The Rt. Rev. Douglas Scharf
Sixth Bishop of the Diocese of Southwest Florida
The Rt. Rev. Douglas Frederick Scharf was elected bishop coadjutor of the Diocese of Southwest Florida on April 2, 2022. He was ordained and consecrated as a bishop on September 24, 2022, in Sarasota, Fla. He will be seated as the sixth bishop of the diocese on December 10, 2022, at the Cathedral Church of St. Peter in St. Petersburg.
Prior to his 2022 election, Bishop Scharf was the Rector of Good Shepherd Episcopal Church and School in Tequesta, FL since January 2017. A thriving congregation, Good Shepherd includes more than 500 active members and a vibrant, fully accredited early childhood program and elementary school of 140 students. He served as rector of Holy Innocents’ Episcopal Church (October 2007 - 2016) in Valrico, FL. He also served as associate rector of Church of the Holy Spirit (June 2004 – October 2007) in Osprey, FL.
Bishop Scharf earned a B.A. in English from Florida Gulf Coast University (2002); an M. Div. from Virginia Theological Seminary (2004); and a D. Min. from Emory University, Candler School of Theology (2018) with a concentration in Biblical Interpretation and Proclamation.
In addition to parish ministry, Bishop Scharf has served in various leadership roles within his diocesan communities and the wider Episcopal Church, including Standing Committee President, Convocation Dean, and two-time Deputy to General Convention.
Born in 1979, Bishop Scharf was raised in the Diocese of Southwest Florida, the son of the Rev. Frederick Scharf and Carol Scharf. He and his wife Shannon are the parents of three children: Clayton, Parker, and Grady. His hobbies include music (he plays piano), reading, hiking, kayaking, and spending time in the beauty of God’s creation.
Find out more:
- Coverage in The Southern Cross of Bishop Scharf''s election by clicking here.
- A history page of Bishops of the Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida.
- Contact information at the Diocese of Southwest Florida.
See Bishop Scharf's Visitation Schedule Here
News
Sermon Preached at the Annual Chrism Mass 2023
April 05, 2023
VENICE - Sermon Preached at the Annual Chrism Mass 2023, Diocese of Southwest Florida on April 4, 2023 at St. Mark’s, Venice by the Rt. Rev. Douglas F. Scharf, Bishop.
Bishop Scharf Announces Water and the Word Conference May 5 & 6, 2023
March 26, 2023
PARRISH - Bishop Doug Scharf announces the Water and the Word Conference happening this May 5 & 6 at DaySpring. The conference will include keynote speakers Jerusalem Greer, John Roberto, and Bishop Scharf. A variety of expert-led workshops, panel discussions, activities, and prayerful reflection will round out the two-day event.
"Jesus was a Leadership Genius!"
March 10, 2023
PARRISH - The Right Reverend Robert (Rob) Wright, Bishop of Atlanta, visited the diocese and presented Leadership as a Spiritual Practice to the College of Presbyters and the Retired Clergy & Spouses and Surviving Spouses gatherings last week at DaySpring.
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s statement on the death of the Most Rev. Frank Tracy Griswold III
March 06, 2023
NEW YORK- The Most Rev. Frank Tracy Griswold III, who served as the 25th presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church from 1998-2006, died Sunday, March 5, 2023, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the age of 85.
Episcopal leaders express frustration, concern over limits on teaching of Black history
February 02, 2023
[Episcopal News Service] In the 1980s, as a teenager in an all-Black high school in Detroit, Michigan, the Rev. Ronald Byrd Sr., The Episcopal Church’s missioner for African descent ministries, learned he had a place in America.
The Rev. Deacon S. Michael Kitt has been named Archdeacon of the Diocese of Southwest Florida.
October 21, 2022
PARRISH – The Rev. Deacon S. Michael Kitt has been named Archdeacon of the Diocese of Southwest Florida.
Annual Convention Date Rescheduled to December 10, 2022
October 12, 2022
PARRISH - Please see a letter from the Rt. Rev. Dabney T. Smith regarding the Diocesan Annual Convention.
A Letter from Bishop Smith Regarding Diocesan Convention
September 29, 2022
PARRISH - Please see a letter from Bishop Smith regarding Diocesan Convention.
View Photos from the Consecration of the Rt. Rev. Douglas F. Scharf
October 04, 2022
PARRISH - The Rt. Rev. Douglas F. Scharf was ordained and consecrated Bishop Coadjutor of the Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida on Saturday, September 24 at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in Sarasota. Bishop Scharf will work alongside the Rt. Rev. Dabney T. Smith, Fifth Bishop of the Diocese of Southwest Florida, until his retirement in December of 2022. Bishop Smith has led the diocese since January 2007.
Watch the Consecration Online
September 19, 2022
Dear Friends in Christ,
This week we will gather as a diocesan community to celebrate the Ordination and Consecration of our Bishop Coadjutor, the Rev. Dr. Douglas F. Scharf on Saturday, September 24 at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in Sarasota.
If you are unable to join us in person, we invite you to watch the consecration online beginning at 11 a.m. on the following links.
- On YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/user/EpiscopalFlorida
- On our website at: https://dioswfl.org/
tv.html - On Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/
DioceseofSWFL -
Directly on our Boxcast Channel at: https://boxcast.tv/view/
consecration-of-the-rev-dr- douglas-f-scharf- f39rgu9qapkli67mpjj
The service bulletin can be found HERE.
General Seating Tickets for for the Consecration of the Rev. Dr. Douglas F. Scharf
September 06, 2022
Dear Friends in Christ,
On Saturday, September 24, we will gather as a diocesan community to celebrate the Ordination and Consecration of our Bishop Coadjutor, the Rev. Dr. Douglas F. Scharf. Tickets are complimentary and only those with tickets will be permitted to attend. If you have not booked your tickets, now is the time to do so, this will be a sold-out event.
Saturday, September 24, at 11:00 a.m.
Van Wezel Performing Arts Center
Email: wmartucci@
Fall Deanery Convocations September 6,7, and 8
September 06, 2022
Fall Deanery Convocations September 6,7, and 8
The Fall Deanery Convocations are a critical and canonically required part of the Convention process in order to deliver the business resolutions, elections, and budget for consideration at the Convention. Equally important, the elections for deanery representatives to Diocesan Council will be conducted on these evenings.
Ft. Myers & Naples Deaneries
Tuesday, Sep 6 at 7 p.m. St. Mary’s in Bonita Springs
9801 Bonita Beach Rd SE, Bonita Springs, FL 34135
Tampa, St. Petersburg & Clearwater Deaneries
Wednesday, Sep 7 at 7 p.m. Ascension in Clearwater, 701 Orange Ave, Clearwater, FL 33756
Manasota & Venice Deaneries
Thursday, Sep 8 at 7 p.m. St. Mark’s in Venice, 508 Riviera St, Venice, FL 34285
For more information visit: https://episcopalswfl.
Pastoral Message Regarding the Morris Family
August 15, 2022
