The Committee began to meet this past summer in order to start the preparation of this year’s report. References to "Southeast Florida" in this report refer to the geographic boundaries defined by our diocese. John Cox, a member of this committee, assisted the rest of us with the review of information provided by the 1999 Parochial Reports that parishes submitted to the diocese. We used two other primary sources of information. We reviewed information contained in the 1999 Profile of the Diocese which was prepared by the Search Committee for the Third Bishop of The Diocese of Southeast Florida. We also used a report prepared for the diocese by Percept. Percept is a company that specializes in providing information about demographics to church organizations. The Percept report includes statistical data about population concentration and growth predictions, population lifestyle diversity, and survey information such as what people say they are looking for when they decide to join a church.

The numbers in this year’s report have not changed very much since the 1998 report. The story that the numbers tell is not one that most people would consider being a successful story about the state of the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Southeast Florida--at least not in terms of the statistical information.

There are presently 81 parishes in the diocese. There were slightly fewer parishes in 1969. In 1969 we had 42,200 baptized members in the Diocese. We now have 36,377 baptized members according to the 1999 Parochial Reports. In other words, our current membership is only about 86% of what it was in 1969. Last year our baptized membership increased by about 600. Average Sunday attendance is about 40% or 14,840. The number of communicants in good standing also reflects a slight increase since last year. Communicants in good standing rose from 27,412 to 28,922. We had 28,393 communicants 10 years ago!

The time period from 1969 to today, as everyone knows, has also been a time when the number of people in the area where we serve has more than doubled. There were 2.4 million people in 1969. There are more than five million people in southeast Florida today.

Not only has there been a dramatic change in size of the population but there has also been a dramatic change in the ethnic, cultural and economic diversity since we became a diocese. This change is fairly consistent throughout the entire diocese. The population has changed in almost every way. It is a totally different place and the "faces" of the population are totally different. If someone who lived here in 1970 were to come back after 30 years of being away, they would not recognize southeast Florida. We have a more diverse culture as a result of people moving here from other countries, and a more diverse population as a result of people coming here as permanent residents from other sections of the United States. We have abject poverty, increasing drug addiction and abuse, a frightening amount of violence and a significant increase in the number of single parents. There has also been a significant increase in the number of retired people and young families.

Percept recognizes 50 lifestyle classifications in preparing their reports. They report 49 different lifestyles present across our diocese (I don’t know what the other one is, but it’s probably here somewhere or will be shortly). Our racial/ethnic diversity is about 49% Anglo, 17% African-American (Percept’s classification), 32% Hispanic and 2% Asian. The Asian segment of our population is projected to be the largest percentage increase (although not the largest number of people) in the next five years. Southeast Florida has always been thought to be a place that is dominated by retired people. Percept tells us that our retired population-slightly more than 20%- is only 5% higher than the national average! Almost 50% of our population is still in the work force and more than 43% of our population is under the age of 40. Do our church programs reflect this change from an older population to a younger population? Does the worship service in your church speak to your young people? How many clergy do we have under the age of 40? How many Lay Delegates are under 40? How many canonically qualified youth are delegates?

The face of the population has not only changed in terms of where people are from, what they do for a living and what age group they belong to, but the population has also changed in terms of where people live. In 1969, I-95 was little more than a dotted line on the map, with segments here and there. The Florida Turnpike was almost a new road. Most of the population was concentrated along the Intra-coastal Waterway. The area west of the I-95 and the Florida Turnpike was primarily undeveloped swampland and farmland. People now live where the snakes and alligators used to live. I remember a conversation that I had with a woman in one of the North Palm Beach deanery churches in 1985 just prior to going to seminary. She asked me where I lived. I told her that I lived a few miles west of the Turnpike in an area known as Wellington. "Where’s that?" she asked. "Why do you live so far from everything?"... "Far from where?"

Sadly, we have not started very many new congregations in areas where a lot of these changes have taken place in the Diocese. Nor have we started congregations that reflect the lifestyle of the people who live in these areas. How many new congregations have we planted in all of the new communities in our area in the past 10-15 years? Of the ones that we have started; have we put them where the people live or have we hidden them where they are hard to find? Do we develop facilities that tend to fit into the community? Do these facilities speak to the people who live in these areas? Or do we do just enough to get by and get the lights turned on?

Do we, as a diocese, really want new congregations? Are you willing to transfer members and dollars from your congregation to a new congregation in your "franchise" area? Are these members the "movers and shakers" or are they members you would just as soon leave your parish anyway? New congregations need good people! That will cost you. Think about it, because it is an important question.

So here we are, my friends and fellow Episcopalians. The 31^st Annual Convention of the Diocese of Southeast Florida. I have given you the statistics. They come from three different and independent sources and they tend to affirm each other. Numerically at least, not much has changed since we were here last year or ten years earlier, for that matter. At best it appears that we have remained static.

But a more important question at this time is: Have we really remained static in spite of the fact that the size of the Diocese has remained static? Certainly, if numbers make up the only story then this is not a good State of the Church day. However, numbers alone can be misleading. They are merely a part of the story. Numbers are signs and symbols. They either tell a story of despair or they tell a story of hope. Numbers are indicators. They point to something and provide information that can either be used or ignored.

We believe that much has changed since last year’s report. People are not negative, but rather they are positive. The Search Committee, in putting together the diocesan profile, heard people of this diocese speak of renewed hope, enthusiasm, commitment, and vision. More than 85% of you are excited about the future of our diocese. You’ve said that you want to develop new congregations, support existing congregations, create excellent programs for our young people and develop a more meaningful ministry to the poor.

The statistical data that we have presented and that has been presented in the past does tell a story. It is a story of God’s call to us as disciples and as committed Christians. It is not a story of failure; it is a story of opportunity! It can either entice us back to what used to be, the so-called "good old days" or propel us into what can be, a new vision for our church that can become a reality. The statistics tell us that the "harvest is plentiful" if we will only go into the fields.

We have a new bishop. Bishop Frade was elected because he is committed to vision, evangelism, growth and a sense of shared ministry and unity. You and I are sitting at the starting gate of an exciting and challenging new time in the life of our diocese.

The members of the State of the Church Committee believe that our past 31 years have been an important and necessary time of preparation of the next 31 years. This is not a time to lament our present state but to celebrate what God has done, is doing and will do in the future.

In a sense, this year’s State of the Church report is a "graduation ceremony." It is a time of transition from one stage of our growth to another. We need to celebrate our past years so that we can be prepared for our future years.

We would like to celebrate the many ways that the "Good News" is being preached by us now and lived out in our diocese. This is a way of recognizing all that we have accomplished in the past and all of the resources that we have to "Go Forth" into the future. We would like to celebrate the many ways that we are now living out our Baptismal Vows and God’s call to us to be His disciples in a world that so desperately needs the hope, joy and love of Our Lord.

The members of the State of the Church Committee have selected Frs. Bill Hamilton and Gabe Sinisi to present to you a Celebration of some of the many ministries in the Diocese of Southeast Florida.

(Fr. Bill Hamilton and Fr. Gabe Sinisi) Last year Fr. Pittenger referred us to the great commission in Matthew 28: 18-20. "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age." He also reminded us of the premise of Archbishop William Temple regarding the Church’s being "the only organization in the world that exists to serve the needs of those who are not yet its members". And we are in complete agreement with the statement made in last year s report: "When it comes to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His Church there just simply is no no-growth option".

(Fr. Hamilton) You know, Father, William Barclay tells of a legend about when Jesus went back into heaven after His time on earth. Even in heaven He bore upon Him the marks of suffering and the cross. One day when the angel Gabriel said to Him, "Master, you have suffered terribly for men down there." "I did," said Jesus. "And", said Gabriel, "do they know about how you love them and what you did for them?" "Oh, no", said Jesus, "not yet. Just now only a few people in Palestine know." "What have you done", said Gabriel, "to let everyone know about it?" Jesus said, "I asked Peter and James and John and a few others to make it the business of their lives to tell others about me, and the others still others, and yet others, until the farthest man on the widest circle knows about what I have done." Gabriel looked very doubtful, for Gabriel knew well what poor stuff men were made of. "Yes", he said, ‘but what if Peter and James and John grow tired? What if the people who come after them forget? What if way down in the twenty- first century people just don’t tell others about you? Haven’t you made other plans?" And Jesus answered: "I haven’t made any other plans; I’m counting on them." The Church is the Body of Christ. The complement of Christ means that Jesus is counting on us, you and me.

(Fr. Sinisi) We can show you where our congregations are planning for growth and are in the midst of feeling the pains of new life now. The next few pictures that you see are real evidence of growth. We celebrate with our sisters and brothers in their new life.

Along with the visible signs of growth, the standards that should be used for this kind of examination are those that our Lord Jesus Christ himself gave to us. Jesus provides the ideal standard of measurement by giving us the two great commandments in Matthew 22: 37-40: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets." Are we, in the Diocese of Southeast Florida loving God with our hearts, souls and minds? And do we love our neighbors as ourselves? How do we express that love? This sub-committee proposes that this diocese is a community that loves the Lord and our neighbors. Again referring to the words of Our Savior, "If you love me, keep my commandments", this committee believes that we in the Diocese of Southeast Florida demonstrate a sincere desire to follow the commandments of Jesus Christ. We feel that this is a place where love of neighbor in the midst of much diversity is exercised openly and very intentionally.

We are intentional about worship, outreach, youth and senior ministries. We also encourage and support various ministries relating to personal and spiritual growth for laity as well as clergy in the diocesan school and religious orders and organizations within our diocese. All is carried out in a community of faith that is interested in reaching out to all nations in love, evangelism and mission. Four major concerns are outlined in our diocesan plan as the focus of the Planning Committee’s work. Let’s explore how these four concerns are being addressed.

1. WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN EPISCOPALIAN: TEACH US.

We have held up our children and youth in many ways in the parishes with special worship programs, Sunday schools and activities and parish schools. And of course this year we welcome Fr. Reginald Payne-Wiens who will bring a new dimension to our diocesan youth programs. Religious education and spiritual growth must be never ending components of everyone’s spiritual journey. At this convention there is a conference, for those able to attend, on various educational programs available to us. We have EFM, DOCC, Godly Play and Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, to name a few. We have many parishes using programs such as Alpha and Faith Seeking Journey, as well as the regular use by our members of our own Diocesan School. Cursillo, Kairos and Happening are strong. They help draw us together in learning and service as a diocese. Spiritual direction is available as well as religious orders such as the Religious of the Holy Spirit, Society of St. Francis, Daughters of the King, Brotherhood of St. Andrew and Society of St. Andrew. ECW is also alive and well in Southeast Florida.

2. WE WANT TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO MEET THE HUMAN NEEDS AROUND US: OPEN OUR EYES AND OUR HEARTS.

Help for the aged, ill, needy and abused of our society is provided at the parish level by various means including healing services, visits to the sick, food for the needy and support with time, talent and treasure of shelters and residences for the elderly. Many parishes share their facilities with groups such as A.A., Al-Anon and others. There is active clergy and lay participation in Hospice programs throughout this diocese. At the level of the diocese there is an active AIDS ministry. The Bishop Gray Inn provides residential and skilled nursing facilities for the aged, some of whom receive scholarships to help with costs. There are diocesan programs to eliminate racism and promote justice and reconciliation, to help in crisis and disaster situations and to deal with the abuse of alcohol and other drugs. Many parishes of our diocese, as well as those of other faith traditions, participate in our Jubilee Ministries which have achieved recognition at the national level: Seafarer’s House, Broward County, ministers to the needs of those who make their livings at sea far away from home and family. St. Laurence Chapel, Broward County, provides for the needs of those with mental illness. The program at Holy Cross, Miami, attempts to help refugees and immigrants. Cooperative efforts by three parishes in Broward County care for the needy through St. John s in Hollywood. There is also a Tri-Parish Council in West Palm Beach conducting ministry to the needy. Holy Comforter, Miami, offers childcare to needy working parents. A number of parishes, as well as the Palm Beach Department of Education, cooperate to provide for the needs of young people at St. George’s in Riviera Beach.

3.WE WANT TO KNOW HOW TO GROW AND BRING OTHERS TO CHRIST: EMPOWER US.

A smorgasbord of worship styles, languages and services bears witness to our openness and inclusivity. In the diocese of Southeast Florida, often within the same service in the same parish, one can experience the gift of tongues in English, Spanish, French, Creole and Portuguese, just to name a few. The ministry of movement is alive and well in the use of processions, streamers and liturgical dance. It is evident that the Diocese of Southeast Florida under the episcopate of Bishop Calvin Schofield is well on its way to becoming an open and inclusive community that thrives on diversity. A strong desire to grow and spread the good news of God in Christ is most evident. This could not be expressed more succinctly than in the election of Bishop Leo Frade, a missionary bishop, to continue to lead us in a way that invites all of God s children to come to Christ through the Episcopal Church. In Southeast Florida we really do mean what our Episcopal Church signs say: The Episcopal Church Welcomes You.

3. WE WANT TO EXPLORE BETTER WAYS TO COMMUNICATE AMONG OURSELVES AND WITH THE SECULAR WORLD: OPEN OUR MOUTHS.

It is apparent that more parishes have been getting on board with Internet capabilities and e-mail addresses. The Net, an award winning bi-monthly publication, and the monthly Grapevine sent to parish and committee key personnel are excellent communication tools. Hiring a full-time communications officer certainly indicates the level of importance placed on this concern by the administration of this diocese. This convention gives testimony to our willingness to learn and our desire to apply cutting edge technology to the way we go about the business of living out the Great Commission.

A simple principle of biology informs us that there can be no life without growth. Here in the Diocese of Southeast Florida we have ample opportunity to grow in grace and in numbers and to live out the gospel. So we must continue to rise to the challenges we have set before ourselves. We, as a diocese, are diminished whenever we fail to acknowledge the powerful ministry practiced by the lay order. Deacons, priests, bishops and laity all must live into a model of Church where there is one ministry, the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ, shared by everyone and expressed by each according to the order to which they belong. While each order is distinct, none is greater or lesser than another.

This is a diocese rich in its diversity. This committee contends that it is up to each one of us to make every effort to experience this as a gift and an opportunity to celebrate. Each of us must come to the knowledge that we cannot contribute to the advancement of the kingdom of God, where there is no Jew and no Greek, no master and no slave, no male and no female, if we decide to categorize and exclude ourselves from participation in the work of the whole. Reconciliation and forgiveness must be at the fore, as we live more fully into our reality as the kingdom of God..We celebrate our past, which by the grace of God is rich with accomplishments. We acknowledge our weaknesses also, and repent of the sins we have committed against one another and against our covenant to be the Body of Christ in Southeast Florida. As a Diocese of the Episcopal Church we are ready to continue learning with open hearts and minds, empowered to preach the good news of the Risen Christ in word and in action to all the nations.

(Fr. Dexter Kessler) As we prepare to close, we’d like to recall a Gospel reading that we all heard a few weeks ago. It is from the 9^th chapter of Mark:...

Mark 9:33-40

This is Jesus’ answer to what the church often refers to as parochialism. I do my thing; you do yours. Let’s see who wins!

In Matthew, Jesus tells his disciples to become like a child. However; in Mark he tells them to receive the child into their midst..their "closed circle". As everyone knows, the Gospel of Mark is, among other things, a handbook of instruction on discipleship. Jesus is primarily concerned with teaching those whom he has called what it means to be a disciple and how to go about the business of being a disciple. In this story he admonishes them for shutting down the ministry of someone who is not part of their so-called "inner circle". Their concern is "who is greatest". His concern is who will help me bring about "the Kingdom"?

The child in this story represents new Christians, those seeking to be followers and disciples of Christ, those who are different in culture, color or lifestyle, those who are new to discipleship and to the community. The child in this story is you and it is me! We are all new to the Kingdom of God! The issue in this story is not that the person they rejected was not following Jesus but that he was not following the Twelve. He was new. He was different. He was a different color, came from a different culture and had different ideas than they had. Instead of being encouraged and nurtured and seen as someone who could contribute to their mission; he was criticized; discriminated against and rejected. Mark doesn’t tell us what happened to this person. He probably left the "church". The child in this story is who we need to focus on if our dreams and visions are to become the reality that we all hope for because we need to learn to do things differently if we are to grow and do what God has called us to do. If we don’t, then the numbers next year and in the years to come will be about the same as they are this year. Bishops Duncan and Schofield have provided us with excellent leadership in the past. They have helped us build a foundation. They have given us a wonderful opportunity.

Bishop Frade, we look to you to teach us how to use this foundation and to move forward into a new phase of our ministry in the Diocese of Southeast Florida.

The report prepared for the diocese from Percept indicated that almost 3% of the population interviewed would choose the Episcopal Church if there was one located within 3-5 miles from their home. 50% of this group is under the age of 40 and many are single parents. What are they looking for, according to the interviews? They are looking for opportunities to develop their faith and they are looking for programs that focus on activities for the family. This report seems to indicate that, without any growth in the population, there are over 100,000 people out there who are interested in becoming members of the Episcopal church...and that is based just on the population today! Most of our area is expected to grow from 10%-25% over the next 5 years. It seems that the challenges and opportunities are clear. The Committee of the State of the Church would like to take this time to celebrate our shared ministry in the Diocese of Southeast Florida as a sign of our hopes and commitment to our new bishop. We would like to ask everyone to stand and turn to a table nearby, one where members of another church are seated. Please go over to them and thank them for their ministry in this diocese and, therefore, for their ministry to you. You see, they are probably the children in the story in your life and you are probably the child in their life.

Thank you for your time and your attention.

Respectfully submitted,

The State of the Church Committee.
31^st Annual Convention.
The Diocese of Southeast Florida.

The Rev. Dexter W. Kessler, Chair
The Very Rev. Gabe Sinisi, M.D., Spiritual Affairs, Sub-Chair
The Rev. William Hamilton, Material Affairs, Sub-Chair
The Rev. Mary Gray-Reeves, Editing and Proofreading
Mr. John Cox, Parochial Report Data
Mr. Tom Fleming, Power Point Assembly and Consulting
Ms. Ginger Butler
Lt. Col. Norman Carey
The Rev. Reginald Payne-Wiens
Ms. Debbie Self
The Rev. Cannon Suze Anne Silla
Ms. Verneka Silva
The Rev. Robert Taylor
The Rev. Dr. Williamson Taylor
Mr. Carlos Vargas