Nearly 70 clergy members from the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida gathered at Church of the Resurrection, Longwood, on Tuesday, April 1, from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. for Clergy Day, a time of discipleship and collegiality for diocesan clergy. Speaker for the day was the Rev. Dr. R. Michael Allen, who serves as John Dyer Trimble professor of systematic theology and academic dean of Reformed Theological Seminary, Orlando campus. His presentation, “Wholeness: A Promise for Christians and Churches,” was divided into three sessions: Whole Word, Whole Christ and Whole Christian.
The Rev. Dr. Mike Allen addresses the Clergy Day audience. | Photo courtesy of the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida
“The goal of the day was to move from simply asking whether we’re attending to true beliefs or practices (which is an important question) to also exploring to what extent we’re attending to the full range of scriptures, of truths about Christ and biblical instructions regarding what it means to be made a new humanity in Christ,” Allen said. “Too often we are satisfied with far too little, for a range of reasons, so I hoped to commend the importance of the whole counsel of God, the whole Christ and wholeness for the Christian. I hoped also to provide some diagnostic questions that can be used from time to time to assess where we’re in need of intentional redirection to give attention to those truths that we’ve underappreciated or too little considered.”
Allen explained the development of this teaching, further explored in his book Grounded in Heaven, which the diocese provided for all attendees. “In my research and teaching, I try to give an account of Christianity as a whole,” he said. “That’s what systematic theologians do. In my congregational work, as a theologian in residence and an ordained pastor at a Presbyterian church, I’ve found that those concerns are helpful for considering the range of texts and topics that we need to be considering over any given season if we’re going to disciple saints in a balanced and whole way. So it’s developed from deep research that’s been confirmed in congregational ministry.”
Bishop Justin Holcomb introduces the Rev. Dr. Mike Allen as Clergy Day speaker. | Photo courtesy of the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida
His longtime colleague, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Justin S. Holcomb, extended the invitation to speak at Clergy Day, the first he has hosted since his June 2023 consecration, and Allen was delighted to accept. “I’ve been friends with Bishop Justin for over a dozen years now and very much enjoyed teaching alongside him at RTS for several years,” he said. “I’m so glad that he’s leading the diocese and grateful for any opportunity where I can help serve him and its many clergy and churches.”
“Dr. Allen’s content was superb,” Holcomb said. “The day’s theme of wholeness seemed to unfold right before our eyes and was especially evident in the connectedness, laughter and camaraderie shared among the clergy during interactive discussion sessions at the close of Dr. Allen’s talks and lunch fellowship. There was a palpable lightness in the clergy as they left the gathering, which I hope they will carry with them as they return to their own congregations to pastor their people.”
The Rev. Darin Metz, priest-in-charge at Christ Church, Longwood, affirmed the ways Allen’s Clergy Day presentation ministered to him. “As a new priest, I’ve found the task of weekly preaching to be a joy and a privilege,” he said. But it’s also overwhelming at times: What should I cover? Am I focusing on the right point? Am I giving enough context? Have I touched enough on the big picture? Is this what the congregation needs to hear? These are common considerations throughout the week. Again, they’re things I love thinking through, but at times it can feel daunting.
Collegiality was an important part of Clergy Day. (Front) The Revs. Kevin Bartle and Stephanie Soper (Rear, L-R) Bishop Holcomb, the Rev. Dr. Mike Allen, the Rev. Dr. Dave Johnson | Photo courtesy of the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida
“This is why I found Clergy Day to be so helpful,” he added. “Dr. Allen’s presentation provided significant insight as to the importance and approach of preaching the whole counsel of God. It was refreshing and inspirational to me because it ignited a desire to experience and relay the ways God wants to bring the wholeness of Christ to bear in every area of our lives.
“Beyond that, it was nice to be able to sit in the ‘congregation’ and hear a word that I didn’t have to prepare – not to mention, a good time of fellowship with colleagues,” Metz said. “Thanks to the bishop and those in the diocesan office for making this happen!”
Erik Guzman, director of communications for the diocese, who provided audiovisual support for Clergy Day, also expressed gratitude for the opportunity to attend. “We looked at the importance of all of scripture, and then all of who Jesus is and then all that we can be,” he said. “It was so inspiring and challenging. I was grateful, as a layperson, to be able to hear those talks.
“In addition, I was so impressed by the way the Rev. Dr. Allen presented without reading from a script,” he said. “He was just so fluid, and his presentation was so dynamic. Every minute was jam-packed with richness. His presentation called us to a mature, whole view of the Word; a mature, whole view of Jesus; a maturity that we could step into. It was just so inspiring, and I was grateful to be a witness to it.”