Reports to Convention
Bishop Gray Retirement Foundation, Inc.
The Bishop Gray Retirement Foundation’s financial assistance program continues to provide financial aid to low-income senior Episcopalians from the Southwest, Southeast, and Central Dioceses of Florida seeking help with the cost of retirement living and medical expenses. We do still gratefully receive donations from individuals and parishes from the three dioceses, as well as through estate charitable planned giving. The board of trustees would like to preserve the endowment fund as much as possible, using the income from investments for distributions. In 2025, we have supported 60 Episcopalians, living in retirement communities, assisted living, and senior facilities/apartments in the three dioceses, and approximately $760,000 will have been distributed for financial assistance mostly in the form of monthly housing grants. Sample Retirement/ALF/Senior Living Facilities housing BGR Foundation financial assistance recipients:
The Brookshire ALF, Melbourne Humani Court Apt., Lake Park
Colony Court Apt., Eustis Avana Palm Beach Gardens
Blue Palms Senior Living, Deland Groves of Delray, Delray Beach
Palm Valley, Oviedo Riverview House, Lake Worth
Orlando Lutheran Towers Windmill Farms, Homestead
Gulfstream Harbor, Orlando Sunny Point, Brooksville
Cascade Heights ALF, Longwood Pinellas Heights, Largo
Magnolia Towers, Orlando McCown Towers, Sarasota
The Bridge at Ocala ALF Woodlands Village ALF, Bradenton
Trinity Towers West, Melbourne Elison of Pinecrest ALF, Largo
St. Lucie Club, Stuart Hampton Point, Punta Gorda
Greengate Apt., W. Palm Beach Grand Reserve, Zephyrhills
Southbridge Condos, W. Palm Beach Palms of Belleair, Belleair Bluffs
Century Village Apt, W. Palm Beach Arbor Village, Sarasota
BGR Foundation Board of Trustees:
Southwest Diocese:
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The Rt. Rev. Dr. Douglas Scharf, President
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Dr. C. Thomas Gooding
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The Rev. Bill Moyers
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The Rev. Denise C. Healy
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Mr. Trevor Whitley
Southeast Diocese:
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The Rt. Rev. Peter Eaton
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Dr. Helen Bhagwandin
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Dr. Harlington “H” Hanna
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Ms. Barbara MacKenzie
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Mrs. Malvern V. Mathis
Central Diocese:
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The Rt. Rev. Dr. Justin Holcomb, VP
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Mr. Alexander C. Mackinnon, Secretary
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The Very Rev. Hugh McGlashon, Jr.
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The Rev. Kim Spear
Respectfully submitted,
Ginger Van Valkenburgh, Exec. Director
August 22, 2025
Chaplains to Retired Clergy/Spouses
Our diocese has 12 chaplains who provide pastoral care for approximately 300 retired clergy and 250 spouses. The chaplains are assigned regionally by deanery and under the direction of the Office of the Bishop. We provide pastoral care when needed, including during illnesses and at the time of death. Our focus is to connect retirees with a local congregation if they are not already part of one. In the spring, the bishop sponsors a well-attended annual Retired Clergy/ Spouse Day at DaySpring. The following is a sampling of our ministry: hospital visits, luncheons with clergy and spouses; mailing birthday cards and anniversary cards, attending funerals and following up with pastoral care as needed; phone calls - particularly to the ill and infirm, home visits--again to the sick and infirm, transportation on occasion. The Chaplains are: The Rev. Canon Chris and Paula Gray (Diocesan Chaplains), The Rev. John Hiers (Clearwater Deanery), The Rt. Rev. Barry and Mary Howe (St. Petersburg Deanery), The Rev. Jerry and Anne Stedal (Tampa Deanery), The Rev. Ted Copeland (Manasota Deanery), The Rev. Joyce and Jon Treppa (Venice Deanery), The Rev. Ken and Cheri McCaslin (Naples Deanery), and The Rev. Alan and Deborah Kelmereit (Ft. Myers Deanery).
The Rev. Canon Chris Gray
Cursillo Ministry
Cursillo is a Spanish word meaning “short course in Christian living”. It is an opportunity to gain
a deeper understanding of the teachings of Jesus and how we can serve Him and become
leaders in our parishes and communities. Attending a 3-day weekend is just the beginning of
living out our baptismal vows as we seek to bring others to Christ on our 4 th Day. The Diocese
held it’s first weekend in 1978 and this past year we celebrated a Back to the Mountain event at
Dayspring to celebrate 150 weekends and all those who have attended over the years. It was a
great day of renewing friendships from across the Diocese and planning for the future of
Cursillo.
We are now having 2 weekends per year with scheduled weekends into 2028. Both recent
weekends have been well attended with our September weekend coming up the end of
September. A weekend consists of 3 days at DaySpring with 15 talks and worship as a loving
community is formed. Ultreyas are events where cursillistas gather to further their walk with
Christ. There have been several well attended Ultreyas in the diocese and plans are in the
making for more Ultreyas. Anyone is welcome to attend an Ultreya.
Currently, our secretariat has been updating by-laws and policies and procedures. Our focus for
the coming year is to increase Cursillo community growth and participation on weekend teams
and sponsorship of new candidates to attend.
Our next weekend will be Feb 12 th through the 15 th with Mike Magnant as Lay Rector and Fr Alex
Andujar as Spiritual Director. For more information on the Cursillo ministry please go to our
website: cursilloswfla.org.
De Colores
Disciplinary Board
As of the 2023 Convention, the Rev. Joseph Hudson, the Rev. Barry Kubler and Mrs. Glenna Hileman retired from the Board with our gratitude for their service to our Diocese. During 2024, the Rev. Chester Trow stepped down from the Board for health reasons. He is in our prayers.
No disciplinary complaints remain open from prior years. As I submit this report, no complaints have been received by the Board during 2024.
The Board was pleased and grateful to receive training on Title IV of our Constitution and Canons by the Rt. Rev. Michael Hunn, Bishop of the Diocese of the Rio Grande. Thank you, Bishop Scharf, for arranging for us to receive this valued learning!
It is the Board’s mission to achieve healing, repentance, forgiveness, restitution, justice, amendment of life and reconciliation. I am grateful for the dedication of the current members of the Board:
Clergy Members – The Rev. Michael Alford, the Rev. Whitney Burton, the Rev. Marcella Drawdy and the Rev. Michael Rau.
Lay Members – Mr. Justin Miller, Dr. Edwin Ortiz and Mr. Ray Stoll.
Thanks also go out to the Rev. Peter Lane, our Intake Officer, for your service and leadership.
And thank you, Bishop Scharf, for your spiritual guidance and leadership throughout the year.
Robert Sawyer, Board President
Global Mission Advocate Network
In response to the Resolution A016 during the 80th General convention and which was reaffirmed during the most recent session, our Diocese of Southwest Florida is one among the many dioceses of the The Episcopal Church that has appointed and put in place a Global Mission Advocate (GMA). The purpose of establishing Global Mission Advocate Network is to ensure that the Episcopal Church remain committed to the spreading of the gospel and the furtherance of Christ’s mission of love and compassion in the world in a sustainable manner.
GMA Report 2024
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Zoom meeting attendance / Theme: Joining God’s Mission in Tension Times
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Zoom attendance: On Mission Companionship amidst War in the Holy Land by The Very Rev. Canon Chuck Robertson
GMA Report 2025
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In February 2025, a team from our diocese headed by Sherre Henley went for their 9th annual Medical Mission to Honduras caring for children in the neighborhood around “Our Little Roses” compound.
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Last part of February 2025, Fr Ray & Ning Bonoan, joined a Medical Mission team in the Ilocos Region in northern Philippines and provided care to 2,450 clients with medical, minor surgeries, dental, pediatrics, as well as pastoral care needs.
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On March 12, 2025, the Bonoans attended the installation of the Right Reverend Nestor Poltic as the 8th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church in the Philippines at the Cathedral of St Mary & St John in Quezon City, Philippines.
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On March 25, 2025, a Global Mission Conference by zoom was held with a theme that revolved around “integration, re-alignment & new structure”, with heavy discussions on Public Policy, Partnership and Witness. It also focused on: how the role of the GMAs are becoming more important than ever; global partnerships; ecumenical interreligious relations; Episcopal migration and the work of socially responsible investing
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The Rt Rev Lloyd Allen and the Diocese of Honduras hosted the GMA Conference in April 29 to May 2, 2025. Bill Kunkle, a member of our diocese, holds a national office as treasurer with our Global Episcopal Mission Network, will update us on this event.
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Conversations are ongoing with IFI Obispo Maximo, The Most Rev Joel Porlares and his program director regarding the call for youth/young adult exchange program between our TEC Diocese of Southwest Florida and the Philippine Independent Church (PIC), together with the ECP (Episcopal Church of the Philippines), and continued during the Council of Bishops and Executive Committee of the PIC (September 2025 in Los Angeles, California)
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“Living Our Baptismal Covenant: Ministry Against Human Trafficking” is a scheduled training/presentation, as well, for above council on September 10, 2025, by Fr. Ray Bonoan.
The Rev. Raynald Bonoan
Race and Reconciliation Committee
This was a positive year for the Race and Reconciliation Committee.
We again had our in-person planning meeting, with all other meetings being on Zoom.
Dismantling Racism Training was held in-person at St Catherine's of Alexandria, Temple Terrace, in March 2025, targeting participants from the Tampa Deanery. Dates for training in 2026 will be announced soon.
Based on feedback from attendees we are reassessing the training package and approach.
We partnered with St. Peter’s Cathedral and the Union of Black Episcopalians to host The Absalom Jones Celebration at the Cathedral in February 2025. The celebration began with a wonderful presentation on Soul Food, by noted author Adrian Miller. Following the Service of Holy Eucharist, we enjoyed a wonderful Soul Food supper.
We continue pursuing an offering a pilgrimage to Alabama in 2026.
We will be engaging with the Equal Justice Initiative and hope to place Memorial Markers at sites of lynchings within our diocese.
We are also working on ways to provide resources and support for parish initiative such as Sacred Ground and local racial justice work.
We are grateful for the members of our committee: Jennifer Scott-Jones, Ning Boanan, Mario Castro, Ayana Grady, Hillary Peete, Yamilet Roman.
Submitted by,
Kathy Schillreff and Tania Wilkes, co-chairs
Youth & Young Adult Visioning Committee
The Youth and Young Adult (YaYA) Visioning Committee has continued its work of supporting youth and young adult ministry across the Diocese, while also navigating a season of transition and growth. Since our committee was established in 2024, the diocesan structure for youth ministry has shifted. Following an interim period, the Bishop divided the former Director of Youth Ministries role into two positions: a full-time Camp and Outdoors Director serving under DaySpring, and a diocesan Missioner for Youth and Young Adult Ministries. The Visioning Committee now works closely with the Missioner to ensure youth and young adult ministry remains vibrant, connected, and forward-looking.
A significant development this year has been our commitment to gathering and equipping parish youth ministers. Two diocesan-wide Youth Worker Meetups were held, providing opportunities for visioning and connection. Beginning in 2026, these gatherings will become a regular rhythm three times annually:
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Late Summer: Visioning & Planning
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Winter: Sabbath & Fellowship
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Spring: Training & Equipping
The Visioning Committee has also embraced a refined role within a new tiered leadership model. In this structure, the YaYA Visioning Committee functions as:
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A direct support to the diocesan Missioner and diocesan-wide youth programming,
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A liaison body to diocesan steering committees that plan specific ministry opportunities,
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And an overseeing body for the soon-to-be-formed Diocesan Youth Council (DYC), which will give youth themselves a stronger voice in shaping ministry across the Diocese.
This evolving structure reflects our hope: that all young people in our Diocese experience a church that is connected, collaborative, and deeply committed to walking alongside them in faith.
Morgan Brownlee,
Missioner for Youth and Young Adult Ministry
Companion Diocese Committee
Our Companion Diocese relationship continues with the Dominican Episcopal Church though the Dominican Development Group (DDG), which celebrates its twenty-sixth anniversary this year. Our Executive Director, Christy Wallace, has a virtual office. Dominican staff assist in the logistics of mission planning, preparation, and execution, and support for more mission team efforts. Representatives from Companion Dioceses in the US are active participants.
In February, the DDG Board of Directors met in Santo Domingo. Board meetings are being held quarterly with hybrid options offered for the annual and mid-year meetings; others are virtual.
Board members visited the site of Iglesia de la Gracia in La Caleta, near Boca Chica. This partnership was initiated between Church of the Redeemer, St. John’s (Tampa), and St. James (Farmington, CT). In 2025, mission teams from these three churches have gone or are planning mission trips to complete this project and do other tasks, as needed.
Following the DDG Board meeting, members visited locations in and near San Pedro de Macoris, Bani and Nizao where we were able to see projects successfully completed by Tampa Deanery Teams over a twenty-year period. They included Colegio Episcopal San Esteban, Iglesia Santa Cruz. San Matias Primary School and Iglesia San Timoteo.
In early June, a Youth Mission Team of senior high students from St. John’s (Tampa) returned to Iglesia San Pedro y San Pablo in La Barquita, Santo Domingo for a week of Vacation Bible School plus painting and repairs.
St. John’s (Tampa) continues to support the Clinica Esperanza y Caridad, a medical clinic dedicated to bringing health services to the poor, in San Pedro de Macorís. We also visited that facility in February.
Sally Thompson, Treasurer, Board of Directors, DDG
813-760-5120 iPhone
Diocesan Association of Episcopal Schools
The Diocesan Association of Episcopal Schools (DAES) continued its important work in 2024–2025 with a January gathering at Dayspring Conference Center featuring The Rev. David A. Madison, D.Min., Executive Director of the National Association of Episcopal Schools. During the meeting, Rev. Madison outlined five key challenges and opportunities facing Episcopal schools today: clarifying Episcopal identity in the admissions process, promoting civil discourse in a polarized culture, grounding DEI work in our faith tradition, elevating and expanding the role of school chaplaincy, and reimagining schools' roles within the evolving “mixed ecology” of the church.
Discussions emphasized the importance of linking spiritual formation to educational practice, fostering inclusive communities rooted in justice and peace, and addressing emerging issues such as AI and student well-being through a theological lens. A consistent theme throughout was the call to be unapologetically Episcopal while remaining open and welcoming to all.
DAES continues to provide church and school leaders with a supportive network rooted in Episcopal ethos, collegial collaboration, resource sharing, and professional development. The next meeting will take place this fall at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church and Day School (date/time forthcoming) and will feature FCIS Executive Director Dr. Barbara Hodges as guest speaker.
Steve Salvo
Head of School
St. Mary’s Episcopal Day School
813-258-5508
steve.salvo@smeds.org
Commission on Ministry (COM)
Members of the Commission on Ministry (COM) are Lay Persons, Priests, and Deacons, who serve the church at the pleasure of the Bishop. Serving as Ex-Officio members are the Canon to the Ordinary, the Dean of the School for Ministry, the Diocesan Coordinator for Hispanic & Latino Formation, and an appointed Standing Committee liaison. In conjunction with the Standing Committee, the Canon to the Ordinary, the Office of the Bishop, congregations, aspirants, postulants, and candidates, members of the COM work to create an environment of prayerful discernment. Each member of the COM is assigned as a liaison to those in the discernment process, beginning with the time a person seeks to form a Discernment Group.
The COM has gathered monthly in person or via zoom for ten committee meetings per year, Bishops Advisory Panel (BAP) Interviews, and Vocation Information Evenings to conduct the business of interviewing and listening with those who are discerning their call. This year has come with some change as we begin to expand the function of COM to include processes for the licensing of laity and the formation of retreats to support our BAP interviews and those continuing the journey of deeper formation. We have also adjusted to a yearly Vocation Information Day in the hopes of allowing greater opportunity of sharing and listening, as well as accessibility. We look forward to continuing to serve all those who seek to live out their ministry.
Christina Vasquez, Co-Chair
Diocesan Altar Guild
The Diocesan Altar Guild is the central organization that gives each church access to ongoing training and encouragement as they serve the churches and ultimately the Bishop. We offer help on the Diocesan level to the Bishop for major events such as Convention. We held three meetings in 2025.
This year we look forward to serving Bishop Scharf and preparing for the Evensong and Convention Eucharist, which will be live in Punta Gorda.
A major highlight will be to provide the Liturgical Exchange Tables at Convention. This very popular event provides a chance for churches to offer items they no longer use and perhaps find something they need. No money changes hands. We offer wonderful, beautiful items as well as excess vestments like albs,
Cassocks and clergy shirts.
We also collect at Convention the small linens like worn purificators. These are later de-consecrated and burned. Those ashes are scattered near St. Thomas Chapel at DaySpring.
We are an excellent resource regarding candles, ironing, laundry, vestments, silver care and training. Each church has its own personality but Altar Guild is always present, and this is a beloved ministry.
Kate Johnson, Coordinator
Daughters of the King
Daughters of the King are women and girls between the ages of seven and one hundred and seven who desire a closer walk with the Lord. We are Christian women, both lay and ordained, who are strengthened through the discipline of a Rule of Life and supported through the companionship of our sisters. We are all at different stages of our Christian journey – some have just begun, and some have been on this path for a long time. But no matter where we are on our sacred journeys, our primary goal is the same – to know Jesus Christ and to make Him known to others. We don’t just enroll as members and attend meetings. After a three-month period of study and discernment, each new member takes vows to uphold the two Rules of The Order: the Rule of Prayer and the Rule of Service and Evangelism. A Rule of Life is a self-imposed spiritual discipline practiced daily by an individual. It includes regular and seasonal devotions, both private and public, and is a commitment intelligently and prayerfully considered. A Rule of Life sets apart an order from other church organizations. Daughters who attend parishes that do not have a chapter are able to maintain their Rule of Life and membership as Daughters by becoming Daughters-at-Large.
The Daughters of the King hold two Southwest Florida Diocesan Assemblies each year; one at DaySpring in the Spring and the other at a Church in a different deanery in the Diocese in the fall. The Retreats have guest speakers bringing an uplifting, renewing message to our Daughters as food and strength for the journey.
The Diocese of Southwest Florida has over 40 chapters of the Order of the Daughters of the King.
If you are interested in starting a chapter in your church, please contact Jackie Smith at jlsmith1211@icloud.com or 216.337.7615.
Hispanic/Latino Ministry
The Hispanic and Latino Ministry of the Diocese of SW Florida advises Bishop Douglas Scharf on the needs of Spanish speakers throughout the diocese. It offers support to 6 worshipping communities, St. Francis of Assisi in Tampa, St. Vincent’s in St. Petersburg, St. Mary’s in Palmetto, Church of the Redeemer in Sarasota, St. Monica’s in Naples, and All Souls Episcopal Church in Ft. Myers. It represents people from every Latin American and Spanish-speaking Caribbean nation.
Over the past year, the ministry underwent two significant changes. First, the Rev. Alexander Andujar transitioned from his role as Coordinator for Hispanic and Latino Ministry formation to coordinating Hispanic and Latino ministry for the whole diocese. Second, Bishop Douglas Scharf welcomed the Rt. Rev. Maria Griselda, retired Bishop of the Diocese of Cuba, as the assisting bishop of the diocese for Hispanic and Latino Ministry. She will work alongside Bishop Scharf, supported by Rev. Andujar to serve the pastoral and liturgical needs of congregations here and in the Diocese of Central Florida under the supervision of Bishop Justin Holcomb.
This past year also saw the Hispanic and Latino Ministry change its annual Salt and Light (Sal y Luz) Conference to Agua y Palabra (Water and the Word) so that the Spanish-speaking community can integrate the groundbreaking work in areas of vision and mission being created by the Bishop’s annual Water and the Word conference. Looking ahead, the Hispanic and Latino Ministry of the Diocese hopes to grow our current congregations through mission and outreach to their local communities while creating new connections with the wider Church and the world.
If you would like to know more about the Hispanic and Latino Ministry of the Diocese, don't hesitate to get in touch with the Rev. Alex Andujar at aandujar@episcopalswfl.org.
School for Ministry
The completion of the 2024 Epiphany Term marked a significant milestone for the School for Ministry as we “graduated” our first on-site cohort and our first lay preaching student since becoming part of the Iona Collaborative. The feedback we received from the students confirmed our belief that the overnight, weekend-long (Friday night through worship on Sunday morning) model provides and effective environment for cohort learning and fellowship.
The collaborative continues to grow with more than thirty-eight Episcopal and Anglican dioceses throughout the world now participating as members. The collaborative supports local formation through both clergy and lay tracks. It also supports continuing education needs by providing graduates from our programs an opportunity to take courses in the Bi-vocational Ministry Program which is specifically designed to support the ongoing educational needs of bi-vocation deacons and priests. The collaborative also has programs for bi-vocational congregations.
For the 2024-2025 term, the school will continue to utilize the facilities at the Dayspring Conference Center for both classroom meetings and overnight accommodations for the student cohort.
Local clergy will continue to provide the in-person facilitation that supplements the video and written materials provided by the collaborative. This in-person component is important as it gives the students opportunities to discuss the materials and ask questions.
Our local program continues to expand as we further explore ways to incorporate lay and clergy formation to serve the needs of our diocesan congregations.
The Rev. Scott Nonken, Dean
The Standing Committee
The Standing Committee acts as the Council of advice and consent for the Bishop. We have two regular responsibilities. One is to be the body that gives final approval to candidates for ordination, usually requiring one or two personal interviews in close consultation with the Commission on Ministry. The other is to provide consent to other Dioceses when they elect a Bishop; because Bishops are elected for the whole church, the majority of Standing Committees and Bishops must consent to any election. In addition to those regular duties, we also take council with the Bishop on any matter he brings before us, including property discussions, strategic visioning, clergy discipline, DaySpring matters, and more.
This year, the Standing Committee worked closely with the Bishop and the Commission on Ministry to reimagine the Discernment Process. The challenge we faced was a lack of consistency about when people entered the process, which created an irregular churn of repetitious work for both the Standing Committee and the Commission on Ministry. With the Bishop's vision, we drafted a cycle that will smooth out and clarify the process for all involved. Of particular importance to this work will be the need for Rectors and priests-in-charge to be familiar with the policies and procedures of the Discernment Process, and to follow them in their parishes. We also took counsel with the Bishop on how the Diocese could best commemorate the life and ministry of the Rt. Rev. Dabney T. Smith, fifth Bishop of the Diocese of Southwest Florida, and, with the Bishop, chose to rename the Diocesan Office The Rt. Rev. Dabney T. Smith Diocesan Center. Finally, this year was colored by the impacts of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, and Tropical Storm Debby, which were dramatic in some parts of our diocese. The Standing Committee assisted the Bishop and his staff as needed throughout the cleanup and rebuilding efforts (sme of which are ongoing), and held the Diocese closely in prayer.
Current members of the Standing Committee include: The Rev. Jessica Babcock, the Rev. Sandy Rogers, Mrs. Michelle Thomas, Mr. Jack Day (Recording Secretary), Ms. Jackie Smith, the Rev. Joe Hudson (Commission on Ministry Liaison), Ms. Rachel Schnabel, the Rev. Michelle Robertshaw (Vice-President), and the Rev. Ryan Whitley (President). Please keep us in your prayers.
Respectfully submitted,
The Rev. Ryan Whitley, President