The First Step was a big one--the largest gathering of the diocesan family in the 31-year history of the Diocese of Southeast Florida. More than 1,100 people met on the campus of Saint Andrew's School in Boca Raton on Saturday, April 28, to hear Bishop Leo Frade outline his vision for the mission of the diocese, to respond to his ideas and to join in praise and fellowship together.

        The quilt design that inspired the poster for the event hung on the wall behind the podium. Designed by Mary Beth Wells of St. Paul's, Delray Beach, the quilt will eventually include fabric squares from every parish in the diocese--including the 19 new parishes that Bishop Frade is challenging us to grow over the next ten years. "We are beginning today...a work in progress, " said the Rev. Mary Gray-Reeves, co-chair of the ongoing visioning process, as she welcomed participants to the day's activities. "A quilt is a community effort...this is our metaphor."

        Bishop Suffragan John Said spoke first, giving a brief history of the diocese and an overview of present ministries. (Click here for the complete text of his talk.)

        The focus of Bishop Frade's address was a challenge to the people of the diocese "to fully undertake the mission of the church...to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ". This will take, he said, a commitment of  "the three T's--time talent and treasure"--and discarding a fourth T--"telepathy". "We have been mute evangelists," he said, "using telepathy as a means to invite people to our church."

        The group responded with enthusiastic applause to his calls for planting churches in the western part of the diocese, for recruiting persons of color--especially young persons--to the priesthood, for welcoming "all sorts and conditions of people" into the church and making worship more relevant to youth. He ended with the assurance that "God doesn't call the equipped--he equips those who are called...He will equip us and be with us along the way". (Click here for the full text of Bishop Frade's address.)

        After the bishop spoke, participants gathered in small groups to discuss their responses to some of the key points of his vision for the diocese--the Great Commission, the bishop as Chief Missionary, congregations and institutions as Missionary Outposts, increasing the number of congregations to 100 by 2010, "classic Anglicanism", "catholic structure", reaching out to the unchurched, welcoming "all sorts and conditions" of people, commitment to mission and transformed lives.

Conversation was thoughtful, intense and spirited.

"VIP" --Voices in Praise, a youth choir from Holy Sacrament,
offered contemporary gospel music, hip-hop and dance.

Before the closing Eucharist, quilter Mary Beth Wells presented the bishops with matching stoles made from the fabric that borders the quilt.

At the Eucharist, Bishop Frade told the group, "I believe that the Lord has blessed us today...we all together have something to offer, something that can transform the communities in which we live...We are the people of the resurrected and living God--let's go out and tell everyone!"  He urged participants to pause each day at noon to pray for the Church--for the diocese and out mission together, and for the bishops.

The offering from the Eucharist, which totaled more that $4,000, will go toward starting a ministry to Portuguese-speaking people in the diocese.

Bishop Said happily brought the offering from First Step back to diocesan comptroller
Cris Valdes to be counted and deposited.

   The conversation begun at "First Step" will continue with a clergy day on May 8,
and after that? Watch this Web site for updates!

"Amen! Amen! A-a-men, amen, amen!"

Click here for a thank-you from our bishops to all participants in the First Step conference.

Bishop Frade's Suggested Reading List

If you are using Explorer 5.5, View the PowerPoint Slides

Visit the First Step Photo Gallery