Clergy misconduct: No church wants it to happen, yet it does. Every church wants to prevent it, yet can’t do so alone. The Rt. Rev. Dr. Justin S. Holcomb’s decision to appoint the Rev. Dr. Robin Reed, rector of St. Francis of Assisi, Lake Placid, as an additional Title IV intake officer for the Diocese of…
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The other candidates had months to prepare their nomination documents. He had two weeks. The other candidates went through a protracted selection process similar to that of the Diocese of Central Florida in its recent bishop search and election. He was a petitioned nominee whose candidacy became official only after review at the end of…
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Los demás candidatos tuvieron meses para preparar sus documentos de nominación. Él tenía dos semanas. Los otros candidatos pasaron por un proceso de selección prolongado similar al de la Diócesis de la Florida Central en su reciente búsqueda y elección de obispos. Él era un candidato solicitado cuya candidatura se hizo oficial solo después de…
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On Saturday, Aug. 19, several hundred people from within and outside of the Diocese of Central Florida gathered at the Cathedral Church of St. Luke, Orlando, for “The Great Dechurching Event.” Per the Rt. Rev. Dr. Justin S. Holcomb, diocesan bishop and the evening’s host, the diocese designed this event to allow attendees to “listen…
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At a service attended by the parishioners she will serve and others with whom she has close relationships, the Rev. Colleen Rutherford was ordained to the vocational diaconate on Aug. 9 at her home parish, St. George, The Villages. The Rt. Rev. Dr. Justin S. Holcomb delivered the charge, and the Rev. Dr. James Taylor,…
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“The physical presence of other Christians is a source of incomparable joy and strength to the believer.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer Almost 90 years ago during the struggles that led to World War II, Dietrich Bonhoeffer was actively sharing his thoughts on living as a Christian. He wrote the book Gemeinsames Leben (“Life Together”) during that…
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“This is spectacular.” With that simple declaration, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Justin S. Holcomb described the ordination of Brian Stankich to the transitional diaconate. The service took place on Thursday, July 27, at Grace, Ocala, where the Rev. Stankich participates in the residency program, and was Holcomb’s first ordination since his June 10 consecration as…
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Mrs. Carrie Brown, a parishioner at St. John the Baptist, Orlando, led a workshop at “It’s All About Love: A Festival for the Jesus Movement” held in Baltimore, Maryland, from July 9-12. The churchwide festival focused on worship, learning, community and action, organized around three topics: evangelism, racial reconciliation and creation care. Brown’s workshop was…
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As director of communications for the diocese, I thought it was important to commemorate and encapsulate the recent consecration of our new bishop. Until June 10, 2023, I had never experienced an ordination and consecration service. That, coupled with my love for Bishop Holcomb and his family, made for a day that I will cherish…
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The Diocese of Central Florida values beloved community. Since 2022, the diocese has had a task force of clergy and lay individuals who have been reflecting upon the challenges we face in our churches and communities in Central Florida regarding racial diversity; they are prayerfully encouraging us toward transformational practices. All Saints’, Lakeland, began an…
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