News

Election Results from the 57th Diocesan Convention

By Staff Report

The following are the election results by the 57th Annual Convention of the Diocese of Southwest Florida on October 11, 2025.

Watch the Elections Here:

Delegates at the convention voted online via the VPoll voting application. Please see the election results below:

ELECTION A: Standing Committee, Presbyter Elect one (1). Elect one (1) presbyter to a (3) three-year term.

  1. The Rev. Bryan O’Carroll

  

ELECTION B: Standing Committee, Lay: Elect two (2). Elect two (2) lay persons to a (3) three-year term.

  1. Mr. Stephen Straske
  2. Ms. Linda Tandy

 

ELECTION C: Diocesan Council, At large, Lay: Elect two (2). Elect two (2) lay persons to a (2) two-year term.

  1. Ms. Joni James
  2. Ms. Jacquelyn “Jackie” Smith

 

ELECTION D: Ecclesiastical Disciplinary Board, Clergy: Elect two (2). Elect two (2) clergy to a 3-year term

  1. The Rev. Whitney Burton
  2. The Rev. Deacon Ken McCaslin

 

ELECTION E: Ecclesiastical Disciplinary Board, Lay: Elect two (2). Elect two (2) lay persons to a 3-year term.

  1. Mr. Ray Stoll
  2. Ms. Navita Cummings James

 

ELECTION F: University of the South Trustee, Presbyter: Elect one (1). Elect one (1) presbyter to a three-year term, which begins 7/1/2026 and ends 6/30/2029

  1. The Very Rev. Charles Cannon

 

ELECTION G: University of the South Trustee, Lay: Elect one (1). Elect one (1) lay person to a three-year term, which begins 7/1/2026 and ends 6/30/2029

  1. Mr. Jimmy Robbins

 

ELECTION H: General Convention, Clergy: Elect four (4). Elect four (4) clergy deputies to a three-year term.  Elect two (2). Elect two (2) clergy alternate deputies to a three-year term.

Clerical Deputies 1: The Very Rev. Michelle Robertshaw

Clerical Deputies 2: The Rev. Ryan Whitley

Clerical Deputies 3: The Very Rev. Dr. Jessica Babcock

Clerical Deputies 4: The Very Rev. Adrienne Hymes

Clerical Alternate 1: The Rev. Sandra Rogers

Clerical Alternate 2: The Rev. Matthew Grunfeld

 

ELECTION I: General Convention, Lay: Elect four (4). Elect four (4) clergy deputies to a three-year term.  Elect two (2). Elect two (2) clergy alternate deputies to a three-year term.

Lay Deputies 1: Canon Mike Booher

Lay Deputies 2: Mr. Duane Hollier

Lay Deputies 3: Ms. Gerry Gardner

Lay Deputies 4: Ms. Jacqueline Smith

Lay Alternate 1: Ms. Melissa Rau

Lay Alternate 2: Mr. Justin Miller

 

The members of the 57th Diocesan Convention approved the following people who were elected at their Deanery Convocations to serve on Diocesan Council.

  • Representing the Clearwater Deanery, the Rev. Jon Roberts from Calvary, Indian Rocks Beach, serving a first term.
  • Representing the Ft. Myers Deanery, the Rev. Bill Van Oss from St. Michael and All Angels in Sanibel, serving a third term.
  • Representing the Manasota Deanery, Ms. Mary Page Hill from Church of the Redeemer, Sarasota, serving a third term.
  • Representing the Naples Deanery, the Rev. Marcella Drawdy from Trinity-by-the-Cove, Naples, serving a first term, and Mr. Steve Palesy, from Trinity-by-the-Cove, Naples, serving an unexpired first term
  • Representing the St. Petersburg Deanery, the Rev. Rob Crow from St. Augustine’s, St. Pete, serving a second term
  • Representing the Tampa Deanery, the Rev. Caroline Devitt from St. John’s Tampa, serving an unexpired first term, and Ms. Katie Cross, from St. John the Divine, Sun City Center, serving a third term
  • Representing the Venice Deanery, Mr. Randy Arsenault from Church of the Good Shepherd, Punta Gorda, serving a third term.

 

The members of the 57th Diocesan Convention affirmed the appointments to the Commission on Ministry.

Lay appointments are:

  • Ms. Mary Jane Park, serving a second three-year term
  • Ms. Chris Vasquez, Co-Chair, serving her first full three-year term.

 

The Deacon Appointment is:

  • The Rev. Tania Wilkes, who is fulfilling an unexpired three-year term.

 

Presbyter appointments are:

  • The Rev. Janet Junnell, Co-Chair, who is fulfilling an unexpired three-year term,
  • The Rev. Alexander Andujar, who is fulfilling an unexpired three-year term
  • The Rev. Steve Zimmerman, serving his first three-year term
  • The Rev. Nikki Seger, serving her second three-year term.

 

The members of the 57th Diocesan Convention affirmed the appointments by Bishop Douglas Scharf as Canonical Deans for a one-year term, with no more than 3 consecutive terms.

  • The Very Rev. Charles Cannon, representing the Ft. Myers deanery, serving his third term.
  • The Very Rev. Daniel Lemley, representing the Clearwater deanery, serving his second term.
  • The Very Rev. David Marshall, representing the Manasota deanery, serving his second term.
  • The Very Rev. Jessica Babcock, representing the Naples deanery, serving her second term.
  • The Very Rev. Ethan Cole, representing the St. Petersburg deanery, serving his third term.
  • The Very Rev. Adrienne Hymes, representing the Tampa deanery, serving her first term.
  • The Very Rev. Vickie McDonald, representing the Venice deanery, serving her first term.

 

After the convention, the newly formed Standing Committee elected new officers. These officers are:

  • President: The Very Rev. Michelle Robershaw
  • Vice President: The Rev. Sandra Rogers
  • Secretary: Ms. Michelle Thomas
  • Liaison to the C.O.M.: The Rev. Joe Hudson

Standing Committee Members:

Presbyters:

  • The Rev. Michelle Robertshaw             2026-2nd Term
  • The Rev. Joe Hudson                             2027-1st Term
  • The Rev. Dr. Jessica Babcock                2026-1st Term
  •  The Rev. Bryan O’Carroll                    2028-1st Term
  •  The Rev. Sandy Rogers                        2027-1st Term

Electors:

  • Mrs. Michelle Thomas               2027-1st Term
  • Ms. Rachel Schnabel                  2026-1st Term
  • Mr. Stephen Straske                   2028-1st Term
  • Ms. Linda Tandy                        2028- 1st Term