DIOCESE OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
The Diocese of SOUTHWEST FLORIDA web pages:
http://www.dioceseswfla.org
The Bishop of Southwest Florida: The Rt.
Rev. Dabney Smith
The Diocese of representatives to GEMN:
Dr. Robert Stevens, ddgstevens@aol.com
The Rev. Patricia Powers, revppowers@verizon.net ,co-president and a member of the Board of Trustees of GEMN.
Companion
Diocese: Dominican Republic
Many deaneries in the Diocese send teams to the Dominican Republic. In the summer of 2009 the Tampa Deanery will send three teams and the Clearwater Deanery will send two construction and one VBS team. The Cathedral Deanery will send a VBS team and the Church of the Redeemer in Sarasota will send a youth VBS team. Previously, Redeemer sent one construction team where its rector taught a course on liturgy in the seminary and contributed the spiritual component at a clergy retreat. They also celebrated the 10th anniversary of its involvement in the DR. The Venice Deanery construction team worked at repairinbg the roof and painting the inside of the San JOse church and the Bishop Issac Home for the elderly in Boca Chica.
2008 was the most successful year ever for the Dominican Development Group in its relationship with the Dominican Episcopal Church - financially and in terms of mission teams - working towards the development and self-sufficiency of the Dominican Church. A total of over 120 persons traveled to the DR on mission teams.
The Dominican Development Group's newest program is sponsoring the DR Endowment. It is coming together very well and one donor has come forward with a match for any contribution on a one to one basis up to one million dollars!!
Interesting and useful material from the diocesan website:
The Diocese of Southwest Florida has Diocesan Priorities in which Global Mission is specifically addressed:
Our Diocesan Priorities
 | To develop of the ministry of all baptized persons; |
| To enhance the life of our local congregations; |
| To continue the extension of the church in the communities we serve by the establishment of new congregations. |
| To raise our vision of mission from our own congregations and diocese to the global mission of Christ who sent the apostolic church into all the world. |
The Diocese is also very clear in its organization that there is a Global Mission Committee and a Companion Diocese program that is specifically designed to meet the mutual needs of the Diocese of the Dominican Republic and the Diocese of Southwest Florida. See the web page at http://www.dioceseswfla.org/contacts/contactdr.htm for information on this very innovative program.
Missionaries from the
Diocese of Southwest Florida :
Dr. Robert Stevens is a special appointment to the Dominican Republic.
Missionaries to the
Diocese of Southwest Florida :