Diocese of Florida sacks missionary church in Springfield

[sheclown]

After a sham of a two year "study and prayer" session, the Diocese of Florida announced it was getting rid of Sue Carmichael and changing the way St. Mary's operates. 

I wrote this note after the initial meeting regarding St. Mary's over two years ago.



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When I spoke at the bishop's meeting last week regarding the fragile future of St. Mary's church, I called it a place where vulnerable people (those disenfranchised Episcopalians with challenging life problems) feel SAFE.  Certainly this is a true statement, but it isn't as accurate as it could have been.  St. Mary's, to its congregation, is much more than a haven.


Finding a safe place on Sunday mornings is indeed significant when your life offers little relief from poverty, mental illness, drug addiction.  This idea of a haven where your demons are kept at bay is a gift, a time-out from the realities that most of us can't imagine.


But there's more.


I was inaccurate in stating the strength of St. Mary's is in its ability to offer refuge from a cruel world.  Downtown has shelters, soup kitchens, food pantries.  Shelter isn't the essence of this mission church.


On this Mother's Day, I want to pause for a minute and explain about Mama Sue's gift to the people of St. Mary's.


She doesn't merely preach to, or sing for, those who are the "least of these".  She gives them the podium and listens while they read the lessons, sing their songs, share their testimonies.  With every sermon, every bible study, she makes it quite clear to her broken congregation that they are as important to God as those who walk in this world with a little more ease.


So no, St. Mary's isn't just a place where troubled people feel safe.  It is a place where the least of these sing and speak.  It is a place where broken people pass the peace and hold the chalice. 


St. Mary's isn't about safety, it is about ownership.  The congregation of this mission church has experienced this:   you cannot feel disenfranchised when you own a place.  And the congregation has owned St. Mary's for 35 years under the careful and loving arms of Mama Sue.

[sheclown]

      
A WORD FROM THE BISHOP ABOUT TRANSITIONS IN URBAN MINISTRY

Dear brothers and sisters,

A number of clergy and laity in Jacksonville have been in active study and prayer concerning our mission to evangelize and grow the church, focusing particularly on our ministry in Jacksonville's urban core.  Over the course of nearly two years, church leaders from this area (St. John's Cathedral, St. Mary's, St. Phillip's, Church of the Good Shepherd and Church Without Walls) have been engaged as we have sought to discern God's will for our ministry to the city.

During this time, I have taken inspiration from the lyrics of the Chris Tomlin song "God of This City."
                                     You're the God of this city
                                     You're the king of these people
                                     You're the lord of this nation
                                     You are

                                     You're the light in this darkness
                                     You're the hope to the hopeless
                                     You're the peace to the restless
                                     You are

                                     For greater things have yet to come
                                     And greater things are still to be done in this city
                                     Greater things have yet to come
                                     And greater things are still to be done in this city

As we have talked and as we have prayed, a vision has arisen for urban ministry that will unfold in concert with our new initiative on evangelism and growth.  The Rev. Beth Tjoflat will serve as Canon for Urban Ministry, leading a broadened and inclusive approach to urban ministry.  She will build on partnerships within the diocese and community as she continues to oversee our "church without walls" ministry. As we strive to enlarge our communities of worship and service, I feel that this ministry will be one of real and lasting significance.

Sue Carmichael, who has lovingly and passionately served as Lay Missionary at St. Mary's will step down from that position at the end of July.  After a sabbatical time for much deserved rest and discernment, Sue will return to us in December.  We look forward to collaborating with her and supporting her in her future ministries with a new ministry focus.  She will remain on our diocesan staff until her retirement, and I know that she will share her gifts with us in new and exciting ways.

In August, Beth Tjoflat will assume responsibility for the St. Mary's campus. In the meantime, Sue and Beth are working together closely to ensure a smooth transition. Beth will build on the St. Mary's legacy of service, developing that campus into a community resource grounded in Eucharist and prayer.  St. Mary's will serve as a place of intergenerational training and support for laity and clergy serving in the urban core.

On July 23, there will be a festive celebration of Sue Carmichael's 35 years of leadership and ministry at St. Mary's.  We hope that all of you will join us for this milestone celebration.  In the meanwhile, I ask that you join me in prayer for our changing urban ministry and for the cities and towns of our Diocese.

"Heavenly Father, in your Word you have given us a vision of that holy City to which the nations of the world bring their glory: Behold and visit, we pray, the cities of the earth. Renew the ties of mutual regard which form our civic life. Send us honest and able leaders. Enable us to eliminate poverty, prejudice, and oppression, that peace may prevail with righteousness, and justice with order, and that men and women from different cultures and with differing talents may find with one another the fulfillment of their humanity; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

   
                                                                  Faithfully,
                                                                   
                                                                  The Rt. Rev. Samuel Johnson Howard

[sheclown]

St. Mary's will serve as a place of intergenerational training and support for laity and clergy serving in the urban core.

I love the irony.

 

[JaxJersey-licious]

I have to take issue on your statement that the St. Mary's mission is what you called "a place where vulnerable people (those disenfranchised Episcopalians with challenging life problems) feel SAFE". What specifically about the Episcopalian faith make those disenfranchised feel more at home in your particular church? And why the need to single out this particular faith for their failures in ministering to people with challenging life problems? I hope you don't have the hubris to be ignorant of that fact that over the years there are people that have felt disenfranchised by the Roman Catholic church in dealing with their worldly issues and concerns.

I understand and don't doubt that this woman you defend has served her parish, that the loss of her leadership and presence would hurt the community, and that you feel the decisions by the powers that be are short-sighted and outright wrong. There never was and never will be a shortage of the truly faithful butting heads with diocesan "administration", particularly by yours truly. But I strongly feel that part of the strength of the Catholic church, or any other church or faith for that matter, is in the gifts of having someone like a Sue Carmichael proudly representing and contributing to our faith. Strength certainly doesn't come from looking around comparing and belittling other religions gifts. And decisions concerning church and faith are always going to be numerous, complex, and personal requiring lots of thought, support, counseling, and prayer and shouldn't be subject to faith "poaching" particularly of those in the midst of personal crisis and turmoil.

With that said, I'm not personally offended by your comments on disillusioned Episcopalians. I just feel more clarity is needed about that particular statement.

[sheclown]

confirmation class 2016

so let me repeat what bears repeating --

The Diocese of Florida is shutting down the missionary church and removing Sue Carmichael after more than 30 years in order to open a center for clergy and laity which will train them how to have a missionary church/urban ministry. 

[sheclown]

[sheclown]

Jax Jersey, I have tons of hubris.  Not sure your point of it all, tho.  This is a sad tale of the loss of a mission church.  And the religious hypocrisy of it all.  I'm sure there are many examples of other faiths with similar heart breaks, but since I attended this church for close to a decade, I feel quite easy talking about this particular situation.

[sheclown]

I believe every Episcopalian in this diocese needs to ask himself, what happens to these parishioners now that their church is gone?



I don't see anything in the Bishop's email which addresses caring for the lambs of this church.

[sheclown]

Indulge me a moment.

Let me tell you about the Christmas project that is done at St. Mary's every year.

Starting in spring, St. Mary's begins collecting items for its "Christmas shop".  These are donated items, mostly new, stored and organized for December.

During the last Sunday service before Christmas, children leave the service and go to the Christmas store where they pick out presents for their parents, their grandmas, their brothers and sisters.  Then, with the help of a grownup, they wrap and label these presents.

On Christmas Eve, Karen, delivers these presents to the children's households.  Usually along with food for Christmas dinner.

See, at St. Mary's, its is not enough to give the kids some toys.  This church gives these children the gift of giving.