Central Florida Episcopalian

Attached document:  cfe0310web.pdf

The Union of Black Episcopalians, Central Florida Chapter, invites you to a free screening of the film “Bring Your ‘A’ Game,” directed by Mario Van Peebles, Saturday, March 13, 10:30 a.m., Church of the Resurrection, 251 East Lake Brantley Drive, Longwood, FL 32779. We encourage you to bring your youth to participate in a post-screening conversation on transforming the lives of urban youth–specifically young Black boys and men who are most often the victims of poverty and lack strong male role models to encourage them to play a game that doesn’t naturally include them.

At the end of 2009, Beatrice Wilder, the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida's beloved historiographer, archivist and librarian, announced her semi-retirement at age 99. Here is the first segment of a multi-part series of interviews with her. This section, recorded Feb. 11, 2010, by Joe Thoma, covers her early years, through high school.

By:  The Ven. Linda Brondsted

These days, I am in a reflective place, as I contemplate retiring as archdeacon and dean of the Institute for Christian Studies. Perhaps this comes with the territory; I wouldn’t know; I’ve never done this before.

I had a conversation with my father, shortly before he died. He asked me, “How old am I, Lyn?” and I replied, “You’re eighty eight, Daddy.” His next comment was, “How did that happen?”

I stand at the brink of retirement! How did that happen, indeed; seventeen years as archdeacon and dean of the ICS; twenty-two years, as dean of the School of Diaconal Training. Three hundred and thirty Saturdays, not counting about forty-five, if we include my own training at ICS as a deacon! Yikes!

The Rev. Canon Nelson Pinder might be well known around Florida and The Episcopal Church for his reputation as the “street priest,” the “hoodlum’s priest,” a community leader, a civilrights freedom fighter and other roles, but on Jan. 9, more than 450 of his closest friends filled the Cathedral Church of St. Luke, Orlando, to honor him as their beloved friend.

The occasion was a celebration of Canon Pinder’s 50 years as a priest in The Episcopal Church.

By:  Joe Thoma

The 41st Annual Diocesan Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida met Jan. 30 at the Lakeland Center to reaffirm the diocese’s commitment to the Great Commission, and the coming years’ plans to carry out that mission.

“We said 10 years ago that our Vision was ‘to make the Great Commandment and the Great Commission the twin priorities of this Diocese,’ ” the Rt. Rev. John W. Howe said in his Convention Address.

Bishop Howe reviewed the diocese’s progress in attaining those goals. He also commended to the convention the work of the ad-hoc commissions, including the Strategic Planning Commission, that were established by the 2009 convention to determine the next steps in diocesan growth.