Annual Convention Address You Are the Light of the World The Rt. Rev. Dabney T. Smith, Fifth Bishop October 17, 2020 52nd Annual Convention The following is a transcript of Bishop Dabney Smith’s Annual Convention Address at the 52nd Annual Convention of the Diocese of Southwest Florida. For 2020, the diocese met virtually at DaySpring Episcopal Center, with congregations attending via Zoom.
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ood Morning. It is joy to be with everyone. Although we are not gathered in the same building, we are gathered in the same Spirit. I begin this year’s address by making several remarks about the reality of this Pandemic year. First, I want to thank the Diocesan staff for taking such deliberate focus and action in creating such a helpful and continuous reality of diocesan life. Besides the ongoing practical functions of our shared lives, the creativity of meeting together in safe ways has given us a maintained strength. I also need to thank the clergy and lay leaders of all of our congregations for creatively thinking of new ways to provide worship, pastoral care, and future vision casting so as to be the Church in the midst of the Pandemic and planning to live beyond it. I also want to thank and point out the many diocesan leaders who have offered the same creative sparks. I thank all of you for your energy of service in this new way of holding this Convention. In particular, I express my and our gratitude to Canon Anne Vickers for taking the lead in thinking through and putting together the necessary elements for creating a Virtual Convention. Many diocesan staff members and Ms. Judy Stark assisted in creating this work, but Anne was the master builder. Thank you, Anne. Ordinarily, during the first quarter of the year I begin to think of what would be the most helpful theme to focus on for all of us as we begin to organize for and beyond the Diocesan Convention. This year, however, the Coronavirus emerged and began to organize us in powerful and disruptive ways. Yet we knew that we still had to hold a Diocesan Convention and so in conversations with diocesan staff what finally became compelling was “Love Your Neighbor” and “Seek the Lost.” The “Love Your Neighbor” piece seemed more accessible when loving one’s neighbor became as prudent as the duty of wearing your own facemask for the good of others. The “Seek the Lost” portion of the theme had to do, in my mind, with the sense of feeling so lost and uncertain when the usual foundations seemed to have disappeared. Most of you already know that I served as Rector for nine years in the Diocese of Northern Indiana. After I left that diocese it held an episcopal election and elected a priest by the name of Edward Little. Before he was ordained bishop, he went on a personal retreat and gathered himself around the following teachings for his Episcopate. He called them the Four Core Values for the Diocese: 1) Have a Passion for the Gospel of Jesus Christ; 2) Have a Heart for the Lost; 3) Have a Willingness to do whatever it takes; 4) Have a Commitment to one another. These Core Values provided a beneficial sense of Mission purpose. I am certain that Bishop Little would say, “You are welcome to use them if you desire.” I bring them up, simply to say, that although my friend Bishop Little was never my bishop – I have never forgotten his Core Values --- especially the second one --- Have a Heart for the Lost.
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