Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida

Being the church: Convention focuses on mission

“We are the church!” The joyous shout of the young people in their presentation to the Thirty-third Annual Convention of our diocese on Oct. 19 captured the spirit of the day.

Delegates, clergy and guests came together at the Radisson Mart Plaza Hotel in Miami to tend to the business of the diocese, but the focus was plainly on the diocesan family and our mission of expanding it--being the church.

Speakers from Friday night’s preacher at the Convention Eucharist, Bishop Henry I. Louttit, Jr., of the Diocese of Georgia, to Bishops Leo Frade and James Ottley, Archdeacons-to-be Paul Rasmus and Bryan Hobbs, keynoter Susy Miller and Youth Commission President Erin Ferguson, all addressed the theme of how we are to live out our vision of being the church in this diocese.

“What is the church?” Bishop Louttit began his sermon, and offered this answer: “The church is the people God has called…to share his love…his forgiveness…” with people who are scared, hurting and dying.

We have to believe that there really are people in our communities who need to know Christ, and that the Episcopal Church has something vital to offer them, he said—and we also need to understand that when we invite these people in, things will change.

Speaking to Convention on Saturday morning, Bishop Frade advised delegates that “some of what you are about to hear you have heard before from me”.

“If some of you thought that perhaps I was going to change my tune, or that eventually I was going to change course in order to move towards the next issue in vogue for the church, well, I am sorry to disappoint you,” he said.

“I am as committed today as I was the first day you met me to work in what I am convinced is the mission that God wants for this diocese. I am as committed to the mission of transforming lives as I was when I spoke to you for the first time. I want us to be dedicated to continue our thrust to make this diocese totally committed to mission and to intentionally and aggressively proclaim Christ’s message to the world.”

As he reviewed the movement of the diocese over the past two years toward this mission, he asked Bishop Ottley and the two archdeacons each to speak briefly about his role as a member of the leadership team of the diocese.

In her keynote address, consultant Susy Miller spoke of what she has learned of our strengths and weaknesses, successes and failures, in her visits to churches and conversations with clergy, leaders and staff.

Saying, “I don’t just talk—we’ll talk together”, she paused at several points in her address and invited clergy, delegates and guests to discuss with others at their tables some of the questions she raised: Who do you need to open up to? Who is your neighbor? What causes resistance to change in your congregation? What new work is your congregation being called to do?

Our diocese, she said, is going to teach the rest of the church “how to live in this much more complicated, diverse, multi-textured world”.

We are challenged, “to model the hospitality of a Christ who stands there, arms out, saying, ‘There you are—I knew you’d come’”.

Music, balloons, a PowerPoint presentation—and a belated birthday celebration for Bishop Frade--
highlighted the youth presence at Convention.

Youth Commission President Erin Ferguson, from St. George’s, Riviera Beach, told delegates that “Youth ministry is alive and well”, and asked for continued support for diocesan, deanery and parish youth activities, so that more young people can be involved. "Walk with us, pray with us and assist us in achieving the vision of the youth ministry," he said.

Two youth-sponsored resolutions were approved: One, providing that any money in the diocesan Youth Budget not used in a given year should at the end of each year be donated to the Rev. Clegg Memorial Scholarship Fund, which provides assistance for young people to attend diocesan, provincial or national youth events; and another, asking that the bishop appoint a committee with representatives from each deanery to study the viability of a diocesan youth camp facility and report their findings to the 2003 Convention.

(Complete text of the Youth President's address)

Still looking outward, Convention also approved a resolution asking our bishops to request that General Convention authorize a national Haitian ministry project, and that this ministry be based at the Bishop Holly Center in Miami.

Convention Photo Album:
•	Being the Church: Convention Focuses on Mission
•	A Joyful Noise
•	The Convention Eucharist
•	More Scenes from Convention

updated 10/28/02

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