Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

As I’m sure most of you know, the Convention of the Diocese of Florida met on Saturday, May 21 at Camp Weed. At this time, probably most of the information you have about that has come either from newspaper articles or talking to delegates or maybe you’ve been searching the web and gotten information from various sources. The Diocese has not yet provided new information, though you may log on to the website (www.diocesefl.org) and read the resolutions that were brought to the Convention.

I want to tell you how thankful and encouraged I am at the actions taken by this Convention. The best of those has to be the courage and strong leadership that Bishop John Howard has offered to the Diocese of Florida. Much lesser is the fact that I was elected to a 3 year term to the Standing Committee, as well as a Deputy to General Convention 2006 (and I am honored and privileged at both!).

The Bishop told a story of his father teaching him how to drive, and his father’s instructions were to “keep it right of center and out of the ditch!” He shared that he continues to keep that as guidance for his role as bishop in the Diocese, as well as asking the Convention to do the same. Bishop Howard is insistent about his character being theologically conservative, and he is also unwavering in his commitment and belief that all are welcome at the Lord’s table. That sounds like traditional Episcopal theology and practice to me, just like we’ve known for generations and generations.

The resolutions that were soundly defeated at Convention (#’s 04a, 05, 06, and 09) were all intended to take us “into the ditch” and thankfully, Bishop Howard asked us not to go there, just as his father had urged him.

Some people argue that the Episcopal Church, through the actions of General Convention 2003, has “left the Christian faith”. Others believe that the Church has finally given in to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. And still others – and I believe Bishop Howard, and the vast majority of bishops in the Episcopal Church, and the majority of the voting delegates in the Diocese of Florida, as well as the majority of Episcopalians in the USA – believe that those actions did severe damage to the Anglican Communion. But, this is not cause to disassemble and destroy the Episcopal Church. Bishop Howard remains firmly resolute that we will remain Episcopalian and we will remain Anglican. And I not only support him, I believe him.

I continue to hurt deeply for those people – and there are those from St. Peter’s, as well as the Diocese – who feel disenfranchised, and who feel that the Episcopal Church can no longer be their home. I wish it were different, and in fact, I still hope and pray that it will be. Anyone who believes that Bishop Howard is taking the Diocese of Florida in a “more liberal” direction has read things wrongly. I see him as bringing the Diocese - though still “right of center” – back toward the center, where it always has been, and where it belongs.

I hope and pray that in the weeks, months, and years ahead, we continue to keep the main things the main things. Bishop Howard, in his address, suggested that those main things are “loving God (and each other), feeding his sheep, and growing his Church”. I couldn’t agree more. May God give us the wisdom, courage, and heart to do so. God bless you all!

George