From the Bishop

From the Bishop

SERVING THE LORD IN THIS TIME AND PLACE

My Dear Friends,

This has been a full year! It has been, and will continue to be full because of the election of our next bishop, the coming retirement of the current one, the General Convention, the ordination and consecration of Douglas F. Scharf as the sixth bishop of the diocese, the 54th Diocesan Convention, and the ongoing vitality of all of our congregations and schools. The Diocese of Southwest Florida is a vibrant and honored diocese in The Episcopal Church and I am deeply proud to have been able to serve here.

I am pleased Douglas Scharf will be out next Bishop Diocesan. I am certain he and Shannon will discover the vitality and fullness of life that Mary and I have had the joy of experiencing in this great diocese.

This will be the last time I have the opportunity to write the members of the diocese in Southern Cross. I simply want to thank all of you for allowing me the privilege of serving our Lord and you in this time and in this place. I can literally think of countless occasions when I would offer thanksgiving to God for being able to experience the joy of serving where I have both childhood and young adulthood memories. I also had numerous occasions when I was just struck by the natural beauty that God gave us in Southwest Florida.

Thank you for all that you have nurtured me with. By the time I resign it will be about just a month shy of my 16 years of serving here. I am blessed and fortunate to have been able to serve God here with you. Thank you for the abiding joy of serving as your Fifth Bishop. What an enduring honor. May God bless all of you.

Bishop Dabney Smith Fifth Bishop of Southwest Florida