It was a very painful time of recognition that our trust had been violated.

Upon the discovery of our losses, we made four important decisions. Number One, we discharged the brokerage. Number Two, we determined that all of the funds we held in trust for the congregations of this Diocese would be restored immediately. Number Three, we committed ourselves to restoring the trust funds on the Diocesan level over a period of the next five years. And Number Four, we determined that in doing that, we would not use any monies from the Operating Budget - that is, we would not use any contributions given for ministry to restore trust funds.

Well, where are we? Congregational funds were restored immediately. Our investment policy is being followed and monitored rigorously. All trust fund activity is reviewed by the Diocesan Administrator monthly, and by the Finance Commission, the Bishop and the Diocesan Board quarterly. We have implemented a mutual fund investment strategy based upon an asset allocation model that has generated interest, dividends, and capital gains over the past four years. Those earnings, along with rental income from Diocesan properties, have enabled us, as of December 31, 2005, to restore ALL of the Diocesan trust funds a full year ahead of schedule.

Our Diocesan Administrator, Earl Pickett, has piloted us through these waters in a remarkably careful way, and I would like us to recognize and thank him.

Moving from Strength to Strength

Our Moving from Strength to Strength Capital Campaign came to its official conclusion at the end of 2005. And, as I reported to you last year, it has been a breath-taking success, though not at all in the way we anticipated. Overwhelmingly, the fruit of this Campaign has been realized at the local, congregational level rather than the Diocesan.

At the Diocesan level we have raised more than $800,000, helped to reduce Camp Wingmann's mortgage from $560,000 to $187,500, set aside over $90,000 for the new building at the Canterbury Conference Center, and funded Congregational Development and new church planting at more than $340,000.

But, in addition to that, at the congregational level, more than $5 million dollars has been raised for new buildings, new ministries, new mission and outreach, and much-needed renovations. Over 80% of our congregations have participated in the campaign-, stewardship-, and planned-giving-seminars that we have provided at diocesan expense - that is, with no cost to these congregations. And over 50% of our congregations have engaged our consultants - in particular, Glenn Holliman - to work with them on their own local "co-campaigns."

As we moved into this new year, Glenn Holliman was still consulting with ten of our congregations, and the question was: if the Campaign has now ended, are those congregations going to have to pay for this consultation themselves, or is there a way the Diocese can continue to fund them? (You understand, I'm talking about the preliminary consultations. If a congregation decides to do a full-fledged campaign, it may decide to hire Glenn, or someone else, to run it for them.)

I am happy to report that we are going to be able to provide Glenn's services to our congregations, without this consultation expense to them, for this new year, and perhaps beyond.

So, the next time somebody asks you that wonderful question, "What are they [the Diocese] doing with our money?" I hope you will tell them about this. I think this is a superb way in which the Diocese of Central Florida is serving its congregations!

I'd like to ask Herb Smetheram, who was the Lay Chair of the Campaign, Fr. John Liebler, who was the Clergy Chair, and Deacons Danielle Morris and Kristi Alday, who coordinated it, to come forward to receive these small tokens of our appreciation for a job extremely well done!

A New Start in Winter Springs

A year ago I reported to you that we had lost approximately 2/3 of the members of St. John's, Melbourne, 1/3 of our Shepherd of the Hills Mission congregation in Lecanto, and nearly all the members of the Church of the New Covenant in Winter Springs, over issues of policy and the direction of the Episcopal Church nationally.

We were able to rejoice over the strong recovery that was already under way in both Melbourne and Lecanto. But there was a serious question as to what future there might be for what I called the "remnant" from New Covenant that wanted to remain part of the Episcopal Church and the Diocese of Central Florida.

At this time last year most of the "remnant" had found a home at St. Richard's, Winter Park, though they continued to retain their identity and meet together as a kind of "church within a church."

We continue to believe we need an Episcopal presence and witness in the Oviedo/Winter Springs area, and it is my great pleasure to announce this morning that we are committed to the "planting" of a new congregation, tentatively to be called the Church of the Incarnation in the Oviedo/Winter Springs area, under the leadership of Fr. Jon Davis, Associate Rector at All Saints, Winter Park. We expect worship to begin among the "early responders" in September, with a public launch date on the first Sunday in Advent; and the official "birthday" of the new congregation will be next Christmas Eve.

Jon, will you please stand and let us wish every blessing from God upon this new beginning.

We are also in the very early stages of exploring a possible joint effort to establish an Episcopal-Lutheran Mission just west of New Smyrna Beach. This would be a first for us, and I ask you to keep it in your prayers.

And, in a couple of places we are exploring linking one of our stronger parishes with one that is struggling, in the conviction that together we may be able to do what we cannot seem to do separately.

Growth in Hispanic Ministry

I am pleased to report there has been enormous growth in two of our Hispanic congregations in Orlando. At St. Christopher's, where Fr. Lloyd Olsen has been Priest-in-Charge, and Fr. Carlos Marin has been the Hispanic Missioner, we have had two congregations, one English-speaking, and one Spanish-speaking. The Hispanic congregation has grown to the point that it is by far the larger of the two. We have decided to "go with the flow," and bless what God is doing, and we have asked Fr. Carlos to become the first full-time Vicar of (catch this) Iglesia Episcopal San Cristobol, as of the first of this year.

Similarly, Santa Maria de Los Angeles has grown to the point of calling its first full-time Vicar, Fr. Raul Rubiano, as of November first, of last year.

If Carlos and Raul will please stand, along with the members of your delegations, I ask all of you to join me in welcoming both of these men to their new responsibilities. Bienvenidos, y la paz del Senor sea siempre con ustedes.

Holy Spirit, Apopka, is exploring the possibility of beginning a Hispanic Mission in their area, and this work continues to grow in all parts of the Diocese.

Growth in Our Parishes

Alongside these signs of new life, there continues to be steady, solid, growth in the great majority of our established parishes. Let me highlight just one of them. If you want to see one of the most magnificent new church buildings of the Twenty-first Century, with state-of-the-art light and sound equipment, I urge you to visit Trinity Episcopal Church, in Vero Beach.

Trinity is just completing a six year project that included building a new church, a new music building, a new youth building, a bell tower, a columbarium, and a memorial garden - at a cost of ten and a half million dollars! The new church seats more than twice what the old one did, and yet no one is farther away from the altar or the pulpit than they would have been in the old building. It is an amazing structure, and one of the most remarkable aspects of it is that if you drive by it pretty much looks about the same size as it did before! (That is an illusion of the first order!)

That's just one of our congregations. As a result of Strength to Strength three of our churches have purchased property, two have dedicated new buildings, six are in the process of renovating existing buildings, one broke ground on a new building, two began capital campaigns, one anticipates breaking ground on a new building this year, eight are initiating capital campaigns this year, and six are in a discernment process regarding possible capital campaigns.

The Next Generation of Ordained Leaders

This past September, 22 aspirants attended the Conference on Ministry, sponsored each year by the Commission on Ministry, to learn about the variety of licensed lay ministries, and ordination, in the Episcopal Church. We are currently "tracking" the discernment process for 54 individuals: 20 pursuing ordination to the Vocational Diaconate, and 34 pursuing ordination to the Priesthood.

There are presently 24 seminarians from this diocese enrolled in six seminaries across this country, and one in England. We also have a very special relationship with Asbury Theological Seminary in Orlando. Asbury is a Methodist school in the process of creating an "Episcopal Track" to more fully accommodate students not only from this Diocese, but from other Episcopal dioceses around the country. Professor Bill Haugaard, retired Church Historian from Seabury-Western, is an adjunct professor at Asbury, and he mentors our students there in terms of their academic careers, personal spirituality, and Anglican formation. His ministry is an incredible gift to them and to this Diocese.

Our seminarians received a total of $85,000 in tuition assistance from the Diocese of Central Florida in 2005.

We had three people ordained to the vocational diaconate last month, and three to the priesthood during this past year, and one more to be ordained priest next week.

In our own Diocesan Institute for Christian Studies, we average 35 - 45 students in classes two Saturdays each month in religion, scripture, and ministry; 22 of them are "in process" toward the vocational diaconate. We have another 35 attending the spring "I Care" and ministry workshops, doubling our attendance for that semester. ICS continues to collaborate with the Canterbury Conference Center in offering the Vestry Training Retreat in February each year, and other shared offerings are being developed.

ICS remains one of the premier diocesan schools in the country, offering training not only to those who aspire to the ordained ministry, but to adult lay persons who simply want to enrich their understanding of Christian discipleship.

The Dean of ICS, Archdeacon Linda Brondsted, has recently been elected President of the Board of the North American Association for the Diaconate. Join me in saying "kudos" to her.

Safeguarding God's Children

A major new emphasis in our Diocese is the "Safeguarding of God's Children." We are absolutely committed to the prevention of child sexual abuse. Our Diocese is a pioneer in this effort, and as of this date we have trained nearly 3,000 people, and we are now instituting the first-in-the-nation online training specifically geared to the unique issues of child abuse prevention in church settings. This material focuses on awareness and prevention and will provide new resources pertaining to child-to-child abuse, as well.

I call your attention to the flyer in your packet entitled "Introducing Armatus." It is the next generation of training in this area, soon to be available online. Each congregation and Diocesan affiliated ministry will be contacted within the next few weeks requesting that a contact person be designated to help monitor this new training. Those members of our Diocese who took part in a preliminary run of this program last year were very pleased with this new method of training. We will do everything in our power to make our congregations, schools, Conference Center and camps safe places for all God's children.

Youth Ministry Summary

2005 was a wonderful year in Youth Ministry in the Diocese of Central Florida. We welcomed an influx of 8 new Youth Ministry professionals, bringing to a total of 23 full- and part-time professional Youth Ministers serving in congregations throughout the Diocese. Of course, many of our congregations have excellent, dedicated volunteer Youth Leaders, as well.

More than 600 students participated in last year's Great Youth Celebration, and nearly 300 students and leaders were part of the week-long local mission outreach, "Soul in the City." Discipleship events remain a major focus for us. "Baptismal Covenant And Discipleship" ("BC/AD"), "New Beginnings," and "Emerge," all held at Camp Wingmann, seek to impact a new generation of followers of Jesus. These events are growing and are having a vital impact on the faith formation of many of our young people.

Training remains a strength and priority as we seek to provide the very best resources for our Youth Ministry professionals and adult staff leaders. 2006 will see the addition of a Sabbath Retreat for Youth Workers in August.

This year's Great Youth Celebration will be held at Trinity Preparatory School next month. This is the cornerstone event for Youth Ministry in the Diocese, and in Eric Moulton's words, "a great way to kick-off the new year." You can read more about GYC in your Convention packet.

Canterbury and Wingmann

2005 proved to be a banner year for the Canterbury Retreat and Conference Center, quite in contrast to the struggles of hurricane-filled 2004. Canterbury enjoyed a record number of groups and guests, and record income as well during the year just past. This Diocese is grateful for a dedicated Canterbury Board, and a hard-working Director and staff. Canterbury continues to be a "sanctuary of hospitality" in the Diocese, and one of the best advertisements for the Diocese to the other groups that use it

Camp Wingmann was battered by hurricanes Charley, Francis, and Jeanne in 2004, but the campus is almost fully recovered at this point, and summer camp set a record for attendance with 314 campers, and an outstanding staff of college age and high school leaders. New metal roofs have been put on Louttit Lodge, the old Mess Hall, and the Serenity Duplex. And, thanks to a UTO grant and other donations, construction has begun on the next complete renovation, this time on Whipporwill Cabin.

Disaster Response

Speaking of hurricanes, I don't think I have ever been prouder of this Diocese than I have been in seeing our collective response to the tsunami in East Asia, and the hurricanes in the Gulf this summer. Nearly all of our congregations have had some direct, "hands-on" involvement with victims in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. And all have sent money - we haven't been able to track all of it, but a conservative "guestimate" is that it is well over half a million dollars - sent directly to parishes in those areas, and to Episcopal Relief and Development, the Salvation Army, the American Red Cross and perhaps other agencies.

Many of our congregations have "adopted" a parish in the Gulf Coast with a partnership commitment of a year or more. Many have definite plans, or contingent plans, for future rebuilding trips to the area, some of them for an extended period. Several have furnished local housing to displaced families who have come to Central Florida after Katrina. Groceries, medicine, clothing, automobiles, vans, and other assistance have been furnished by our parishes. In our Christmas Toy Drive we were able to fill a U-Haul truck with gifts for children, and we turned $20,000 into gift cards at Wal-Mart.

In addition to all of that, what you have given through the Diocese of Central Florida is nearly another $300,000. Chuck Dunlap, Chancellor at the Cathedral, became our Disaster Relief Coordinator, and he has established a network of contact persons throughout the area to get the correct aid, people, and assistance to the proper locations. Chuck has worked directly with the offices of the several Bishops in the Gulf area, and facilitated our efforts, both here and there. I am very pleased to tell you that two weeks ago he agreed to my invitation to continue in his responsibilities on a permanent basis. Katrina Relief is ongoing for the foreseeable future, and I can assure you there will be new problems ahead of us from time to time. And we want to be prepared to respond as necessary.

Please join me in thanking Chuck Dunlap for his tireless coordination of our efforts in the wake of this unprecedented storm season.

Greetings from our Companion Diocese

Nearly every year we have received greetings from our Companion Diocese, Honduras - a companionship that has lasted 33 years, now. Once again, I have a letter from Bishop Lloyd Allen:

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Greetings to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Greetings to you citizens and Saints, members of the household of God. I greet you on behalf of the people of Honduras; we are deeply grateful for our mutual relationship as you meet for your Diocesan Convocation. It was a year ago I shared with you the fact that we were preparing for my first diocesan ordination of men and women to the diaconate.

Today I want to inform you that on the feast of St. Simon and St. Jude, Oct. 28th & 29th, in the presence of numerous members of my diocese, and before the Chair of your Honduras Commission, The Rt. Rev. Hugo Luis Pina-Lopez, and of your Canon Deacon Kathy Pennybacker, we proceeded to ordain 20 deacons. We are still on a high and very joyful because the "harvest is plentiful, the Lord is continually blessing us with many laborers to our harvest." You all are an integral part of this harvest, thanks to your generosity and companionship as we continue to walk together in this long-term, unprecedented partnership. We continue to give thanks to God for you constantly mentioning you in prayers and remembering before God your generosity and "works of faith and labor of love, your steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ". Pray for us as we pray for you. In Christ, The Rt. Rev. Lloyd Emmanuel Allen, D.D. III Diocesan Bishop of Honduras

The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion

I have saved this for last, because I wanted to sample some of the many, many wonderful things that are happening throughout this Diocese first.

But the backdrop against which we meet today is, of course, an uncertainty as to the future of the Episcopal Church, USA, and the world-wide Anglican Communion. Let me summarize, as succinctly as I can, how we got to where we are.

Actions taken by the 2003 General Convention of the Episcopal Church, touching upon issues of human sexuality, have so fractured relationships throughout the world that 22 out of the 38 Anglican Provinces have declared themselves to be in "impaired" or "broken" communion with us (and similarly with certain parts of the Anglican Church in Canada for making some of the same decisions).

Immediately following our last General Convention, the Archbishop of Canterbury appointed an international Commission to study the breakdown of relationships throughout the Communion, and to make recommendations as to how we can "maintain communion at the highest level possible." Chaired by Robin Eames, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of Ireland, the Commission issued its "Windsor Report" in October 2004, and it was unanimously accepted and endorsed by the 38 Primates of the Communion at their next meeting. Please note: that included our Presiding Bishop, Frank Griswold.

The Report "invited" the Episcopal Church to take several specific steps to restore the unity that had been so badly damaged. Foremost among them was that we should offer an "expression of regret" for having violated the "bonds of affection" with the rest of the Anglican World by making decisions that seemed to approve and endorse as legitimate at least certain kinds of homosexual intimacy.

That "expression of regret" was to be accompanied by a commitment to refrain from any additional consecrations to the episcopacy of non-celibate homosexual persons; and equally, to refrain from any additional "blessings of same-sex unions" until or unless "a new consensus" regarding such relationships is reached throughout the Communion.

Finally, we were asked to withdraw from our normal participation in the Anglican Consultative Council, which met last June; and instead to send a special delegation to explain how and why we made the decisions we did regarding the consecration of a gay man in a partnered relationship as Bishop of New Hampshire, and why we have authorized "same-sex blessings" in many parts of the Church in North America.

Our House of Bishops has expressed its regrets twice, now - not for the decisions themselves, but for the way in which they were made. It has said we will not consent to the election of any bishop between now and next summer's General Convention. And, in a nearly unanimous vote, it has agreed not to authorize any more same-sex blessings; although they continue to be done in many places around the country. (The Diocese of California voted to formalize its long-standing practice of permitting such blessings at its Convention in October. It will prepare an "official" rite or rites to be adopted at its Convention next year.)

Our Presiding Bishop personally led the delegation that attempted to explain our decisions to the Anglican Consultative Council last June. As you might have anticipated, that explanation was rejected by a majority of the Council's members.

What you need to understand is that the Episcopal Church, USA, is structured differently, and it governs itself differently, from many of the other Anglican Provinces around the globe. In many Provinces the bishops speak collectively, and in some cases the Archbishop speaks unilaterally, in declaring the position of that Province.

But, here in the USA, our bishops have said - quite correctly - that the only body that can fully respond to these recommendations is the General Convention. It meets again this June, and the question is, obviously, what will be its response?

I will tell you very frankly, I can see no scenario in which the present "moratoria" on consecrations and blessings will be continued beyond the General Convention itself.

So the question then becomes: what are the consequences? Nobody knows for certain exactly how this is going to play out. And technically, we have been given until the next meeting of the Lambeth Conference to make our response. Lambeth is the worldwide gathering of all the Anglican bishops, approximately every ten years; and its next meeting is not until summer 2008. So there may be an attempt to push any final decisions off for yet another two years.

But if the General Convention is the body that speaks for the Episcopal Church, and its meeting is this summer, and it doesn't have another meeting between now and Lambeth...we are rapidly approaching a watershed moment.

In my judgment, it comes down to this: we have been told, "This is what you must do for unity to be restored and maintained." If we decline to do it, what alternative does the Archbishop of Canterbury have but to declare that "The Episcopal Church has made its decision to 'walk apart' from the rest of the Communion"?

I know he absolutely does not want to do that! But my own sense is that if he doesn't, much of the rest of the Communion is going to "walk apart" from him.

I would love to be wrong about all of this. I find either one of these scenarios appalling: the Episcopal Church off on its own - one more tiny American sect; or a worldwide split in the Communion as a whole. Absolutely appalling. But that may be where we are headed, so let's face it directly.

The 22 Primates who have declared their Provinces to be in "impaired" or "broken" communion with the Episcopal Church have consistently added that they remain in "full communion" with the Network Dioceses and those other bishops and dioceses that accept the Windsor recommendations.

Thus, the Diocese of Central Florida is in "full communion" with ALL the rest of the Anglican Communion, and I pray that it will ever remain so.

My predecessor, Bill Folwell, your bishop for 20 years, wrote me a letter two weeks ago. He commented on the terrible divisions in the Episcopal Church and the greater Communion over issues of human sexuality. And then he said this:

"If there must be agreement on the issue itself, then of course there cannot be reconciliation. The two positions are not reconcilable in and of themselves.

"However, is it not possible to see reconciliation as between persons and not positions? You know as well as I that there has never been a time when the Church has been in total agreement on many important issues. But our strength has been from the time of the persecutions that others have seen something unique in Christians: 'Ah, those Christians, see how they love one another.' And Christ is glorified.

"For one group of Anglicans to determine that another group is unorthodox for holding a position opposite to theirs, and to declare themselves orthodox, is to pass judgment on our brothers and sisters that is often stated in such a way as to impugn the integrity of their love of Jesus and their faith in his saving grace. To be orthodox, breaking the word into its two components, 'ortho' and 'dox,' is to offer 'right praise.'

"Let us somehow once again see Christ in each other, embrace each other in peace no matter how strongly we may feel 'they are wrong,' therefore 'we are right,' and in so doing praise God afresh.

"If, as the Windsor Report requests, we are to repent, I believe it will be that all of us need to confess our part in just how we have hurt one another, seek that kind of reconciliation, and share the peace. And then let's get on with the one unifying aspect of the 'faith once delivered to the saints,' namely the mission and ministry of Jesus in and to the world through his Church, not a pre-determined set of propositions that is to be applied to every aspect of human behavior in our time and place, and even to those living hundreds of years from now."

I told Bishop Folwell I am in complete agreement with what he longs for, and I have tried to live into it in my Episcopacy. I reiterate to you today that I have no intention of breaking away from the Episcopal Church. But, as I have also told you before, if it breaks away from the Anglican Communion it breaks away from me. That is the only place I know where to stand. And if the choice is forced upon us - Episcopal OR Anglican - all of us are going to have to decide where we stand.

I am committed to staying the course. I have not absented myself from the meetings of the House of Bishops. I have not absented myself from the Lord's Table. I have not "broken communion" with the Presiding Bishop, or the Bishop of New Hampshire, or any of the bishops who voted for or participated in his consecration.

I love being a Bishop; it is an incredible honor, privilege, and responsibility. I love being your Bishop; I can think of no place in the world I would rather be; well, maybe Tahiti! I love serving in the House of Bishops; tough though it is sometimes. I want you to know that I see Jesus in the Bishops with whom I most thoroughly disagree. If division comes I will resist it with all of my energy. I hate the very thought of it. But if division is forced upon us, it is forced upon us.

And if at some point there are divisions between us, I am committed to doing everything I can to make them as amicable as possible. That has been my commitment to those who have left already, and should others follow, that will be my commitment to them.

One of the Resolutions to be considered this afternoon would ask me to designate a Saturday in September for a Special Meeting of this Convention to respond to the actions of the General Convention.

We cannot know at this point exactly what actions the General Convention will take, and it is impossible to know whether we will need to respond to them. However, let me make your deliberations a little easier.

I am reserving September 23, 2006 for a possible Special Meeting of this Convention, at the Lakeland Convention Center, should it be the consensus of our General Convention deputation, the Diocesan Board, and the Standing Committee that any actions taken by the General Convention require our Diocesan response. If these three bodies of your elected representatives believe no such response is needed that meeting will simply be cancelled. What do we do between now and then? Exactly what we are doing: planting and growing churches, proclaiming the Good News of Jesus to friends and neighbors, and across cultural and linguistic barriers, protecting and caring for the children God entrusts to us, strengthening Youth Ministry, raising up a new generation of clergy and well-educated lay leaders, giving generously to relief efforts, loving and serving the Lord Jesus Christ, and trying to see him in all others, especially those with whom we most vigorously disagree.

And if we have to make hard decisions we will make them - with his help.

The One who is so abundantly pouring out his Spirit and blessing upon this Diocese is not going to abandon us no matter how this Anglican crisis plays out. After his election as Pope, the first public words of John Paul II were, "Be not afraid." And he faced down the entire Soviet Union...and won. He had to deal with sexual scandal in his Church far worse than anything we have ever had to deal with. He was nearly murdered, and he forgave his assassin. And his own body gave out on him long before his indomitable spirit was willing to quit.

'"Be not afraid." The Lord Jesus Christ is still in control, and he will get us through this.

Somewhere I read, "Do not be anxious about tomorrow." Be prepared for it, but do not be anxious about it. In parable after parable Jesus instructs us to be busy about the things he has told us to do, because we can never know when he is going to appear and ask an accounting of us. I am staying the course, and I hope you will stay it with me.

In closing, I want to read a remarkable poem, written by a remarkable young man. Many of you will remember Mattie Stepanek, from his appearances on Good Morning America. He had a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy, and he died in June two years ago, three weeks before his 14th birthday. Like John Paul II, he had an indomitable spirit in spite of a failing body. At age 11 he wrote "For Our World." I want to borrow it, "for our Church":

For Our World

We need to stop.
Just stop.
Stop for a moment...
Before anybody
Says or does anything
That may hurt anyone else.
We need to be silent.
Just silent.
Silent for a moment...
Before we forever lose
The blessing of songs
That grow in our hearts.
We need to notice.
Just notice.
Notice for a moment...
Before the future slips away
Into ashes and dust of humility.
Stop, be silent, and notice...
In so many ways, we are the same.
Our differences are unique treasures.
We have, we are, a mosaic of gifts
To nurture, to offer, to accept.
We need to be.
Just be.
Be for a moment...
Kind and gentle, innocent and trusting,
Like children and lambs,
Never judging or vengeful
Like the judging and vengeful.
And now, let us pray,
Differently, yet together,
Before there is no earth, no life,
No chance for peace.

Matthew Joseph Thaddeus Stepanek, September 12, 2001

"And a little child shall lead them."

I continue to give thanks for the privilege of being your bishop, for the joy of working with the greatest assembly of clergy I have ever known, for the best diocesan staff in the country, for a Canon to the Ordinary who is anything but ordinary, and for this magnificent Diocese of Central Florida.

--John W. Howe is the Bishop of Central Florida
END