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 was seated as the sixth bishop of the diocese on December 10, 2022, at the Cathedral Church of St. Peter in St. Petersburg.

More About the Rt. Rev. Douglas ScharF

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.

Bishop Visitations

On any given Sunday, Bishop Scharf can be found worshiping and sharing the love of Christ with our Episcopal congregations across Southwest Florida.

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Water and the Word

 Join us on April 26-27, 2024, and focus on growing your knowledge, mission, and love of God.  Discover your leadership path. Re-imagine how your church can serve its community. Magnify your mission where faith and family intersect. 

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Bishop’s Blog

Bishop Scharf’s mission is to share the transformational teachings and love of Jesus Christ through service and outreach with the unique and growing communities of Southwest Florida.

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2026 Visitation Schedule:

Spring Visitations

January

1/4/2026: St. James – Port Charlotte

1/11/2026:  St. John – Pine Island

1/18/2026:  St. Nathaniel – North Port

1/25/2026: Calvary – Indian Rocks Beach

February

2/1/2026:  St. Catherine of Alexandria – Temple Terrace

2/8/2026:  Good Shepherd – Dunedin

2/15/2026:  St. Andrew’s – Tampa

March

3/1/2026:  St. Andrew’s – Boca Grande

3/8/2026:  St. Paul’s – Naples

3/15/2026: St Raphael’s – Ft Myers Beach

3/22/2026:  House of Bishops

3/29/2026

April

4/5/2026: The Cathedral Church of St. Peter – St. Petersburg

4/12/2026: Church of the Redeemer – Sarasota

4/19/2026: Trinity By The Cove – Naples

4/26/2026 St. Mary Magdalene – Lakewood Ranch

May

5/3/2026: Water and the Word

5/10/2026: Resurrection – Largo

5/17/2026: St. John’s – Tampa

5/24/2026: Holy Spirit – Osprey

5/31/2026: St. John’s – Brooksville

June

6/7/2026

6/14/2026: St. Vincent’s – St. Petersburg

6/21/2026: Church of the Nativity – Sarasota

6/28/2026

Fall Visitations

August

8/2/2026

8/9/2026: Lamb of God – Ft. Myers

8/16/2026: St. Mary’s – Dade City

8/23/2026: St. Matthew’s – St. Petersburg

8/30/2026: Good Samaritan – Clearwater

September

9/6/2026: Christ Church – Bradenton

9/13/2026: St. John’s – Clearwater

9/20/2026

9/27/2026: House of Bishops

October

10/4/2026: St. Mary’s – Palmetto

10/11/2026: Diocesan Convention

10/18/2026: All Souls – North Ft. Myers

10/25/2026: St. Alfred’s – Palm Harbor

November

11/1/2026 Holy Innocents’ –  Valrico

11/8/2026 St. Boniface – Sarasota

11/15/2026 St. Margaret – Sarasota

11/22/2026

11/29/2026 Thanksgiving

December

12/6/2026 St. Edmund – Arcadia

12/13/2026 Holy Spirit – Safety Harbor

12/20/2026 St. Elizabeth’s – Zephyrhills

12/27/2026

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One Mission in Christ

Watch Southwest Florida as our congregations walk with Christ in our communities.

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Becoming the Bishop

Read coverage about the bishop’s election from The Southern Cross.

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More History

Learn more about the history of bishops of the Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida.

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CONTACT US

Contact the Diocese of Southwest Florida.

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