaret’s and San Fran- verse community of Miami Lakes. munity in Miami Lakes is very exciting. I truly believe cisco as a call “to be a people of Pentecost here in Aguilar, 52, is a native of San Antonio, Tex., and that we are called to be one in Christ—somos uno en Miami Lakes.” grew up speaking both English and Spanish as one of Cristo—and having met with the leadership of St. Mar- “That excites me,” he said. ■

want to save a church, we come to you, the people,” and “It’s amazing!” exclaimed vestry member Brenda RALLYING SUPPORT from Page 3 inviting them to “think about a means of being part of a DeGraff. The bishop’s appeal had also borne fruit. people who work together.” Longtime parish secretary June Daryman looked “Many of Resurrection's fellow church members He recognized Biscayne Park City Manager Frank across the crowded parish hall after the service and said, from all over the diocese came out in support, looked Spence and thanked the village’s police department for “I hope we get used to this!” over the grounds, and willingly volunteered to help in providing security for the special service. He com- That hope seemed a live possibility on June 7, when this crucial mission of revitalization,” Archdeacon mended Biscayne Park as a “welcoming community.” the congregation numbered 188, about four times the Thomas Bruttell observed. At the end of the service the congregation followed number of worshipers on the Sundays prior to Pentecost. Frade greeted the congregation and spoke briefly the bishop, the archdeacons and other clergy out of the June has continued as a month of bishops for Resur- about the work Cutié will be doing as lay pastoral assis- church onto the grounds, where Frade blessed three new rection, with Bishop Onell Soto, retired bishop of tant at Resurrection and the process by which he will be crosses on the front of the parish hall wing of the build- Venezuela, as celebrant on June 7 and our retired Bishop able to be received as a priest of the Episcopal Church. ing. The large crosses, crafted by parishioner Arlando Calvin O. Schofield, Jr., officiating on the other Sundays He invited all visitors to return and bring others. Segui, make the church clearly identifiable from the in- of the month. Cutié has been the preacher. “Get out your Blackberry,” he told them, “Turn it on and tersection of NE 6 Avenue, Griffing Boulevard and NE Specific plans are underway for the volunteer proj- send someone a message saying, ‘God loves you, keep 113 Street. ects that will be needed in order to put the buildings and the faith, I visited Padre Alberto at Church of the Resur- Resurrection’s parishioners were elated by the full grounds in good condition. rection.’” church and the support from the diocese. For information on how to be part of the ongoing re- During the service Bruttell had joined the bishop in Veronica Gascoigne said, “I think it’s going to work. birth of Church of the Resurrection, call the church of- welcoming the congregation, telling them, “When we I’m dying to see this parish like it was 40 years ago fice at 305-893-8523, or email [when] it was big.” [email protected]. ■

4 The Net, June 2009 “Bishop Mary” will preach at Diocesan Convention Bishop Mary Gray-Reeves of the Diocese of El Camino Real in Central California will be the preacher for the Convention Eu- charist at the 40th Annual Convention of the Diocese of Southeast Florida, to be held Nov. 13-14 at St. Paul’s, Key West. Gray-Reeves, a Miami native who grew up as a parishioner at St. Stephen’s, Miami, was serving as our diocesan Archdeacon for Deployment when she was elected bishop of El Camino Real two years ago. Although the convention is still months away, these pre-con- SE FLORIDA CHURCHES vention deadlines should be noted: Aug. 15—Proposed changes URGED TO PARTICIPATE IN to Canons submitted to Constitution and Canons Committee; RISKEEPER PROGRAM Sept. 29—Resolutions submitted to Secretary of Convention; Oct. 14—Proposed changes to Canons presented to delegates; Oct. As hurricane season begins, our congregations 29—Nominations submitted to Secretary of Convention. are being advised to take advantage of Riskeeper, Nominations are needed for the following positions: One the web-based program of disaster planning and re- clergy and one lay member of the Standing Committee; one sponse offered by Church Insurance Company of member of the Ecclesiastical Trial Court; one clergy member of Vermont and Church Restoration Group. Bishop Mary Gray-Reeves the Trustees of the University of the South; and one lay member In March 2007, 31 congregations in our diocese of the Cathedral Chapter. participated in day-long pilot workshops for the pro- Information will be available in late summer about lodging for gram, and now that it is available online to all convention; room reservations will need to be made in early Oc- churches that are clients of Church Insurance, tober. ■ Bishop Leo Frade is urging our congregations to use this free tool for emergency preparedness. Diocesan staff members have begun contacting Property inspections will help diocese assess capital needs some congregations to assist them in participating in the Riskeeper program. In June 2008 the diocesan Executive Board ap- tee said in its recommendation. The program allows a congregation to enter es- proved a recommendation from the Property and These reports will also be a resource for the con- sential data—disaster plans, insurance policy num- Loan Committee for the allocation of up to $30,000 gregations themselves, as well as the diocese, in de- bers, parish financial and archival records, contact for the physical inspection of the properties of all veloping emergency preparedness plans. information for parishioners, and a photographic in- congregations on mission or aided status. The inspections assessed the age and condition ventory of church facilities and furnishings—into a The engineering firm designated to do this work of all structures, including needed maintenance, re- confidential and password-protected file in the web- has recently completed the inspections of 35 church pairs or replacement anticipated, either immediately based Riskeeper application. Because the data is properties and the reports are being compiled in the or within a five-year period. In addition to evaluat- stored online, it is always backed-up and is available Diocesan Office. These reports will be coordinated ing the buildings, the inspections also included re- for immediate access, even if church property is with property information already on hand, as well ports on such aspects of the facilities as HVAC and damaged, inaccessible or destroyed, from any loca- as Church Insurance Company records. electrical systems, restroom facilities, ADA compli- tion with a high-speed internet connection. This program was undertaken because mission ance, hurricane shutters and other protections, land- Riskeeper also provides such tools as a compre- and aided congregations operate directly under the scaping, parking lots and storm drainage. hensive building and grounds inspection checklist authority of the bishop, and thus the responsibility The Property and Loan Committee hopes that and instructions for placing an insurance claim. of keeping their physical facilities in sound condi- eventually all church properties in the diocese For information contact Jim Carlton at the Dioce- tion ultimately falls to the diocese. “The diocese will have such inspection reports on file as a re- san Office, [email protected], 800-268-9993 or 305- needs a realistic projection of the capital needs in source for their own financial and emergency ■ 373-0881, ext. 16. ■ the coming years,” the Property and Loan commit- planning.

“I have decided to become part of a new spiritual Frade has assigned Cutié to work as lay pastoral as- PADRE ALBERTO from Page 1 family within the umbrella of Christianity. As I have sistant at the struggling church, which is the focus of been saying and writing for years through my work in the bishop’s “officer down” initiative. Latin America when photos of him and Canellis kiss- communications, instead of focusing on our differ- Cutié preached his first sermon at Resurrection on ing on a beach appeared in early May in a Spanish- ences, let's work together so that all may come to be- Pentecost, May 31, a day that had already been language publication. As a Roman Catholic priest, he lieve in a loving and good God, even in the midst of planned as a celebratory inauguration of Frade’s plan was required to adhere to a vow of celibacy; so this changing world.” to involve the diocese in helping to rebuild a congrega- shortly after the photographs were published, the In a press release issued by the diocese shortly be- tion that had “fallen on hard times” Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami removed fore the service Frade said that Cutié’s decision to When the former Roman Catholic priest rose to Cutié from St. Francis de Sales Roman Catholic begin the path to priesthood in the Episcopal Church speak, he received enthusiastic applause and a standing Church, Miami Beach, where he was priest-in- came after a two-year discernment process. ovation. charge. He added, “We welcome Father Alberto into the Thanking Frade for his welcome, he noted that the Cutié also served as general director and president ministry of the Episcopal Church. Our ministry has bishop has been criticized for being “loving…kind… of Pax Catholic Communications, a multimedia min- centered on spiritual growth, love, forgiveness and a compassionate” toward him, and said, “If practicing istry of the archdiocese, appeared frequently on radio sense of community. Guided by a spirit of fellowship the Gospel of Jesus Christ is a sin…then you have and television and wrote an advice column on relation- and understanding, the Episcopal Church remains a sinned greatly!” ship issues for El Nuevo Herald. beacon of hope and faith for all.” In his sermon Cutié spoke of God’s desire to fill us At a press conference following the May 28 service Frade noted that Cutié’s bilingual skills, evangelical with the Holy Spirit. Cutié said, “I want to assure you that this journey did voice and cultural sensitivities will be a natural fit for “God is the only one we should follow. God is the not begin a few weeks ago. I have searched my soul the needs of our multicultural diocese and communi- only one who is holy and perfect,” he reminded the and sought after God's guidance for a long time. I have ties. congregation. “Church is not about men; it’s about also spoken to friends in and outside the Episcopal According to the process outlined in the Constitu- seeking God. Church is not about men and women, Church about their service to God and the many simi- tion and Canons of The Episcopal Church, the path to ministers—we fail. Church is about seeking the spirit larities that exist among the various branches of Chris- reception of a priest ordained in another branch of the of God. Follow the Spirit of God.” tianity, which profess the Catholic faith….” Church usually takes about a year; but while Cutié is He concluded, “Church is about community, “Furthermore, my personal struggle should in no pursuing this process, he is already bringing his gifts church is about forgiveness, church is about accept- way tarnish the commitment of so many brother and skills to the work of revitalizing the ministry of ance, church is about living in the Spirit of God—and priests who are celibate and faithful to their promise…. Church of the Resurrection, Biscayne Park. the Spirit of God is love.” ■

The Net, June 2009 5 Women build sense of community at ECW Annual Meeting By Susan J. Manwaring

On April 24 and 25 the Episcopal Churchwomen (ECW) of Southeast Florida—nearly 200 “women in red”—gathered for the Annual Diocesan Meeting. Hosted by the North Dade Deanery, the meeting was held at the Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel in Hialeah Gardens, with the closing Eucharist at St. Margaret’s, Miami Lakes. The annual meeting is a time for the women to action on a variety of issues and business matters, but it is also a time for learning, worship and fellowship. In addition to the four vot- 2010 PILGRIMAGE WILL INCLUDE ing delegates from each EASTER IN JERUSALEM congregation, all women of the diocese are encouraged to par- The Holy Land pilgrimage that has become an an- ticipate in the annual meeting nual tradition for Bishop Leo Frade and his wife, Mitchell events in order to build a sense Photo by Susan Manwaring Diana, will offer pilgrims in 2010 the opportunity to of community among the experience Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter in women of all our congregations. BISHOPS Jerusalem. This year’s keynote speaker was the Rev. Sharon Bishop Leo Frade pretends to kiss the ring of The pilgrimage will leave Miami on Mar. 23, 2010, “Bishop” Lillie Clarke, diocesan ECW president, as Lewis, rector of the Episcopal Church of the Holy and return on Apr. 6. Pilgrims will visit such sites as they prepare for the closing Eucharist at the ECW Spirit in Osprey Florida, and founder of Amazing Capernaum, the Mount of the Beatitudes, Nazareth, Annual Meeting. Love Ministries, an international and interdenomina- Cana, Jericho and Bethlehem, but the highlight of the tional healing ministry based in her parish. Her ad- trip will be the chance to participate in Easter obser- dress challenged the women to follow God’s lead, to dral, Miami; Recording Secretary Gloria Evans, vances of both the Western and Eastern Orthodox tra- evangelize and let the healing power of God flow Church of the Transfiguration, Opa-locka; and Treas- ditions. The date of Easter next year will be the same through them into the world. urer-elect Edith Newbold, St. Anne’s, Hallandale. on the calendars of both branches of Christianity. Three workshops were given this year: Altar Guild Two other officers were appointed: Deacon Doris The cost for the trip is $4,895 per person, double Ministry, led by Monica Allan; Animated Stories as Ingraham, corresponding secretary, and Venda-Rae occupancy. Prayer, by Veneta Lorraine; and Growing Your ECW Gibson, Church Periodical Club (CPC) chair. Both are Complete information and a detailed itinerary are Branch by Dr. Gay Outler. members of Historic St. Agnes, Miami. posted at www.diosef.org. Bishop Leo Frade was celebrant, and Deacon Mary Mitchell of Church of the Transfiguration, Space is very limited for the trip, and reservations Sarah Fowler of St. Paul’s, Key West, was the Opa-locka, was selected as the Most Honored Woman will be honored on a first-come first-served basis. A preacher for the festive closing Eucharist. for 2009. Mitchell will be presented as the Most Hon- $300 per person tax-deductible donation to Our Little The 2009 recipients of the Corporate Missionary ored Woman from our diocese at the ECW Triennial Roses Ministries is included in the cost of the tickets Gift recipients were: Inside the diocese—Jubilee Cen- Meeting in July in Anaheim, Calif. for each trip. ter of South Broward; and outside the diocese—Peo- ECW President Lillie Clarke, of Transfiguration; For additional information and reservations, call ple Reaching People, Diocese of Antananarivo, President-elect Rose Brown of Holy Family, Miami Globe Travel, 305-823-3939. ■ Madagascar. Each of these ministries was awarded Gardens; Suzanne Ferguson of St. Bernard de Calir- $1,252.50. vaux, North Miami Beach; and Andrea Bourne- Three new diocesan board members were elected: Hintzen of St. Christopher’s, West Palm Beach, will ■ ANGLICAN CHORALE INVITES Second Vice-president Shirley Pardon, Trinity Cathe- be Triennial delegates from our diocese. SINGERS FOR SUMMER SEASON The Anglican Chorale, based at Trinity Cathe- Donna Dambrot is new head of Episcopal Charities dral, Miami, is inviting singers who have not been able to participate during its inaugural season to On May 18 the Rev. Donna Lise Dambrot began “I really saw God’s grace in those marginalized join the choir for a brief period during the sum- her ministry as the second President and Executive Di- people,” she said. mer. rector of Episcopal Charities of Southeast Florida, That work led to outreach ministries in her own The Chorale rehearses on Tuesday evenings succeeding Charles B. Ring III, who had held the po- parish, and eventually, to seminary. Dambrot sees her from 7:30 to 9 p.m. and leads a service of Choral sition for 10 years. new position with Episcopal Charities as “part of that Evensong at the cathedral on the second and Dambrot comes to ECSEFL journey.” fourth Sundays of the month at 6 p.m. Summer from Episcopal Charities of “The money part of it,” she explained, “is the op- Evensong services are scheduled for June 28, July New York, where she was the portunity people have to be part of something bigger 12 and 26, and Aug. 9 and 23. Associate Director for Pro- than themselves—to be part of God’s grace.” Prospective members are welcome to sing for grams. She previously served Saying she loves “to meet people where they are,” any two-week rehearsal and performance period as rector of St. James Episco- Dambrot said she is “thrilled” that her journey has during the summer. Good sight-singing skills are pal Church in Langhorne, brought her to Episcopal Charities. useful; but due to the amount and variety of the Penn., and as an associate for “You try to hear God’s voice and follow it—and music performed, the Anglican Chorale also pro- Outreach and Pastoral Care at blessings happen,” she said. vides good training for singers who would like to St. Luke in the Fields Episco- Dambrot is familiar with Southeast Florida; since improve their sight-singing. pal Church in New York City. Dambrot 2004 she has owned a home in Ft. Lauderdale, fre- The Anglican Chorale is directed by Trinity’s She is also an attorney, hold- quently spending weekends there to be near her organist and choir director, Matthew Steynor, and ing a Juris Doctor degree from St. John’s University mother, who lives in Tamarac and is in frail health. Simon Jacobs, organist and choir director at St. School of Law, Jamaica, NY, as well as her Master of Making the announcement of Dambrot’s appoint- Thomas, Coral Gables. Divinity degree from The General Theological Semi- ment, ECSEFL Board Chairman Ben Reid said, “We For information call 786-888-6665 or email nary. are truly blessed to have an individual of Donna’s [email protected]. ■ As an attorney, she began working in legal services qualifications to lead Episcopal Charities to the next in 1990, and that led to work with families dealing level in our development…Donna brings a wealth of with HIV/AIDS. experience to our growing organization.” ■

6 The Net, June 2009 Forum considers past, future of Black churches

By Mary W. Cox, editor to become priests,” he said. “When people come into the community and don’t “The future of the church is in your hands.” understand the community, they can’t lead the commu- That was the message from panelists and from nity.” Bishop Leo Frade to participants in the community He urged the group to take time to “retool yourself” forum on “The Future of Black Congregations,” held at with knowledge about the Church; to come together and Church of the Incarnation, Miami, on May 30. stop quarreling within the church; and to start tithing. About 250 people attended the event, which traced “It’s up to us,” Pinder said. “The Episcopal Church is the history of the Black Episcopal church, and specifi- waiting for us to come and serve.” cally, the Black church in our diocese, as well as what Frade agreed. “The future of the church is in your our Black congregations might do in order to build on hands,” he said, “not the hands of the bishop, the Execu- this heritage and thrive in the future. tive Board or the national Church…” Moderator Edith Humes-Newbold of St. Anne’s, The bishop directly addressed rumors of a diocesan DUNCAN CENTER WILL OFFER Hallandale Beach, introduced the three panelists: Canon plan to close small Black churches. J. Kenneth Major, rector of Incarnation; Canon Richard “We don’t close churches, churches close them- AUGUST PROGRAMS ON ICONS, L. Marquess-Barry, rector of Historic St. Agnes; and selves,” he said. “There is no plan to close churches! We LABYRINTH Canon Nelson Pinder of the Diocese of Central Florida, have always had small churches—we need them.” In August the Duncan Conference Center will immediate past president of the national Union of Black Responding to a question about why it is hard for offer two different experiential programs for spiri- Episcopalians. struggling congregations to receive funds from the dio- tual refreshment and growth, one a workshop on the Major reviewed the history of the Black Episcopal cese, the bishop agreed that it may seem hard because, contemplative practice of icon “writing,” and the Church. He said that the first Black Episcopalians were “we demand accountability, we demand work; we need other using the labyrinth as a tool for meditation and slaves baptized in the Jamestown colony in 1623, and to make sure that we know money is being used respon- prayer. that the legacy of Absalom Jones and other former sibly and for growth.” “Icon Writing: A Meditation in Paint,” will be of- slaves and descendants of slaves forms a large part of “Work as much as those who preceded you worked,” fered Aug. 9-14. The workshop leader will be the tradition of the Black Episcopal Church. he said, “to prepare this diocese for those who come Teresa Harrison, a lifelong Episcopalian who has But, he added, there is a second strong tradition: after.” studied with master iconographers and has led many “Caribbean Afro-Anglicans brought to their American The program included presentations from three icon workshops. cousins…an Anglican ethos that has shaped the Black churches that have taken part in the ongoing “Telling No previous experience with icon writing is nec- Episcopal Church…a different cultural expression of Our Stories” oral history project sponsored by the dioce- essary. All materials are included. how that faith is to be lived out.” san Commission on Anti-Racism. John Saunders of St. Fees are $800 (double occupancy); $980 (single He said the Black church brought to the Episcopal Anne’s, Hollywood Beach; Marcus Burke of St. occupancy); and $600 for commuter, and include Church members, clergy, loyalty, “a legitimate catholic Patrick’s, West Palm Beach; and Cynthia Williams of St. lodging and all meals and materials, in addition to heritage” and credibility in the Black community. Christopher’s, Ft. Lauderdale, each offered a brief his- the cost of the workshop. The registration deadline is Barry’s presentation emphasized the specifically Ba- tory of their congregations. July 31. hamian heritage of the Black Episcopal Church in Looking to the future, Major said that congregations “Labyrinth 101 Retreat: Walking Home on the Florida, beginning with the founding of St. Peter’s, Key should encourage fellowship among different groups Sacred Labyrinth Path,” is scheduled for Aug. 28-29, West, which held its first service in 1875. and involve all groups in leadership. and will be led by spiritual director and retreat leader In the 1940s and ‘50s, he recalled, St. Agnes was the Barry spoke of the need to emphasize giving, so that Veneta Lorraine. The overnight retreat will begin at largest Episcopal church of people of color in the south. the congregation can support its own ministries. 5 p.m. Friday and end at 5 p.m. Saturday. “All those ‘Bahamian chapels,’ so-called by Bishop Pinder suggested using resources offered by the Fees are $99 (double occupancy); $126 (single Duncan, have made a difference in the life of this dio- UBE for working with cultural differences in congre- occupancy); and $50 (commuter), including lodging cese,” Barry said. gations. and three meals. The registration deadline is Aug. Pinder warned of a lack of leadership in the Black At the end of the forum each of the three panelists 14. Episcopal Church. was honored with the John Culmer Award of Justice For additional information or to register for either He noted that 77 percent of clergy of color in this and Peace. A surprise presentation of the Culmer of these conferences, call 561-496-4130 or email country were not born here. “We are not growing our Award was also made to Fr. Samuel Browne for his 30 [email protected]. ■ own clergy…we’re not sending our sons and daughters years as vicar of St. Patrick’s, 1964-1994. ■ Rabbi offers clergy his reflections on relationship with God By the Very Rev. Bernard J. Pecaro had to move through the Red Sea to transition from being a Jewish people to a relationship with God.” Ten years ago, no one would have imagined this: He then challenged us, “If we don’t change with In a history-making event for our diocese, the medita- society and God’s revelation to us...” Looking around tions for diocesan clergy at the Holy Week Chrism the cathedral he asked, “Do you like the furniture? Eucharist and Reaffirmation of Ordination Vows That’s all that will be left.” were given by a rabbi. After each reflection, there was a period of ques- In his letter to clergy inviting them to the annual tions and answers; this lively conversation aided the Holy Week event, Bishop Leo Frade had noted that process of being God’s community. the speaker for the day would be Rabbi Mitchell Chefitz was also the preacher at the Eucharist, Chefitz, author and Scholar-in-Residence at Temple using as his text I Corinthians 1:18-31, a passage Israel, Miami, saying, “In the week that includes not which includes the words, “we proclaim Christ cruci- only the holiest days of the Christian year, but also fied, a stumbling-block to Jews…” the Jewish Passover, I believe it will be good for us to Paul is speaking of “the misuse of the image of reflect on the Jewish roots of our faith.” Christ crucified,” Chefitz said. We should not use the Photo by Mary W. Cox Chefitz warmly greeted the more than 150 dioce- images of our faith as magical talismans, but as mir- san and ecumenical clergy, as well as laypersons both rors, reflecting the image of God in each of us, he INTERFAITH WISDOM Christian and Jewish, who gathered at Trinity Cathe- said, and reminding us to “rise to that image of love, Rabbi Mitchell Chefitz answers questions from dral, Miami, on Apr. 7. With his confident tone and grace and compassion.” clergy at the Holy Week Chrism Eucharist. engaging wit, he offered his congregation three theo- If interfaith dialogue is a key to overcoming theological reflections. Each wove the Old and the New logical, racial, and national prejudices, then Rabbi God, we are to live in the love and forbearance of one Testament covenants into a seamless spiritual fabric Chefitz built a bridge of understanding and accept- other, healing all fear and prejudice in the face of our of relationship with God. ance. His Holy Tuesday addresses stressed that God’s differences. ■ He stated, “The challenge of Moses was to con- grace lives within each of us, calling us to relation- Dean Bernard J. Pecaro of the Broward Deanery vince the Jews they were no longer slaves, but they ship with Him. As sisters and brothers of the one is rector of St. Martin’s, Pompano Beach.

The Net, June 2009 7 ■ May 17 was Choir Appreciation the Jubilee Center of South Broward, St. Sunday at Church of the Advent, Palm Laurence Chapel, Seafarer's House and City. The congregation honored Director Broward House. About 80 percent of of Music Jeanné Hudock and the choir those served by these ministries are with a reception after the service. men—many of them fathers—and clean, ■ On Apr. 26 parishioners at dry socks can help prevent foot problems Bethesda-by-the-Sea, Palm Beach, said for these men who live on the street. goodbye to their rector of 27, Fr. Ralph ■ On May 17 St. Nicholas, Pompano “Hap” Warren, and his wife, Ros, with a Beach, presented a performance of T.S. reception—and a full church for both Eliot’s verse drama about the assassina- services. The interim search committee tion of Archbishop Thomas Becket, Mur- formed when Warren announced his re- der in the Cathedral, with the rector, Fr. tirement has almost completed its work, Tim Thomas, in the lead role of Becket. and the parish will soon have an interim ■ St. Christopher’s, Ft. Lauderdale, rector to guide the transition process. is again offering a free summer tutoring ■ Fr. Scott Peterson, assistant at program for students in first through Church of the Good Shepherd, eighth grades. The tutoring sessions are Tequesta, is leading a weekly study group from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily and include at the Tequesta Country Club on the lunch. SHARING BREAD Photo by Pat Kharimanian evenings of June 30 and July 6, 13 and 20. ■ Trinity Cathedral, Miami, receives Fr. Jack Stanton, part-time interim at St. James the Fisherman, Islamorada, lets a The topic is a book called Golf’s Sacred a collection on the second Sunday of the few stuffed animals help him prepare children for First Communion by demonstrat- AQUATIC CHEF Journey: Seven Days at the Links of month for its outreach ministries. June’s ing a meal shared with friends of all kinds. Jo Neeson dressed to match her seagoing entry in the First An- Utopia. Additional information and regis- offering will go toward providing Bibles nual Newcomers Ministry Soup & Chili Cook-Off at All Saints’, tration can be found on Good Shepherd’s and Books of Common Prayer for poor Jensen Beach. Neeson’s seafood chowder won the grand prize website, www, goodsheponline.com. and damaged Anglican churches in at the event. Each of the church’s ministries had a booth with a ■ The ECW of Grace Church, West Nicaragua. Photo by Gillian Lopez soup or chili to taste; visitors to the displays cast votes for their Palm Beach, will hold its Eighth Annual ■ At the 46th Annual ECW Fashion SPRING FROLIC favorite dish, while learning more about the life of the parish. ECW Brunch on Saturday, Aug. 1, from Show on June 6, Holy Family, Miami Children at St. Paul’s Day School, Delray Beach, dressed as 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Atlantis Coun- Gardens, presented its first “Wings of bees and flowers, entertain parents and friends at their Spring try Club,190 Atlantis Boulevard, Atlantis Love” awards to seven women leaders Frolic on May 5 with a maypole dance. (Lake Worth). The event will feature a from the north Miami-Dade or south guest speaker, a tea pot raffle and many Broward County communities who are ex- door prizes. Tickets are $35. For tickets amples of “purposeful mission, values, and information contact ECW President service and ministry.” The award recipi- Deloris Warburton, 561-966-5888. ents were community activist Georgia J. ■ St. David’s-in-the-Pines, Welling- Ayers; community leader and blog host ton, has recently opened a counseling cen- Vanessa Woodard Byers; Shirley Gibson, ter that will provide personal, marital and first mayor of Miami Gardens; Patricia family counseling free of charge as an out- Glover, founder of LEAP, Inc., a non- reach ministry to the community. The profit agency assisting women in transi- service is open to anyone in the area. For tion from incarceration; Immigration more information or to set an appoint- Judge Denise A. Marks Lane; Miami Gar- ment, please contact Kari Weeks at 561- dens Councilwoman Sharon Prichett; and 793-1976. health and wellness advocate Twila Scott. ■ Clergy and parishioners from St. ■ Fr. Spencer Potter was instituted as Andrew’s, Lake Worth, and Holy Spirit, rector of St. Andrew’s, Palmetto Bay, on West Palm Beach, joined with represen- May 29. tatives from more than 20 other faith ■ St. Stephen’s, Coconut Grove Photo by Lily Hoyt groups on Apr. 20 at the annual Nehemiah (Miami), is now “tweeting.” If you’re on Action Assembly of PEACE (People En- Twitter, you can follow the parish’s daily TRADITIONAL TRANSPORTATION gaged in Active Community Efforts). The tweets at http://twitter.com/StStevieCG. Fr. Bob Trache, rector of St. Mark the Evangelist, Ft. Lauderdale, and his group called on Palm Beach County offi- ■ Back by popular demand at St. wife, Liza Ragsdale, the parish’s director of lay ministry, assure a young cials to create Neighborhood Accountabil- Faith’s, Cutler Bay, is a summer movie parishioner that a ride on Omar the donkey will be fun. Omar was part of St. ity Boards, which provide a way for series. On Wednesday evenings in June, Mark’s Palm Sunday celebration. Photo by Corrison Lyttle juvenile offenders to meet with their vic- parishioners have been viewing films (A tims and, through mediation, to make River Runs Through It and To Kill a Photo by Marvin Ellis PENTECOST FLAME amends for their crimes. Mockingbird, among others) and then EARTH DAY Joyce Scarlett places a red beret on the head of confir- ■ Each year the Vacation Bible School discussing insights about Christina living Gloria Peruyero mand Kimberly Redmond at the Pentecost service at Holy at St. Paul’s, Delray Beach, designates a revealed through the characters and (right) coaches Family, Miami Gardens. Each of the 20 confirmands, as mission or ministry to support through do- themes. Michelle Crespo well as the leaders of parish ministries and Bishop Onell nations from participant families as well ■ At St. James the Fisherman, Is- for her part in an Soto, the confirming bishop that day, were given the berets, which symbolized the flame of the Holy Spirit at as from the people of St Paul’s. This year lamorada, the part-time interim rector, Fr. Earth Day obser- Pentecost, present in those persons. the donations will go to the shared min- Jack Stanton, is devoting Sunday sermon vance at San Fran- istry of St. Paul’s; St. Gregory’s, Boca time to a series of bible studies with the cisco de Asis, Miami Raton; Holy Spirit, West Palm Beach; and theme, “Bible Fundamentals—without Lakes, on Apr. 26. At the reception follow- Toussaint L’Overture High School in being a fundamentalist.” Stanton said the ing the Sunday serv- Boynton Beach, with St Marie Madeleine series is designed to answer questions ice parishioners Church in Bondeau, Haiti. Donations to from “How do I find a verse in the watched a video on the VBS Summer Mission Project will go Bible?” to “Did Moses really part the Red climate change, and to a fund for purchasing basic school sup- Sea the way we see in the movies?” to “If children from the plies for the children of Bondeau. Jesus spoke in Aramaic, and his words Sunday School pre- FRIDAY TREAT ■ All Saints, Ft. Lauderdale, is hon- were first recorded in Greek, how do we sented information In the kitchen at Church of the Incarnation, Miami, Sterling oring Fathers’ Day throughout the month know if our English translations are accu- about recycling. Saunders stirs conch fritter batter in preparation for the dinners of June by collecting new cotton socks for rate?” the Church Men offered for sale on Friday evenings in Lent, following Stations of the Cross. Photo by Mary W. Cox

8 The Net, June 2009 The Net, June 2009 9 Pentecost calls and empowers us to be in community What an amazing day that first Pentecost must experience first-hand our connection with the “com- have been: Imagine the disciples, who had been hid- munion of saints,” stretching back through time to the ing in fear for their lives, now suddenly shouting out first Christians and their—and our—faithful Hebrew the Good News of the living ancestors. Christ in the languages of As you know, for several years my wife, Diana, “every nation under heaven!” and I have made it a part of our spiritual practice to One important thing to make a yearly pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Next year remember about this won- we will be leading a very special pilgrimage that will derful Pentecost story include participation in the observances of Holy Week is that the power of and Easter in Jerusalem; Easter in 2010 falls on the the Holy Spirit that same date for both the Eastern and Western traditions. enabled the disciples We will leave Miami on Mar. 23 and will return to tell their story so boldly, Apr. 6. Our pilgrimage includes such sites as Bethle- and in a way that all would Bishop Frade hem; Nazareth; the Sea of Galilee; the Mount of the understand, came upon them Beatitudes; and the Mount of the Transfiguration. We Official publication of the when “they were all together.” will be able to pray at the Western (Wailing)Wall in Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida The Holy Spirit didn’t just visit Peter or John or Jerusalem, visit Masada and Qumran, swim in the Episcopal Communicators’ Award of Excellence James or Mary Magdalene when they were praying Dead Sea and view the Dead Sea scrolls in the Israel “General Excellence” for the year 2000 alone—no, God’s Spirit was, and is, a gift for the Museum. community, the whole Body of Christ. But what I am sure will be the highlight for me is The Rt. Rev. Leo Frade, Bishop In this season of Pentecost, I want to remind you the opportunity join with other pilgrims from all over The Rt. Rev. Calvin O. Schofield, Jr. of some opportunities for us, through the power of the world in the events of Holy Week and Easter: To S.T.D., Retired Bishop the Holy Spirit, to be the community that extends be part of the Palm Sunday procession from Bethany from our own families and congregations to “every to Jerusalem, attend the foot washing service in the The Rt. Rev. John L. Said nation under heaven.” Armenian Cathedral, walk the Stations of the Cross in Retired Bishop Suffragan Our first opportunity is in our own diocese, where the Old City on Good Friday, and participate in the there are a number of congregations that are strug- Holy Fire service at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher Kathryn Blanton gling and need to know that they are not alone. and celebrate Easter Day at St. George’s Episcopal Convener of Communications Ministry From the time when a report is issued that a police Cathedral in Jerusalem. Mary W. Cox John T. Cox officer is “down,” it takes only a brief moment to get I invite you to join us for this experience of our Editor Proofreader a quick response from all the other police officers that connection with our spiritual ancestors, and indeed, hear the “officer down” plea for help. It doesn’t matter our Lord Jesus Christ, in what is for me the most holy Catherine Kohn Primary Source Press if the officer who has been attacked or injured is from place on this earth. You can also view the whole itin- Design & Layout Production Management another police department or city; for those who hear erary for our pilgrimage at the link for Bishop Frade’s Letters to the Editor the call for help what counts is that a brother or sister Pilgrimage to the Holy Land at www.diosef.org, or for The Net welcomes letters to the editor. All letters must officer needs immediate help to survive. more information, call Arthur at Globe Travel, 305- include the name, address, phone number, and if available, Using this image, I am urging all of the congrega- 823- 3939. email address, of the writer. Parish affiliation is also tions of this diocese to help in some concrete way to Finally, I remind you that the General Convention requested, when applicable. The Net reserves the right to refuse publication, and to revive those congregations that are “down” at the of the Episcopal Church, which will meet next month edit letters for length, spelling and grammar. present time. The first of these congregations that in Anaheim, Calif., is an embodiment of our church’s needs the support of the whole diocese is the Church belief that the wisdom of the Holy Spirit comes to us News & Information of the Resurrection, a church in the North Dade Dean- only in community, as we share our differing experi- The Net invites news of parish ministries and activi- ery that “went down” some years ago after a split in ences, ideas and opinions and together make decisions ties, as well as commentary on church-related issues and the leadership. Since then, the parishioners have been for our common life. events. Whenever possible, all material should be submit- declining in numbers and struggling by themselves to The theme of this year’s General Convention asks ted electronically or on a disk or CD. Documents sent as survive within a community in transition. us to focus on our interdependence in the Body of attachments or on disk should be in Word, or in a format that can be opened in Word. Printed material should be an We know that there is a tremendous potential for Christ. You can see on p. 2 the General Convention original document or a clean photocopy that can be growth in the area where the church is located. The logo with the word ubuntu. This is a word from the scanned — no faxes. area is heavily populated—and Church of the Resur- Zulu and Xhosa people of South Africa that Cape Please include with all material the name, address, rection is the only church of any denomination in the Town Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu has taught phone number and if available, email address, of the con- Village of Biscayne Park. to the rest of the Anglican Communion. He has said tributor. Parish affiliation is also requested, when applica- I am still rejoicing at the wonderful support I saw that people in his culture understand ubuntu to convey ble. The Net reserves the right to refuse publication and to on Pentecost at Church of the Resurrection. Indeed, it that “a person is a person through other persons”—or edit all contributions. Photographs should be high-resolu- was a glorious occasion, and I know it gave that con- as Archbishop Tutu himself puts it, “I am because you tion digital files or clear prints of film photographs, prefer- gregation great hope to see their church so full of their are.” ably on glossy paper. Photographs sized for a website are sisters and brothers from around the diocese and the Over the past six years we in the Episcopal Church generally too small for print. Do not send hard prints made from digital photographs. community. have become very much aware that our actions in this All material – letters, articles or photos – should be Now the momentum of Pentecost needs to con- part of the Anglican Communion do affect our sisters submitted electronically to: [email protected], or by tinue. How can you help? and brothers around the world. I ask your prayers for mail to: Mary W. Cox, Diocese of Southeast Florida, First, by joining the congregation in worship on a this gathering of our Church, that we may indeed see 525 NE 15 St., Miami, FL 33132-1411. Sunday. The church is at 11173 Griffing Blvd. in Bis- Christ and our own humanity in each other, and to- Net Deadline cayne Park (that’s at the intersection of NE 6 Ave., NE gether be filled with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. The next Net deadline is July 10. If you have an an- 113 St. and Griffing Blvd. in north Miami-Dade Remember that it is only as the whole Body of nouncement or calendar item for events in late August, County), and the service is at 9:30 a.m. Christ, in this diocese, through time and in “every na- September or early October please have the information to Second, by hands-on help with urgently-needed tion under heaven,” that we can truly Keep the Faith. The Net by July 10. E-mail to EpiscoRat@ aol.com or repairs and improvements to the buildings and mail to Mary W. Cox, DoSEF, 525 NE 15th St., Miami, grounds. In the coming weeks and months, many spe- Shalom. FL 33132-1411. cific projects will be announced, but don’t wait to be THE NET (USPS 787-340) is published bi-monthly, invited—call the church office at 305-893-8523 or +Leo six times a year, in February, April, June, August, October email [email protected] and ask what you can and December by the Diocese of Southeast Florida. Sub- do. scription, $5 annually. Periodicals postage paid at Miami, With God’s grace and your help our sister church Fla., and additional offices. can not only survive, but prosper in the future. POSTMASTER: Address changes to The Net, Another way in which we can access the powerful 525 N.E. 15th Street, Miami, FL 33132-1411. community given to us through the Holy Spirit is to

10 The Net, June 2009 “Lower your buckets” and receive the Holy Spirit By the Rev. Alberto Cutié The disciples felt that way: They were a bit lost. All the Gospel readings we’ve heard all these Sundays of This meditation is excerpted from the sermon given by Easter have said that they were afraid; they didn’t under- “Padre Alberto” on Pentecost at Church of the Resurrec- stand resurrection—what does that mean to rise from the tion, Biscayne Park. dead? They didn’t get totally the message of Jesus, and it There was a sea captain that had a lot of experience. wasn’t until what we celebrate today, Pentecost, that they He spent a lot of time out at sea. But one day he made a were able to see with the eyes of faith, with the eyes of mistake; he got stuck. He turned the wrong way, lost his their souls, what God wanted for them. way. His instruments went berserk. He didn’t know ex- The Holy Spirit of God is with us. If you’re baptized, actly where he was; and so all of a sudden, instead of you received the Spirit of God, and God is with you. No being out at sea for three weeks, he found himself out at matter how many difficulties and problems and crises sea for close to six weeks. you may have in your life, no matter what happens, you He thought he had made provision for his crew, but all just have to lower your buckets, because God is there. of a sudden he ran out of water. Imagine—running out of The Spirit of God is there… water on a huge ship! So he started calling out for help When we go through crises and difficult moments, we every way he could— only think about what’s negative, and we forget that even “Church is not he started raising in difficulties the Spirit of God is there to manifest him- signs up in the air, self, and may manifest himself the best. God manifests about men; it’s big, big signs saying, himself the best when we are going through troubles and “We need water! must depend on him… about seeking God. We’re out of water!” That promise of the Spirit that was given to the ... Church is about A ship came by friends of Jesus, that Spirit, is given to us today. and said, “Lower God is the only one we should follow. God is the only seeking the spirit of your buckets.” one who is holy and perfect… The sea captain Church is not about men; it’s about seeking God. God.” said, “You’re nuts! Church is not about men and women, ministers—we fail. My men can’t drink this salt water — they’ll die.” Church is about seeking the spirit of God. Follow the Again, “We need water!” And the other ship, “Lower Spirit of God. Lower your buckets, because the Lord your buckets.” wants to fill your life with the Spirit. Believe it or not, the captain was so lost that they Remember, church is about community, church is were in a beautiful part of the Amazon with great fresh about forgiveness, church is about acceptance, church is water. And when they lowered their buckets and began to about living in the Spirit of God—and the Spirit of God Photo by C. M. Guerrero/el Nuevo Herald drink the water—“Now I understand!” is love. ■

Conversation on the Black church needs to focus on vision, solutions By Fr. Orlando J. Addison we have in many of our Black churches where they would like to be. older and the younger generation the is not simply to confront the racism At the May 30 conference I did not opportunity to listen to each other’s dif- At the May 30 conference organized which is still present in society and in hear any of the panelists share their vi- ferent experiences and views in order by the local Chapter of the UBE, the the church, but also to remind many of sions for the Black church in this dio- to find some practical solutions to our Diocesan Commission on Anti-Racism its members that cese, and I did not hear anyone share problems. and the Diocesan Office for Social Jus- they are no possible solutions to the specific prob- Second, enable the conference to tice (see story p. 7), “The Future of longer living in lems many Black churches are facing focus on assisting our Black churches Black Congregations” was supposed to exactly the same today. in developing a strategic plan that will be the center of discussion. But I felt conditions that If the organizers of these confer- include vision, resources and technical that the conference did not address this created and fos- ences continue to design events where support. topic fully, because the panelists failed tered the system people come to hear to the same old Third, invite experts on demo- to concentrate on many of the real is- of slavery and story, where people use the same rheto- graphic change to provide information sues facing many of the Black churches discrimination in ric without proposing possible solu- on how to survive when the community in our diocese today, such as the econ- the United tions, there will not be a Black church around the church shifts from one eth- omy, social issues, demographic States. Though in this diocese to talk about in the pres- nic group to another. changes in neighborhoods and lack of we still face big- Addison ent tense. If you keep on doing the Fourth, bring in experts on church appropriate technology. otry and prejudice, same thing over and over, you will growth to provide the necessary tools Instead, the conference dwelt on the we are not slaves to these evils. We can eventually kill the Black congregations. that will enable our churches to reach past, focusing too long on the period of shape our own future. Another problem I saw at last out to people in the neighborhood and slavery and profound discrimination In the past I have participated in month’s conference was that the new teach us how to grow our church from that African-Americans endured in pre- many Episcopal conferences on the generation of black theologians was not the outside in. vious centuries. In Jesus Christ, God topic of “the Black Church.” The ma- represented. All the panelists belong to I believe that if we are to see the has already led us out of slavery into jority of these conferences have cen- a generation of leaders who, while they Black churches in this diocese move the Promised Land, yet many members tered their energy on remembering the have accomplished much for the forward, the next conference on this of our Black churches, while living in past. Remembering our varied histories Church, often are still burdened by the topic should include some or all of the the land of freedom, still think and be- and telling our stories are essential, but great resentment they carry in their above suggestions. have as though they are under the do- should be balanced with the need to ad- hearts for the discrimination they have It is time that we all move away minion of Pharaoh. dress the reality of the present and to experienced in this country. from the residue of hatred, bigotry and At the Diocesan Clergy conference plan for the future. Since I have stated the problem as I racism left by the experiences of the on Holy Tuesday of this year at Trinity I have also attended conferences on see it, I am also recommending some past, and embrace the new era of for- Cathedral, Rabbi Mitchell Chefitz this topic at which pastors and leaders solutions that I believe will enable the giveness and love that Jesus has taught made a profound statement that res- from other denominations have ad- Black congregations in Diocese of us. It is time that we stop promoting onates with me to this day. He said, dressed the same issue, but from a dif- Southeast Florida become strong, vital negative feelings and encouraging the “The problem Moses had in Egypt was ferent perspective. They talked about and healthy churches. new generation to embrace them; in- not dealing with Pharaoh’s stubborn- the present issues affecting their First, I would like to suggest that fu- stead let us begin to build a new soci- ness; the problem he had was to con- churches today. They shared with the ture conferences on the Black church ety, a new church where everyone is vince the Israelites that they were no audience their vision and what they organized by the Diocese of Southeast welcome! ■ longer slaves.” were doing in their own congregations Florida invite panelists representing Fr. Orlando Addison is rector of St. Often one of the biggest problems to move from where they were to two generations. This will give the James-in-the-Hills, Hollywood, Fla.

The Net, June 2009 11 Photo by Mary W. Cox RECESSION BRINGS CHANGE IN 2010 ECSEFL GRANT PROCESS IN PROCESSION Citing “the uncertainty of the financial times,” Acolytes process around the front of St. Gregory’s, Boca Raton, before entering for the Acolyte Festival Eu- charist. Episcopal Charities of Southeast Florida has announced a one-year change in its grant-making process for Human Needs funding. Acolyte Festival offers many ways to “sense” God All parishes and partner organizations awarded grants though Episcopal Charities in 2009 are eligible “God Always Makes Sense” was the theme of the for a second year of funding without reapplying for annual diocesan Acolyte Festival, held Apr. 25 at St. HONORED ACOLYTES 2009 the grant. Each grantee will be eligible to receive the Gregory’s, Boca Raton. same percentage of funding received in 2009, al- In a variety of workshops, about 350 young peo- Keke Aniagoh, St. Luke’s, Miami; Marcus though the total funds to be distributed may not re- ple from around the diocese—and a group from a Bayas, Incarnation, Miami; Moesha Bullard, Christ Church, Coconut Grove (Miami); Myles main the same. Methodist congregation—explored the ways in which Bullock, St. Faith’s, Miami; Warren Burgher, Although the application process will be sus- they can encounter God through the five physical senses and a “sixth sense,” the ability to sense the Holy Sacrament, Pembroke Pines; Julie De- pended for current grant recipients, they will be re- Souza, St. Mary Magdalene, Coral Springs; presence of the Holy Spirit. quired to submit a year-end report, including both Patrick Dorsett, St. Anne’s, Hallandale; Symone narrative and financial data, as well as an operations “Hearing” meant bells, demonstrated by Dean Ford, Holy Family, Miami Gardens; Reginald report. Funding will be based upon the ministry’s sat- Bernard Pecaro of the Broward Deanery. Fox, St. Bernard de Clairvaux, North Miami isfactory progress in meeting its 2009 goals. “Smell” was in an array of different incense fra- Beach; Simone Harrison, St. Andrew’s, Lake 2009 grantees are encouraged to attend a work- grances, and some practice with a thurible, led by Worth; Baxter Johnson; Transfiguration, Miami shop on the year-end report, Sept. 12, from 9-11:30 Maceo Brown, acolyte master at St. Anne’s, Holly- Gardens; Dane Johnson, Ascension, Miami; a.m., at St. Mark the Evangelist, Ft. Lauderdale. wood Beach. Amanda Jordan, St. Philip’s, Pompano Beach; Graceleen Larracuenta, Holy Cross, Miami; Reports must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Oct. 15 in Acolytes used their vision in a workshop on vest- Christina Lawrence, Merrell United Methodist order to maintain eligibility for funding. ments and the colors of the church year, led by the Rev. Cori Olsen, priest-in-charge at St. Luke the Church, Lauderdale Lakes; Jerry Macomber, St. Episcopal Charities will also provide funding for Martin’s, Pompano Beach; Trisha Mitchell, St. Physician, Miami. up to four seed grants of as much as $3,000 for Benedict’s, Plantation; Noelia Montoya, Holy parish-based human needs ministries in poor commu- The Rev. Kathleen Gannon, associate at St. Paul’s, Comforter, Miami; Alain Panza, St. John’s, Holly- nities where basic human needs are most critical. Delray Beach, guided groups of acolytes in baking wood; George Pearson, Trinity Cathedral, Funds will be granted based on where the need is bread-sticks, which offered both touch and taste, as Miami; Christopher Polanco, St. James-in-the- greatest, as well as the capacity of the congregation to well as a quick Bible study, as the youth flipped Hills, Hollywood; Maggie Powers, St. Mark’s, deliver the services. The grants committee will con- pages to find the answers to quiz on bread in the Palm Beach Gardens; Shelby Pratt, St. Mary’s, sider such parish resources as leadership involve- Bible. Deerfield Beach; Jamaine Scott, Grace Church, West Palm Beach; Jonathan Simpson, St. ment, fundraising capability and adequate volunteer Younger acolytes used all of their senses on a Nicholas, Pompano Beach; Marie Sintulaire, support. scavenger hunt around the church grounds and a craft workshop. Holy Nativity, Pahokee; Rose Sintulaire, St. Applications are also due by Oct. 15 at 5 p.m., and John’s, Belle Glade; Stephanie Spoerl, St. An- The workshop on the “sixth sense” was presented late submissions will not be accepted. drew’s, Miami; Kristin Wegner, St. Joseph’s, A workshop for seed grant applicants will be held by diocesan Youth Commission member Douglas Boynton Beach; Alexandrea Wheeler, St. Aug. 29, from 9-11:30 a.m. at St. Mark the Evangel- Dozier of Christ Church, Coconut Grove (Miami). Agnes, Miami. ■ ist, Ft. Lauderdale. For the closing Eucharist the acolytes vested and Reporting forms for current grantees and applica- processed with crosses and banners around the block tion forms for seed grants can both be downloaded and into the church. and peace.” from the Episcopal Charities website, In her sermon at the Eucharist, Olsen told the To be able to do that, she said, we need to use all www.ecsefl.org. acolytes, “Sometimes we get scared in the church that our senses, “EVERYTHING that God has given us in To reserve your place for either of the workshops, the next generation is going to change things. But order to experience closeness to God in our own contact Elizabeth at 561-799-6424 or by email eliza- that is your job—to take the traditions and the truths lives.” [email protected]. of the church and to present them to new generations. Bishop Leo Frade presented awards to the For additional information, contact ECSEFL Not just to your friends today, but also to your chil- acolytes nominated by each congregation for out- Grants Director Bonnie Weaver at 561-799-6424 or at dren and to their friends. To help the people who do standing service (see box) and commissioned the ■ [email protected]. ■ not know Jesus to find in him forgiveness, salvation, acolytes for their ministry. NEW BEGINNINGS WEEKEND challenges and concerns of middle school youth and Youth may attend as many New Beginnings week- WILL BE JULY 31 THROUGH AUG. 2 to help them grow in their love of themselves, others ends as they choose throughout their middle school and our Lord Jesus Christ. years. The weekend begins at 7 p.m. on Friday and ends Participants do not have to be Episcopalian, but The Broward Deanery will sponsor a New Begin- at 5 p.m. on Sunday. During the weekend participants must be recommended through an Episcopal Church nings weekend for youth in grades 6-8 at St. Martin’s, meet peers from across the diocese, enjoy skits, listen and have the backing of an adult sponsor from that Pompano Beach, Jul. 31-Aug. 2. The weekend is to talks, and participate in small group activities and church, who must attend the entire weekend. It is open to sixth through eighth graders throughout the discussions. Activities focus on self, friends, parents, mandatory that sponsors have current Safeguarding diocese. siblings, school, God’s love, prayer and the church. All God's Children training. Similar to the Happening weekends for older Free time is built in for youth and sponsors to have an To become involved in this program or for more teens, New Beginnings is a ministry created by young opportunity simply to enjoy being with their new- information, contact Broward Deanery Youth Coordi- people and adults especially to respond to the unique found friends. nator Pamela Sahdev, [email protected]. ■

12 The Net, June 2009 Church @ the Grove closes, but seeds are planted

By Mary W. Cox, editor sonnel serving overseas; they sent 20,000 pieces of direct mail to introduce their ministry in the commu- About 50 people gathered on the evening of Apr. nity—and at every community activity, they handed 26 at the house in Loxahatchee that had been the out hundreds of balloons with the church’s name and home base for Church @ the Grove for an “Alpha contact information. and Omega Party.” It was the final event in the life of But in an area where “it’s very acceptable NOT to the church planting effort that began in the fall of go to church,” it was going to be too long a haul for 2006 the resources available, Ostlund explained. The Rev. Holly Ostlund, the “church planter,” ex- “The good part is that everyone who came to us plained that she called the goodbye party “Alpha and loved us,” she said. “I do feel that lives have been Omega,” because she wanted to remind people that transformed—mine included…We’ve watched kids “nothing done for God is wasted,” and that “this is grow; I know we’ve impacted how parents treated MISSION TEAM HEADS FOR an ending, but it is also a beginning.” their children.” TOLIARA, MADAGASCAR In a letter to members and supporters in February, She told of one Hispanic family, the Castillos, A team from Southeast Florida that has taken Ostlund explained to those who had worked with her who “loved us, even though the mother didn’t speak the name “Namoko,” the Malagasy word for “my that despite their faithful and creative ministries, a much English.” Ostlund had the PowerPoint presen- friend,” will leave series of “blows” had made it impossible to continue tations for each week’s service translated into Span- June 30 on a mission as a viable congregation. ish so that the woman would be able to join in to our companion dio- Diocesan planning for a church plant in western worship. cese of Antananarivo Palm Beach County had focused on the Callery After the family’s son, Freddy, Jr., a fourth- in Madagascar. Judge Grove/Loxahatchee area because of a planned grader, was baptized in a bilingual service, the boy Cheryl and Will development there of 26,000 homes. The develop- told Ostlund, “My whole life is going to be different Harman, Nancy ment was eventually rejected by Palm Beach County, after today!” McKircy, Marcy and that decision, combined with foreclosures and The final service for Church @ the Grove was a Allen and Janet the overall economic decline, meant “the volume of sunrise Eucharist on an island in a lake at the J.W. Thompson from the people in the area is decreasing,” Ostlund said. Corbett Wildlife Area in Loxahatchee. Twenty-eight Chapel of St. Andrew, Boca Raton, and Jacky “If the economy looked like it was getting better people showed up, a mixed crowd of varying ethnici- Lowe from St. James-in-the-Hills, Hollywood, soon, we might have been able to hang in there,” she ties and ages, from preschoolers to octogenarians. will be working with our missionaries, Bishop added, but noted that bad economic news that affects After the Eucharist, the congregation released Todd and the Rev. Pasty McGregor in Toliara, all churches has a much more devastating impact on three dozen Zebra Longwing butterflies—Florida’s where Todd is area bishop. Lowe will stay for a a new church, where people have not yet made a state insect—into their native environment—a symbol month; the others will return July 17. firm commitment to involvement and giving. of resurrection and a new beginning. The team will be teaching the Alpha program, Planting a church “takes a while,” Ostlund said, Ostlund begins a new ministry on July 1, as an as- as well as English, and will build and install a cross “I knew that, and now I really know that…it took us sistant at St. Mark’s, Palm Beach Gardens. She says in the Chapel of St. Andrew in Mahabo that will be two years just to get our name out.” that a number of the people who were attending identical to one that hangs in the Chapel in Boca And they did get their name out. The small con- Church @ the Grove have said they’ll join her in her Raton. gregation—25 to 45 attended on a Sunday—showed new parish, “but I’m not sure they’ll make the transi- The team’s name was chosen when “Patsy re- up at every festival and community event; they cele- tion.” minded us that Jesus no longer calls us servants— brated every holiday, sacred and secular; they spent However, she is sure that the seeds planted at he calls us friends,” said Cheryl Harman. An “Second Saturdays” in outreach ministry, cleaning Church @ the Grove will bear fruit, even if she important part of the team’s mission is to build re- cages at a wildlife rescue center and doing household doesn’t get to see when or where. lationships with the people of our companion dio- chores for families in difficult circumstances; they “The things we did really ‘took,’” she said. “The cese. ■ invited the neighbors to have their animals blessed; people think of themselves as disciples in their own they collected Christian music CDs for military per- way.” ■ Youth Convention elects officers, proposes resolutions

The diocesan Youth Convention, held May 8-9 at Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, elected Youth Commission officers for 2009-2010; read and discussed resolutions to be presented at the 76th General Convention of The Episcopal Church; and proposed resolutions that the Youth Commission will prepare for Diocesan Convention this fall. Michael Sahdev of St. Benedict’s, Plantation, was elected to an unprecedented third consecutive term as president. The vice-president is Melanie Veizaga and the secretary is Graceleen Larracuenta, both from Holy Cross, Miami; and Strickland Davis of St. Patrick’s, West Palm Beach, was re-elected as administrative assistant. The theme of the convention was “Footprints,” which was a topic for reflection at a sunrise Eucharist on the beach. The youth voted to offer resolutions at Diocesan Convention calling for: a diocesan music team to develop music resources for the diocese, encourage musicians in our congregations and create a diocesan songbook; the designation of one Sunday a year when offerings from all diocesan congregations will go to a designated ministry that helps to fight hunger; the construction of a diocesan youth camp facility; and a campaign to discontinue the use of bottled water at all parish and diocesan events in order to reduce waste and pollution from plastic bottles. Members of the Photo by Gladys Rodriguez Youth Commission are now drafting these resolutions. About 50 youth from 17 congregations participated in the Youth Convention. NEW OFFICERS Diocesan Administrative Assistant for Youth Ministry Mary Cobiella noted that Youth Commission officers elected at Youth Convention are (left to right) there was “good representation” from all areas of the diocese, as well as from all Vice-President Melanie Veizaga; President Michael Sahdev; Secretary ■ of our diverse ethnicities. Graceleen Larracuenta; and Administrative Assistant Strickland Davis.

The Net, June 2009 13 Parish’s construction brings unexpected protest By Mary W. Cox, editor

On May 1, day school students, parents, parishioners and friends of St. Stephen’s Church and School, Coconut Grove (Miami) gathered to turn the first sym- bolic shovels full of dirt to break ground for a long-anticipated new “green” building for the school. Bishop Leo Frade was on hand to bless the project, which will be the first LEED-certified building to be registered by an independent school in Miami-Dade FALL SEMESTER FOR DIOCESAN County. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental SCHOOL BEGINS SEPT. 12 Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), certifies buildings according to specific standards for The Diocesan School for Christian Studies will environmentally sustainable construction. begin its Fall semester Sept. 12 at St. Mark the Evan- But shortly after the groundbreaking celebration gelist, Ft. Lauderdale. Online registration will be ended, excitement turned to anxiety as a group of local available by Au- preservationists arrived at the church and school cam- gust. pus to protest the demolition of an existing building, The Diocesan Photo by Robin Lawrie Soper Hall, to make room for the new construction. School provides Soper Hall, the original 1912 church building, was a broad curricu- HARD HATS deconsecrated in 1959 and for the past 50 years had lum for layper- Bishop Leo Frade greets students at St. Stephen’s served as classroom space for the parish day school. In sons who seek to Day School after the groundbreaking for the 2007 the church and school began to explore possibili- expand their school’s new building. ties for needed renovation and expansion of the school knowledge of facilities. According to St. Stephen’s rector, Pastor church history children. This was a carefully reached decision Willie Allen-Faiella, the church first hoped to be able and biblical grounded on expert advice and accreditation require- to preserve Soper Hall by retrofitting it to meet current studies and to ments. The building project is—and always has code requirements, but soon found that would not be explore and been—in full compliance with all permitting require- possible. The building was two feet below the flood deepen their ments.” plain and did not provide the square footage per child spiritual growth. The vestry’s statement and a fact sheet about the required by the school’s accrediting board. Training is also building project can be found on St. Stephen’s website, When it became apparent that the historic building offered for the www.ststephenscoconutgrove.org. could not be saved, plans for the new building were various licensed Construction is now underway on the new building, designed to incorporate the bell and the cross from lay ministries in which will house classrooms for pre- and junior Soper Hall. Before the demolition began, the build- the Episcopal kindergartens, a state-of-the-art technology and lan- ing’s historic plaques and the cornerstone with its con- Church: Lay guage lab, school office space and a new retail space to tents were also removed for preservation. Preacher, Wor- replace the old Heart of the Grove Gallery, which fea- Through several weeks of angry accusations by ship Leader, tured works of local artists. Its “green” features will in- preservationists that the demolition of Soper Hall was Pastoral Leader Photo by Pam Fuller clude an environmentally friendly air chiller and a last-minute addition to St. Stephen’s plans and that and Catechist. rainwater harvesting and irrigation system. no efforts had been made to preserve this part of the The School BIBLE STORY In a message to her congregation the week after the parish’s—and Miami’s—history, St. Stephen’s vestry also provides a At the final class for the groundbreaking, Allen-Faiella reminded them, “The had a clear message to the congregation, school fami- three-year cur- “Women of the Bible” course in church is not a building. The church is the living Body lies and the community. A May 8 email to the parish riculum that is the Diocesan School, Emily of Christ, wherein lives are changed and people are and school said: the educational Nell Lagerquist performs the transformed… While I have great respect for those story of Ruth and Naomi, alter- “The Vestry made a decision in January of 2008 to foundation for who cherish our historical stones, it is the ‘living nating between the roles of deconstruct Soper Hall for the benefit of our school stones’ that must be our first priority.” ■ those aspiring to both women. the diaconate. The courses for DIOCESAN DEACONS GATHER FOR ANNUAL RETREAT second and third year diaconal students include a col- loquium to assist students in developing their min- On May 1-2, 22 of the more than 30 deacons en- istries. gaged in active ministry in the diocese met at the The School Catalog and information about course Duncan Center with Bishop Leo Frade. offerings, including downloadable training materials The bishop schedules this annual retreat with his for Eucharistic Visitors, can be found on the School’s deacons to share on an intimate level his missionary website at www.dioschool.org. For more information, vision for the diocese and the trials and triumphs of contact the Diocesan School at [email protected], the diaconal ministry, and to provide a time for these or call 561-254-4548. ■ servant ministers to enjoy worship and fellowship with one another. Frade and Archdeacon Tom Bruttell discussed BROTHERHOOD SPONSORS with the deacons the role they can play in support of the bishop’s challenge to all congregations to move MEN’S RETREAT AUG. 28-29 “from Good to Great”. Photo by Valerie Vernon The Brotherhood of St. Andrew will offer a A welcome surprise was a brief visit from Canon Men’s Retreat, open to all men in the diocese, Hap Lewis, canon to the Deacons, who had recently A WELCOME FRIEND Aug. 28-29 at the Duncan Center. been hospitalized and was not expected to be able to Canon for Deacons Hap Lewis, recuperating from The event will include music, fellowship and participate in the retreat. an illness, paid a surprise visit to the Deacons Re- personal witness. The theme is “The Larger Life.” A highlight of the gathering was the Eucharist on treat. Enjoying his company are (left to right) Dea- The cost is $84. For more information contact the outdoor labyrinth, at which the deacons renewed cons Anita Thorstad, Pat Masterman and Carol Carlos Belgrave, [email protected] or their diaconal vows. ■ Graves. 561-795-8641. ■

14 The Net, June 2009 St. Mary’s honors ‘second retirement’ of Mother Nancy

By Lauren Losson

To the strains of Steve Wonder’s “Isn’t She Lovely,” the Rev. Nancy McCarthy, priest-in-charge since 1999 of Saint Mary’s Episcopal Church, Deer- field Beach, was escorted into a farewell luncheon and testimonial staged for her April 19 at Westside Recreation Center. “Mother Nancy” began her relationship with the then-yoked parish while serving as an associate at St. Gregory’s, Boca Raton. When she retired from St. Gregory’s 10 years ago, she asked to become priest-in-charge at St. Mary’s because of the close bond she had formed with its people over the years. Announcing two years ago that she planned to “re- retire” when she turned 75 in January 2009, Nancy relinquished her duties in March to Fr. John Nganga, former assistant at St. Benedict’s, Planta- tion, now priest-in-charge of both St. Mary’s and St. Philip’s, Pompano Beach. (See story p. 3.) That long-term bond of affection and esteem between priest and parish was demonstrated in many Photo by Kevin McCarthy ways at the luncheon, which featured an array of home-cooked Bahamian dishes prepared by the PERFECT GIFT ECW members, a hallmark of St. Mary’s island- Mother Nancy McCarthy models the stole that was style hospitality. The parish, which celebrated its her retirement gift from parishioners at St. Mary’s, ninetieth anniversary last June, was founded largely Deerfield Beach. The stole is highlighted with tap- by families from the Bahamas who have been main- estry panels showing the faces of children, honor- stays of the Deerfield Beach community since the ing the priest whose ministry touched the lives of so many children of the congregation. early 1900s. Vice-Mayor Sylvia Poitier, a former member of the parish, acted as the lively and amusing mistress her so much.” of ceremonies. Newly elected state representative Multiple mentions were made of Nancy’s low- from Deerfield Beach and parish member Gwyn key, down-to-earth graciousness, generosity and hu- Clarke-Reed was on hand from Tallahassee to pres- mility – someone who often could be found at the ent Mother Nancy with an official proclamation that church on weekdays running bulletins, weeding the will be read into the records of the State House. Photo by Tom Oosterhoudt/Conch Color shrubbery, or cleaning the kitchen. Her yearly treats A great lover of music, especially performances for the children and youth were a summer outing to through the years by St. Mary’s kids, Nancy was CANON REECE WEEK such places as a water park, the IMAX theater, or beaming when she was serenaded once more by the the zoo, and a pizza-lunch Christmas party and pag- Key West city commissioner Clayton Lopez pres- children and youth to the Stevie Wonder hit that ents Reece Scholarship Banquet Chair Marcia eant rehearsal (capped off with gift cards from Mc- seemed to be her theme song for the day, and “This Sweeting-Somersall with a plaque proclaiming Donald’s) that she hosted and underwrote. Rev. Canon John Reece, Jr., Week in Key West. Little Light of Mine.” On hand for the celebration The women of the church presented Nancy with were Nancy’s son and daughter-in-law, Kevin and a stole highlighted with tapestry panels showing the Claire McCarthy, and granddaughter, Melissa. faces of children of many colors, the perfect homage St. Peter’s awards Deacon Anita Fortino-Thorstad of St. Gregory’s to someone so instrumental in the lives of the chil- presented a testimonial rich with amusing stories dren of the parish. 16 Reece scholarships from Nancy’s service there as a newly-ordained fe- Vestry Youth Representative Tyrone Lightbourn, male priest, one of the first in the diocese. Long- Jr. read a “prayer of thanks,” and Vestry Senior War- At its biennial Canon John H. Reece Scholarship time member and parish activist Bertha Pratt den Oveta McKeithen capped the accolades with Banquet on Apr. 18, St. Peter’s, Key West, awarded recounted with emotion the dedication and determi- presentation of a plaque and the words, “We love $7, 500 in scholarships to 16 local students. nation with which Nancy labored to get a new you, and we will miss you.” The highest award, $1,200, went to Daphne Bar- church funded and built after the original St. Mary’s In her brief remarks in response, Nancy returned nett, a 2009 high school graduate who impressed the building was demolished due to the widening of the compliment by reminding the parish of their scholarship committee with her 4.0 GPA, her essay South Dixie Highway. tremendous achievement of paying off their five- and her community service work. Second place, a “Nancy was tenacious,” said Pratt. “She’d al- year mortgage in three. The sentimental moments of $1,000 scholarship, went to Anthony Allen-Reeves, ways find another person, or committee, or meeting nostalgia were lightened when Nancy concluded who has just completed his first year of college. to get our story heard. She would never get discour- with, “Don’t worry; I’ll be around. You can’t get rid The other winners, who received lesser amounts, aged, never give up. The people of this parish owe of ‘Grandma’ that easily!” ■ ranging from $250 up, were: Muhammed I. Abdul- lah, Nathan Curry, Kenneth Carey, Dorothy Guil- laume, Danika Hillary, Shanicia Jackson, JaiQuilla Johnson, Shacoya Miller, Rashana Palmer, Shenequa Pinder of the Diocese of Central Florida, who urged ald Sullivan, dedicated the church’s memorial garden Poole, Alfred L. Rahming, III, Vladimyr Sibera, the scholarship winners to have a purpose in life and in Reece’s name. Keesha Thomas and Terry Williams. to give back to the community. The committee that organizes the Reece Scholar- The event also honored community activist Sarah Key West city commissioner Clayton Lopez pre- ship Banquet includes 13 women who were men- “Tiny” Clarke Curry, who recently retired after 33 sented Scholarship Banquet Chair Marcia Sweeting- tored by Reece. Only two of them are still in Key years with Monroe County Social Services. The cri- Somersall with a plaque proclaiming Rev. Canon West, so the event is planned on a series of confer- teria for this honor include having worked with John Reece, Jr., Week in Key West. Reece was rector ence calls. Canon Reece in the church or the community, exem- of St. Peter’s for 25 years, and was also a champion “He [Reece] taught us so much that we never plifying his Christian ideals and continuing his work, of civil rights and education in the community. learned in school,” said Olatha Leggett, one of the especially in education and mentoring youth. St. Peter’s honored the memory of Canon Reece committee members. “This is how we give back. We The speaker for the banquet was Canon Nelson again on Sunday, Apr. 19, when the vicar, Dean Don- enjoy it. We want the children to succeed.” ■

The Net, June 2009 15 St. Mark’s inaugurates student exchange with school in San Pedro Sula, Honduras By Kelee Shilling

Students from St. Mark’s Episcopal School in Palm Beach Gardens and Holy Family Bilingual School, which is part of Our Little Roses Ministries in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, had an opportunity to experience each other’s cultures this spring in the two schools’ first student exchange program. On Feb. 27 the head of St. Mark’s Middle School, Donna Bradley, ac- companied six students to San Pedro Sula for their eight-day adventure. Photo by Donna Bradley The exchange with Holy Family Bilingual School in San Pedro Sula LEARNING TOGETHER was the idea of St. Mark’s rector, Fr. Exchange students from St. Mark’s Episcopal School, Palm Beach Jim Cook, and was a joint project of Gardens, join Honduran classmates for a history lesson at Holy St. Mark’s Church and School. Holy Family Bilingual School in San Pedro Sula, Honduars. Family was chosen as the exchange school because of the connection close connection project, to the girls at Our Little Roses home for or- between our diocese and Our Little Roses, a ministry phaned, abandoned and at-risk girls. founded and still administered by Diana Frade, the Since the exchange the St. Mark’s middle school wife of Bishop Leo Frade. In the past few years St. student council has also initiated a student “special Mark’s Church has organized several mission trips to dress day” to continue to raise funds for this Hon- Our Little Roses. duran ministry. During their time in Honduras eighth-graders Hai- During the first week of April, seven Honduran ley Cunningham, Andrew Michols, Kayla Morton, exchange students and two teachers from the Holy Jourdan Porter and seventh-graders Keaton Ingeman Family Bilingual School traveled to Palm Beach Gar- and Allison Wallace each lived with a host family dens. Their stay with host families gave them a Photo by Rick Esplen from Holy Family Bilingual School and attended chance to experience American lifestyles—from school every day. Each morning students partici- food, shopping and clothing, to visiting local tourist pated in Spanish immersion classes, and afternoons destinations, including Walt Disney World. READY TO SHARE were devoted to exploring San Pedro Sula and sur- Each day the students, dressed in school uniforms, Fr. Greg Mansfield is glad to have the boxes of attended St. Mark’s School with their teachers and medical supplies from St. Mary’s Hospital ready for rounding areas such as the Mayan ruins in Copan. shipment to Sudan. Students observed the everyday lifestyles of social participated in lessons. The Honduran students spoke classes from the wealthy to the poor, which gave English very well, but were glad to speak their native them an understanding of the challenges in this re- language while assisting St. Mark’s lower school gion. Spanish classes during the week. “This exchange offered a unique and possibly life One of the exchange teachers, Odilia Alvarado, Hospital chaplain changing opportunity for St. Mark’s students as well said that her favorite part of the exchange was what as a chance to build the relationship between our two she learned from her visit to St. Mark’s and the in- facilitates donation schools,” said Bradley. “Our students returned with a structional ideas and materials she would take back to better understanding of daily life in Central America her colleagues. She is in her second year of teaching of medical supplies and an appreciation for the life as they know it here at Holy Family. in the United States.” Both St. Mark’s students and their Honduran peers As students shared their experiences in this devel- have a sense of new-found friendship and gratitude for use in Sudan oping region, they developed not only an awareness for each other’s communities. of divergent cultures and global issues, but also the “The exchange program was a success, and I have Nurses, doctors and hospital staff cheered as an inspiration for global service. Students carried suit- hopes for its expansion in the future,” Bradley said. ■ 18-wheeler on a mission backed onto the loading cases full of donated clothing, undergarments, and Kelee Shilling is the development assistant at St. dock of St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm socks, the result of a middle school service league Mark’s Episcopal School, Palm Beach Gardens. Beach early on the morning of May 30. Seven pallets of medical supplies worth over $140,000 were waiting to be shipped to healthcare facilities in the Sudan. The shipment was the culmination of efforts by Fr. Gregory Mansfield, the full-time trauma chaplain at and so will we.” Bishop Leo Frade and Archdeacon Tom Bruttell St. Mary’s, to make sure that unused medical supplies The medical supplies were items that nurses and were enthusiastic about Mansfield’s plan and helped from the hospital would go to medical facilities in other hospital staff rescued from being thrown out. him connect with other agencies. The donation be- third world countries. Mansfield sees this as part of Items saved for donation included blood transfusion came part of a cooperative effort of the hospital, the the Church’s commitment to the Millennium Devel- sets, trach tubes, infant monitoring devices, wound Presbyterian Church, the Episcopal Church, Wal- opment Goals. dressings, catheters, needles, syringes, and surgical Mart Corporation, Project C.U.R.E., Q-Med, and the “Some say the MDGs are replacing our primary blades. Medical Benevolence Foundation. call to spread the Gospel with a set of secular goals,” It all began when hospital lab director Rick Esplen According to Mansfield, “If our work with the said Mansfield. “But it’s not enough to tell people read about how unused supplies were often sent to MDGs isn't supported by prayer and part of our that God loves them. We must show them God’s medical missions. A number of the hospital’s nurses Gospel imperative, then we might as well pack up our love.” and physicians had been on medical missions in Haiti tents, because we have nothing to offer that the world As a trauma chaplain Mansfield strives to do both and Bolivia and they knew these items could be used. can't get somewhere else. As Episcopalians we under- under often difficult circumstances. “If we throw our- Esplen and hospital COO Scott Manis began arrang- stand that God's will is to restore all people to unity selves into the work of getting face to face with those ing for collection and storage of items at St. Mary’s. with God and each other in Christ—that will, God’s in greatest need and watch the healing power of When the storage areas were filled they turned to dream, must be the center of our lives. The MDGs are Christ emerge, then the Gospel will be spread and Mansfield, who shared with them how Episcopal Re- a vehicle for doing that, a vehicle that links our ef- take root in ways more powerful than any pamphlet lief & Development’s primary health care programs forts not only with God's dream, but with the efforts ■ or sermon can. And people will learn who Christ is, are set up to strengthen communities by helping chil- and dreams of all humanity.” dren and families.

16 The Net, June 2009