Episcopal Diocese of Florida

Diocese
name=Episcopal Diocese of Florida


province=Province IV
bishop=Samuel Johnson Howard
cathedral=St. John's Cathedral, Jacksonville
congregations= 77
subdivisions= regions
members= families
website= http://www.diocesefl.org/

The Episcopal Diocese of Florida is a diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America (ECUSA) which originally comprised the whole state of Florida, but is now bounded on the west by the Apalachicola River, on the north by the Georgia state line, on the east by the Atlantic Ocean and on the south by the northern boundaries of Volusia, Marion, and Citrus counties.

Major cities in the diocese are Jacksonville, Tallahassee and Gainesville. The diocese includes the eastern half of Franklin County, and all of the following counties: Liberty, Gadsden, Leon, Wakulla, Jefferson, Madison, Taylor, Hamilton, Suwannee, Dixie, Lafayette, Levy, Gilchrist, Columbia, Baker, Union, Bradford, Alachua, Nassau, Duval, St. Johns, Clay, Putnam and Flagler.

The diocese is a part of Province IV of the Episcopal Church. The current Diocesan Bishop of Florida is the Right Reverend Samuel Johnson Howard. The cathedral church of the diocese is St. John's Cathedral, Jacksonville. The diocese currently comprises 77 churches. [The Episcopal Church Annual (2007) Harrisburg: Morehouse Church Resources, pp. 359-361.]

History

The Episcopal Church in Florida began on January 17, 1838, with seven parishes, as follows:
*Christ Church, Pensacola,
*Christ Church (now Trinity), Apalachicola,
*St. John’s Church, Tallahassee,
*St. John’s Church (now St. John's Cathedral), Jacksonville,
*St. Joseph’s Church, St. Joseph,
*St. Paul’s Church, Key West and
*Trinity Parish, St. Augustine

The new diocese, then based in Tallahassee, wrote a constitution and rules of order which were submitted to the General Convention, which agreed “That the Diocese of Florida be received into union with the General Convention” on September 7th, 1838. [ [http://www.diocesefl.org/index.php?mod=customPage&id_pcon=12 Episcopal Diocese of Florida website: History] ]

With no resident Bishop and few clergy, however, the Diocese struggled. New churches were added, but the parishes had little connection to the Diocese because travel was difficult and there was little communication between the clergy. Their relative geographical locations posed a huge challenge. The distance between Key West and Pensacola is over 800 miles. Even today, that journey would take a full day on Interstate highways. Hard times also fell upon many parishes. By 1851, there were just 260 communicants in the entire diocese. Thankfully, with the election of the Rev. Francis Huger Rutledge, D.D. as Bishop of the Diocese of Florida in October, 1851, things began to change.

Bishop Rutledge worked tirelessly, visiting parishes, raising money, recruiting new clergy, and organizing the diocese into an effective organization. Florida was the third state to join the Confederacy in 1861, and in 1863, the annual convention adopted the Constitution and Cannons of the church in the Confederate States of America. The American Civil War took a terrible toll on the South and the Florida churches were in bad shape. Four had been burned, with the remainder neglected and in desperate need of repair. Most of the clergy had fled, funds were almost nonexistent, and the outlook was grim. At the Convention in 1866, it was decided to withdraw from the Confederacy and return to the Constitution and Cannons of the Episcopal Church in the United States.

Bishop Rutledge died in 1866, and a year later, the Reverend John Freeman Young became the second bishop of the diocese and the churches resumed their mission; however, life was a struggle. There was a long period of consolidation and slow growth as the diocese moved toward the end of the 19th century. Bishop Young traveled extensively throughout the diocese, but the trip from Jacksonville to Key West might take a month or more. In 1880, he reported "eleven churches built or in progress in one year." Bishop Young died in 1885 and the following year the Reverend Edwin Gardener Weed replaced him as Bishop of the Diocese of Florida. He oversaw continued growth and changes in the diocese as Florida continued to grow. It became apparent that the state must be divided, so the southern boundary of the diocese was fixed along the south county lines of Levy, Alachua, Putnam & St. Johns. The missionary jurisdiction of Southern Florida came into being when this was approved in 1892.

The newly defined Diocese of Florida consisted of thirteen parishes and forty-three missions with 2,636 communicants. Bishop Weed was living in St. Augustine at the time, but decided that Jacksonville should be the seat of the diocese, primarily because transportation was more readily available. An Episcopal residence was established in Jacksonville by 1895.

Bishop Weed's episcopate was difficult for the first ten years. Severe freezes in 1896 & 1897 destroyed most of the citrus industry in North Florida and the Great Fire of 1901 in Jacksonville left the diocese in dire financial straits. However, every parish and mission paid its assessments in full by 1902. In 1906, Bishop Weed reported that 33 clergy were serving more than 50 parishes and missions. Securing funds to support the diocese and pay clergy was always difficult. The Woman's Auxiliary became the major fund-raising organization for the church and was instrumental in keeping a number of churches "afloat" during the next twenty years. When Bishop Weed died in 1924, he was succeeded by the Right Reverend Frank Alexander Juhan. Bishop Juhan was consecrated at St. John's, Jacksonville in 1924. At the time, he was the youngest episcopate in the American Church.

While Bishop Weed was known as the "missionary" bishop; Bishop Juhan was notable for his interest in young people and college ministries. "Camp Weed" was acquired by the diocese in 1926 for use as the church's Summer camp, though not the same location as the current Camp Weed. Ministries were begun on the campuses of Florida State University and the University of Florida. The Diocese of Florida consisted of sixteen parishes and fifty-one missions in 1929. Jacksonville was home to Six parishes; no other city had more than one. Once again, the diocese, as well as the country, fell on hard times. The Wall Street Crash of 1929 and the Great Depression that followed hit Florida's churches hard; salaries were cut, people were laid off, parishes could not meet their obligations and missions floundered. Around 1935, the depression began to abate and the Diocese of Florida began to regain its congregational and financial health.

The centennial of the diocese in 1938 was celebrated quietly. Bishop Juhan laid out a comprehensive three-year plan of improvement and advancement. Through hard work by the clergy and laity, he reported in 1940, "that the diocese had definitely stepped forward during the last three years."

World War II added a tremendous amount of work for the clergy ministering to thousands of servicemen in Florida. Rationing and material shortages hindered diocesan activities, but the most serious problem was lack of clergy. Many had enlisted, and in 1943 the Bishop sadly reported: "Believe me when I say that I can get four new tires and four hundred pounds of beef tenderloin easier than I can get able clergy now." Despite all the problems, no church was forced to close during the war. In the ten years after the war ended, eleven missions became parishes and sixteen new missions were organized. The roster of clergy grew from 38 to 58 and church membership doubled.

On March 4, 1951, St. Johns Church in Jacksonville became St. John's Cathedral for the Diocese of Florida. The first diocesan house and bookstore were established, as was a retirement home for elderly women. Bishop Juhan retired at age 68 in 1956 with the knowledge that “all was well” in the Diocese of Florida. Reverend Edward Hamilton West became the chaplain in charge of student work at the University of Florida in 1936 and eventually was named Coadjutor to Bishop Juhan. The Right Reverend Edward Hamilton West became the Fifth Bishop of Florida on February 1st, 1956.

One of Bishop West’s goals was to establish more missions, which was only partially realized. He also formulated the Florida Plan, a stewardship program that never gained total acceptance in the diocese. Nevertheless, by 1961 there were more than 90 clergy, 15 new churches, 10 new missions and 13 new parish houses. In 1971, the Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast was formed and the Diocese of Florida lost 18 clergy, 9 parishes and 13 missions.

The late 1960s and early 1970s were turbulent years as the issues of the Vietnam War, Racial integration, and the introduction of the 1968 Book of Common Prayer led to divisiveness within individual congregations, throughout the diocese and the entire country. Bishop West was a courageous and firm supporter of church principles and policies through these difficult times. In spite of these problems, Episcopal High School of Jacksonville opened its doors and a new Diocesan House was constructed, all in 1971. Bishop West retired in 1974 and there were still obstacles to overcome, but his leadership had guided the diocese through a traumatic period of time.

Reverend Frank Stanley Cerveny was named Dean of St. John's Cathedral in 1972, then bishop-coadjutor in 1974. He was elected the sixth bishop of the Diocese of Florida in 1974. The diocese experienced a time of relative calm during Bishop Cerveny's episcopate. His emphasis was on evangelism and spiritual growth and the congregations responded with a renewed commitment to return to their spiritual "roots". While this was a time of rapid growth in south Florida, growth in the Diocese of Florida remained slow and steady. The Diocese of South Florida had grown so much that in 1970, it was divided into three Dioceses: Central Florida, Southeast Florida and Southwest Florida

By 1975, there were more than 110,000 baptized Episcopalians in south Florida while the Diocese of Florida could claim only 24,000 in 71 parishes. It was also an urban diocese with 15 parishes in the Jacksonville area. Camp Weed moved to its present location near Live Oak in 1975, and the facility began providing year-round services.

When Bishop Cerveny retired in 1993, the Right Reverend Stephen Hays Jecko was elected Bishop the following year. Bishop Jecko’s first seven years saw profound changes in the diocese. Jacksonville and northeast Florida experienced tremendous growth and a constantly changing demographic makeup in many churches. Old and new were mixing and sharing new ideas of worship, evangelism and community outreach. The healing process begun after the turbulent '70s era continued. Bishop Jecko led the diocese into a new century by welcoming all into a "vibrant Community of Faith." From the oldest parish in the state, Trinity Parish, St. Augustine, with fifty-three active ministries, to St. Francis in the Fields, a mission of Christ Church, Ponte Vedra, there was a sense of commitment to service that extends beyond church boundaries. Bishop Jecko had outlined an ambitious agenda for the diocese in the next ten years, including both evangelism and servanthood that should reach out to the homeless, prisons and inner-city, as well as programs of spiritual renewal, such as Cursillo, Discovery & Alpha.

In 2003, the Diocese of Florida had 14,000 households from 75 congregations in 25 northeast Florida counties. There were also 15 parochial schools. From 2005 the Diocese of Florida experienced the loss of many parishioners and clergy who left the Episcopal Church and joined various Anglican bodies around the world. Several of these churches formed what it is now known as the Anglican Alliance of North Florida [ [http://www.anglicanalliancenf.org/congregations.htm Anglican Alliance of North Florida] ] .

Camp Weed

The diocese held their first summer camp in June, 1924 near St. Augustine beach. The attendees were 40 children from the Young People’s service leagues in Jacksonville. The following year, camp was held on St. Andrew’s Bay near Panama City. The camp was successful and was given the name, "Camp Weed" in honor of the late Right Reverend Edwin Garner Weed, Third Bishop of Florida. The camp remained in Bay County and in 1929, the Diocese purchased 10 acres of land overlooking the bay, including a former hotel and 4 screened bungalows. The next year, the Diocese held more than one camp session for the first time. Church school teachers and leaders conducted their own program for 130 youngsters. Attendance had risen to nearly 400 by the start of World War II.

During the war, the US Army commandeered Camp Weed for training. The St. Joe Paper Company graciously offered beachfront property on St. James Bay, near St. Teresa. This property too, was seized for the war effort. During the four war years, Camp Weed operated from temporary quarters on the St. John’s River at Hibernia, home of the historic St. Margaret's Episcopal Church and Cemetery.

In 1946, the camp returned to the St. Teresa site, which now had barracks, a mess hall and offices which became dormitories, a dining room, a chapel, a recreation facility and a crafts center. The 1950's were the height of the Post-World War II baby boom and constant growth. The facilities were being used for a wide range of programs and meetings, but by 1970, several factors made relocation to a more central site imperative. In 1971, the Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast was formed and the Diocese of Florida lost 9 parishes and 13 missions in the panhandle. Camp Weed was no longer at the center of the diocese; it was on the western border.

The Diocesan convention authorized acquisition of a "centrally located site of adequate size" in 1976. The St. Teresa property was sold in 1978 and the current 500-acre site on White Lake near Live Oak was purchased. The first few years were spent in tents, with primative conditions more typical for Boy Scouts. The first permanent facilities were constructed in 1981 and gradually, swimming and recreation areas were built, roads were cleared and 7 cabins finished. In 1983, a new kitchen and dining room were added, and through the years, additional cabins, piers, a high quality conference center, spacious "motel" rooms, and a new swimming pool were added. In 1995, construction was completed on the beautiful "Mandi’s Chapel", used for religious services, weddings and devotionals. The "Varn Dining Hall", with a seating capacity of 300, was opened in 2004 as was the "Ravine", a new hotel pod with conference room. Finally, in 2006 the "Snell/McCarty Youth Pavilion" was dedicated, providing a gymnasium with a capacity of 500.

Bishops

The followings is a list of the Bishops of the Diocese of Florida:
*1. Francis Huger Rutledge 1851-1866 (deceased)
*2. John Freeman Young 1867-1885 (deceased)
*3. Edwin Gardner Weed 1886-1924 (deceased)
*4. Frank Alexander Juhan 1924-1956 (deceased)
*5. Edward Hamilton West 1956-1974 (deceased)
*6. Frank Stanley Cerveny 1974-1992
*7. Stephen Hays Jecko 1993-2004 (deceased)
*8. Samuel Johnson Howard 2004-

Parishes & missions

The table can be sorted by any column; left mouse click on the arrow box in the heading.

ee also

* St. Andrew's Episcopal Church (Jacksonville, Florida), the original church building, now home of the Jacksonville Historical Society.
* List of Succession of Bishops for the Episcopal Church, USA
*Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast
*Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida
* Episcopal Diocese of South Florida
*Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida
*Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida
*Episcopal Church in the United States of America
*Christianity
*Anglican Communion

Bibliography

* Cushman, Joseph D., Jr., "A Goodly Heritage: The Episcopal Church in Florida, 1821-1892", Gainesville: University of Florida Press, 1965

References

External links

* [http://www.diocesefl.org/ Episcopal Diocese of Florida website]
* [http://www.episcopalchurch.org/ Episcopal Church in the United States of America website]
* [http://www.saintjohnscathedral.org/ St. John’s Cathedral website]
* [http://www.campweed.net/ Camp Weed diocesan camp and conference center website]