57 Annual
Convention
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The 57th Diocesan Convention will be held at the Charlotte Harbor Event and Conference Center on Friday, October 10, and Saturday, October 11, 2025. Friday will include a full day of learning with a plenary by Bishop Doug Scharf on the future of the diocese and four strategic planning sessions for attendees with national leaders. Saturday will include our Diocesan-wide Holy Eucharist and Convention Business Session. Convention registration will open on August 1, 2025.
Charlotte Harbor Event and Conference Center
75 Taylor St, Punta Gorda, FL 33950
Voting Members of Convention Update
We are looking forward to gathering with you in Punta Gorda again this year on October 10-11 for our 57th Annual Diocesan Convention. Thank you for offering yourself for this important work and for your steadfast commitment to our common life and shared mission. We are one body with many members. We offer a variety of gifts, yet we are bound together by one Spirit. Together we are One Diocese with One Future in Jesus Christ. This year’s convention will include some important changes that will allow us to spend more time focusing on mission and engaging in meaningful conversation about our strategic planning for the future.
Friday Schedule: Focused on Mission
The events on Friday will begin one hour later than in previous years, which will allow additional travel time for those driving longer distances. Registration will open at 9:00 am and the first session will begin at 10:00 am. We would like to emphasize that Friday’s events are open to everyone, not just voting members. I encourage you to invite members of your congregation to attend these dynamic workshops and fellowship opportunities. Our day together on Friday will begin with an opening presentation and conversation with me regarding the state of the diocese and our goals for the future. This opening plenary session will include important updates on our strategic plan and the adaptive challenges we are facing as a diocese. Friday afternoon will include a series of workshops focused on our four strategic pathways: Forming Disciples, Developing Leaders, Embracing Differences, and Transforming Communities. Our day will end with Evensong, followed by a time of fun and fellowship overlooking the beautiful Peace River.
Saturday Schedule: Rooted in Oneness
On Saturday morning, we will begin with Holy Eucharist. Moving the celebration of Holy Eucharist to Saturday morning will ensure greater participation and accessibility. Moreover, it is vitally important that we ground our work of governance in the oneness that is made manifest when we gather to partake of the one bread and one cup. The remainder of our time together on Saturday will include the usual elements of our convention business meetings.
Diocesan Elections: Opportunities to Serve
Every year, we elect new members of our various committees and commissions, which assist in the oversight and governance of our diocese. In addition to our usual annual elections, this is also a year when we will be choosing deputies to serve at the next General Convention of the Episcopal Church in 2027. We encourage you to prayerfully consider offering yourself to be nominated for one of these important leadership roles in the life of our diocese. In this time of renewed vision and strategic engagement, we need to draw upon the full variety of gifts that God has entrusted to our diocesan community.
Deanery Convocations: Preparing for Convention
One month prior to the Convention, we hold our convocation meetings. These meetings are mandatory for voting members of Convention. You will learn about the elections, resolutions, and budget information that you will be voting on at Convention. This is an extremely important part of your responsibility as a voting member and is also a great opportunity for fellowship with other lay and clergy delegates. Information regarding dates and locations of each convocation meeting can be found beside this letter.
Delegate Information
The Canons of the Diocese require the Bishop to prepare a "Preliminary Roster" for publication not later than 80 days prior to the Annual Convention. Amendments to the Preliminary Roster are permitted up to thirty (30) days prior to Convention. These rosters will be updated as changes are received.
For Clergy: All canonically resident clergy in the Diocese of Southwest Florida attend Annual Convention. Active, canonically-resident clergy in this Diocese who cannot attend a scheduled meeting of the Convention immediately shall inform the Bishop and provide the reason for the absence. Clergy canonically resident in this Diocese but who have retired from active service are not required to be present at the meetings of the Convention.
Changes to Lay Delegates/Alternates for Convention
Rectors/Vicars/Priests in Charge or Senior Wardens may make changes to their lay delegates/alternates by using the online link: https://tinyurl.com/2025DelegateChange. The 57th Convention will be held at the Charlotte Harbor Event Center in Punta Gorda on October 10 and 11.
The 2025 preliminary rosters of members of convention, including delegates, alternates, lay elected leaders, and clergy, are linked to the left. The final rosters, showing any changes made in the months leading up to convention, will be posted in mid-September.
Questions? Contact Beth Gentry Gould, Executive Assistant to Canon Norman, bgould@episcopalswfl.org.
For Laity: The Canons make provision for Lay Delegates to be appointed once the time for the Annual Meeting of the Congregation is past:
Canon I.4.c: Lay Delegates and Alternate Delegates who cannot attend a scheduled meeting of the Convention immediately shall inform the member of the clergy in charge of the Congregation and wardens of the Congregation so that a replacement may be selected.
Canon 1.5.a: The selection of Lay Delegates and Alternate Delegates to serve as Members of the Convention shall be made by the Congregation, unless otherwise specified by the bylaws of the Congregation. If the Congregation’s bylaws specify that selection is to be made by Congregational election, the electors must have the qualifications as set forth in Canon VII.
Questions? Email Beth Gentry Gould, Executive Assistant to the Canon to the Ordinary, at bgould@episcopalswfl.org.
Business Session Tips
On-Site Check-In Process
The annual business meeting of the diocese requires a separate registration process from Friday. We do this to differentiate “members of convention” (lay and clergy voting delegates) from all other attendees.
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Locate the check-in tables in the concourse of the conference center. Tables will be divided alphabetically. You will be handed your name tag and lunch tickets for Saturday. (no additional lunch tickets will be sold or available at the convention.) Your name tag will list your title (delegate, clergy, clergy spouse, visitor, etc.) and, if you are a voting member, will include your voting credentials.
Pages
As you enter Hibiscus Hall, a Floor Manager and Convention Pages will be on hand to direct you to your assigned seating area. We do this to ensure that only those who are entitled to vote are seated on the voting floor of Convention.
Speaking
Once the business meeting has begun, if you wish to speak at an appropriate time, please approach one of the two microphones on the convention floor and wait to be recognized by the chair. First state your name and congregation, and then make your comments, which are limited to three minutes. Then return to your seat. Convention works through the agenda, with scheduled breaks and a lunch period.
Elections
Votes will be taken throughout the day on a variety of issues. For some votes, you will asked to access our online voting system, VPOLL. Instructions to log into VPOLL can be found on page 7.
Resolutions
Per Diocesan Canon II, Section 4.b., a Resolutions Committee was appointed by Diocesan Council.
The Resolutions Committee is charged with ensuring that proposed resolutions coming before the Convention comply with the requirements of the Constitutions and Canons of The Episcopal Church and this Diocese, are not redundant, and are stated in clear and consistent language. The text of the resolutions and explanations of what they would do are available on the diocesan website and in this convention guidebook. Read the resolutions and the explanations, think about them, ask questions, and determine how you plan to vote.
Happening at Convention
Southern Deanery Convocations: Ft. Myers & Naples DeaneriesTue, Sep 02St. Monica's Episcopal Church
Northern Deanery Convocations: Tampa, St. Petersburg & Clearwater DeaneriesWed, Sep 03Grace Church Tampa Palms
Central Deanery Convocations: Manasota & Venice DeaneriesThu, Sep 04Church of the Holy Spirit