Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As we look forward to the election of our new bishop, we have been encouraged to prepare his or her way by filling in the valleys and smoothing out the roughness where we can. One of the Standing Committee’s main goals as the Ecclesiastical Authority of the Diocese of Florida is to ensure our Constitutions and Canons, as well as our procedures and policies, follow the Episcopal Church’s Constitutions and Canons. Privately, we have been working hard these past few years to bring our diocese into compliance with these canons, but we would like to publicly clarify two important ways our diocese has come into alignment in practice and application.

On Marriage in the Episcopal Diocese of Florida

Canon I.18 “Of the Solemnization of Holy Matrimony” as amended by the 78th General Convention makes clear that marriage in The Episcopal Church is available to all couples who meet the canonical requirements, regardless of sex or gender.

While our diocesan practice has historically restricted marriage to unions between one man and one woman, per Article II.b of our Articles of Reincorporation and Canon 1, Section 1 of the Canons of the Diocese of Florida, the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church take precedence over diocesan affairs when they conflict.

What This Means for Our Clergy

If a couple comes to our clergy for Holy Matrimony, and neither party has been married before, and they meet all other canonical requirements for marriage, the clergy do not need the permission of the Ecclesiastical Authority of the Diocese of Florida to perform the service. This is not a change in policy as it has been lived into the past few years; this is a clarification that we are currently, and intend to continue, complying with the Episcopal Church Canons.

Let us be very clear, this canonical reality does not diminish the pastoral and theological discretion of clergy to not perform a marriage. As Canon I.18.7 states: “It shall be within the discretion of any Member of the Clergy of this Church to decline to solemnize or bless any marriage.” This remains unchanged and it is the right of all ordained ministers of the Church. Just as with any marriage—whether based on theological conviction, pastoral concern, or practical circumstances—clergy retain the authority to decline to preside at any marriage. No clergy person will be compelled to solemnize a marriage contrary to their conscience.

However, if a couple meets the canonical requirements for marriage in the Episcopal Church, they may not be denied access to the sacrament of Holy Matrimony in the Diocese of Florida solely because of the sex or gender of the partners. Clergy who choose not to preside must ensure that couples have access to clergy who will, honoring both pastoral conscience and canonical obligation. If any of our clergy need help or would like to help with this situation, please reach out to the Standing Committee and we will help provide support.

On Non-Discrimination and Abuse of Power

Additionally, the Standing Committee is committed to living into and maintaining a diocesan culture where:

• All persons are treated with dignity and respect.
• Power is exercised with accountability and transparency.
• Discrimination is named and addressed.
• Those who experience abuse or discrimination find support and justice.

These commitments are reflective of our baptismal promise to “respect the dignity of every human being” and the hard work we have undertaken as a diocese to heal and listen and build community. That hard work is not finished, and in many respects is just beginning.

This is not merely aspirational language; it is canonical requirement throughout the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church. The Episcopal Church Constitution and Canons has codified this commitment to non-discrimination, specifically:

a)   As to the rights of laity:

a.    Title I, Canon 17, Section 5: “No one shall be denied rights, status or access to an equal place in the life, worship, governance, or employment of this Church because of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, marital or family status (including pregnancy or child care plans), sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disabilities or age, except as otherwise specified by Canons.”

b)   In access to the discernment process and employment in a diocese:

a.    Title III, Canon 1, Section 2: “No person shall be denied access to the discernment process or to any process for the employment, licensing, calling, or deployment for any ministry, lay or ordained, in this Church because of race, color, ethnic origin, immigration status, national origin, sex, marital or family status (including pregnancy and child care plans), sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disabilities or age, except as otherwise provided by these Canons. No right to employment, licensing, ordination, call, deployment, or election is hereby established.”

b.    Section 3: “No person shall be denied access to the discernment process or to any process for the employment, licensing, calling, or deployment for any ministry, lay or ordained, in this Church because of their conscientiously-held theological belief that marriage is a covenant between a man and a woman, or that marriage is a covenant between two people. No right to employment, licensing, ordination, call, deployment, or election is hereby established. In dioceses where the bishop exercising ecclesiastical authority (or, where applicable, ecclesiastical supervision) is unable, for reasons of conscientiously-held theological belief, to ordain a person who holds one of the above-named theological beliefs, the bishop exercising ecclesiastical authority (or ecclesiastical supervision) shall invite another bishop of this Church to provide access to the discernment process for ordination.”

c.    Section 4: “No priest or deacon shall be denied licensure or canonical residence in any diocese of this Church because of their conscientiously-held theological belief that marriage is a covenant between a man and a woman, or that marriage is a covenant between two persons. No right to canonical residence or licensing is hereby established.”

c)    As to the appointment of Priests:

a.    Title III, Canon 9, Section 3.a.3: “Race, color, ethnic origin, sex, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, disabilities or age, except as otherwise specified by these Canons, shall not be a factor in the determination of the Ecclesiastical Authority as to whether such person is a duly qualified Priest.”

d)   As to the acceptance of the Letters Dimissory of Clergy:

a.    Title III, Canon 9, Section 4.d: “The Ecclesiastical Authority shall not refuse to accept Letters Dimissory based on the applicant’s race, color, ethnic origin, sex, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, disabilities, or age.”

e)   As to the Licensing of a Priest

a.    Title III, Canon 9, Section 7.a: “No Priest shall be denied such a license on account of the Priest’s race, color, ethnic origin, sex, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, disabilities, or age, except as otherwise provided in these Canons.”

We realize this commitment to non-discrimination has not always been honored in this diocese. When the Standing Committee became the Ecclesiastical Authority of the Diocese of Florida, one of our highest priorities became working with Bishop Mary Gray-Reeves to intentionally listen to those who have experienced abuse and discrimination. Through this work, we have worked hard to amend our ways wherever possible. We remain committed to these aims, and we are continuing our work with Bishop Mary to work toward healing and reconciliation in the Diocese of Florida.

Our Continued Path Forward Together

We recognize that our diocese encompasses a rich theological diversity, and we give thanks for the faithful witness of clergy across the theological spectrum. These canonical clarifications are not meant to diminish that diversity but to ensure that we live within the constitutional and canonical framework of the Episcopal Church while honoring the conscience of individual clergy.

As we move toward the election of our new bishop, healing and reconciliation in the Diocese of Florida remains one of our top priorities as your Standing Committee. Over the next few months, expect to hear about opportunities for you to participate in this healing work. Bishop Mary continues to walk alongside us as we become more fully a diocese that celebrates our diversity.

If you have questions about how these canonical requirements apply to your ministry, or if you need pastoral support in navigating them, please reach out to the Standing Committee or our Assisting Bishops. We are here to support you as we together seek to be faithful to our ordination vows and to the doctrine, discipline, and worship of the Episcopal Church.

May God continue to guide us as we strive to proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ.

Trusting in Jesus,

The Standing Committee

The Rev. Justin Yawn, President

Heather Prox

The Rev. Bob Goolsby

J. Byron Greene

The Rev. Lisa Meirow

Mary Dudley White