Approved Diocesan Policy and Guidelines
The Diocese of Southwest Florida has a number of policies and guidelines to help parishes and missions conduct their affairs with a clear idea of the best way to proceed.
Below are some of the chief policy documents of the Diocese. Each document is in PDF format, ready for downloading; together these documents comprise the Diocesan Resources Guide, a collection of policies and procedures that were distributed in ring binder form for new clergy, wardens and parish administrators.
- Diocesan Constitution and Canons: The chief organizing document of the Diocese. The Diocese of Southwest Florida's Constitution and Canons were first created in 1969 with the creation of the Diocese; changes are made at Annual Convention.
- Denominational Health Plan Policy Statement
- Lay Pension System Policy Statement
- Retired Stipendiary Clergy and Paid Diocesan Staff Lay Employee Health Care Benefit Policy (January 29, 2011)
- Revolving Loan Fund Guidelines: Information on applying on a revolving fund loan from the Diocese.
- Episcopal Charities Fund Guidelines: Guidelines to apply for a grant from Episcopal Charities of Southwest Florida.
Other Guidelines:
- Committee Audit Procedures and Parochial Report Resources
- Property Usage Guidebook
- SAMPLE Facilities Use Agreement
- SAMPLE Program and Facility License Agreement
- SAMPLE Release of Liability and Assumption of Risk
Endowment
General Diocesan Reference Documents
- Journal of the Diocese of Southwest Florida: The first pages include contact information for staff, Episcopal agencies, commissions and Diocesan schools. The link is to our publications page.
- Clergy Directory: Includes a list of contact information for clergy. Updated monthly.
- Supply Clergy List: This is a listing of priests in the Diocese who are available on a per-diem basis.
- Commission on Ministry Manual of Policies and Procedures: Reference document The Discernment Journey. Describes steps toward the ordination of deacons and priests. (Updated 2018)
- Search Manual: A guide for congregations (Updated 2020)
- Mutual Ministry Review: A document that shows how to conduct a Mutual Ministry Review. (Updated fall 2016).
- Guidelines for Episcopal Visitation: Document outlining the needs for a visit by Bishop Scharf or our Assisting Bishops, including procedures for confirmations, parish record
- Emergency Procedures: Parish Disaster Plan Policy.
- School for Ministry: School for Ministry Development student and instructor guidelines
- Vestry Roles and Responsibilities, a document from the 2014 Vestry Retreat
Communications Links
- Diocesan Style Book: The reference document that lays out official terms, agencies and word usage in the diocese, including clergy titles and web usage guidelines. (Updated January 2019)
- Social Media Policy: Guidelines for the use of social media and electronics in the diocese, including parishes. Updated April 2016
- Episcopal Logos and Visual Standards: Download an official Episcopal seal for use in publications, promotions and graphics
- Episcopal Church Signs: Order an Episcopal Church sign for your parish
- Annual Journal
- Subscribe: Southern Cross
- Southern Cross Online
- Subscribe: Bridges Email
Safeguarding God's People Model Guidelines
- Safeguarding Training
- Elder Abuse Module
- Diocesan Policies for the Protection of Children and Youth from Abuse
- Model Policies for the Protection of Children and Youth from Abuse
- Model Policies for the Prevention of Sexual Harassment of Church Workers
- Model Policies for the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation of Adults
Other Miscellaneous Guidelines
- Wedding Policy, St. Thomas Chapel: DaySpring Episcopal Center
- Interment Policy: St. Thomas Chapel Memorial Garden at DaySpring and St. Bartholomew Cemetery
- Contacting the Intake Officer: Guidelines (non-pdf) for contacting the Intake Officer who supervises clergy conduct.
Forms
- Marital Judgment Form: Judgment regarding marital status, permission to be married in the church
- Eucharistic Minister: Administer the consecrated elements at a Eucharistic celebration
- Eucharistic Visitor: Take the consecrated elements "in a timely manner" following a Eucharistic celebration
How To and Case Studies from Southern Cross
- How To: How a New Episcopal Priest is Called
- How To: Discern a Call to Ministry
- How To: Get Your Parish to Rank on Google
- How To: Build an Episcopal Church Archive
- Case Study: Planting an Episcopal Church
- Case Study: Building an Episcopal Church Playground
- Case Study: Canadians in Episcopal Churches in the U.S.A. & Florida
