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Episcopal leader trains on the job

By SHERRI DAY
Published March 9, 2007

SARASOTA - On Saturday, the Rev. Dabney T. Smith will be consescrated as the bishop who will eventually lead the 33,000-member Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida.

Smith will succeed Bishop John B. Lipscomb, who plans to retire soon but has been on medical leave since December. Delegates elected Smith, 53, in December.

Smith, who grew up in Daytona Beach and most recently served as rector of Trinity Episcopal Church in New Orleans, has been on the job since Feb. 1 as the incoming bishop coadjutor. He talked to the Times on the eve of his consecration, which will take place at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle in St. Petersburg.

Are you still planning what your role will be?

Yeah. I think that I will be dealing with commission on ministry issues as people are going through the process seeking ordination and meeting clergy as there are openings in congregations.

Do you think your role will change slightly because Bishop Lipscomb is on medical leave?

Sure. The reason that I'm here visiting congregations is because he is on medical leave. ... The good piece of it is it puts me in the game immediately as it were. It's very intentional on- the-job training. And he hopes, I hope, we all hope, that he will recover sufficiently to come back to his ministry full time.

What are your goals for the diocese?

I think it would be arrogant for me to come in and, without really even knowing the diocese yet, say these are my goals. So, my first goal is to really get to know the people of the diocese and the cultural climate, the demographic issues and opportunities so as to actually formulate concrete and insightful goals.

You come in at a time when the Episcopal Church is in some turmoil over the ordination of homosexual bishops. How will it sort itself out?

My Christian faith informs me that we are not to be afraid. We are to be faithful, and for me, for us, to be faithful we have to be faithful with each other, not without each other.

Fast Facts:

If you go

Consecration Service for the Rev. Dabney T. Smith, Bishop Coadjutor for the Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida. Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle, 5815 Fifth Ave. N, St. Petersburg. Seating is limited; most spaces reserved for ticket holders. The event will also be Web cast live at www.dioceseofswfla.org.

[Last modified March 9, 2007, 01:36:20]