Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
It is with profound sadness that I write to inform you of the sudden passing of the Rt. Rev. Dabney T. Smith, the Fifth Bishop of the Diocese of Southwest Florida. Bishop Smith died early this morning after a brief hospitalization. For almost four decades, Bishop Smith faithfully served the Episcopal Church as deacon, priest, and bishop. His deep faith, practical wisdom, and lighthearted sense of humor were a blessing to all who knew him, and his steady leadership guided our diocese through many challenges over the course of his fifteen years as our bishop. I am personally deeply grateful to have known and worked closely with Bishop Smith as a mentor, colleague, and friend.
Please join me in committing to pray for Mary Wallis Smith and their entire family. Pray also for those congregations and dioceses where Bishop Smith exercised his ministry, and for all who are grieving. As disciples of Jesus Christ, even in the face of death, we remain a people of hope, and we give thanks that for God’s faithful people, life is changed, not ended. We believe in the resurrection of the body and the life of the world to come, and we place our trust in the One who is the creator and sustainer of all things.
In the coming days, information regarding funeral arrangements will be communicated when available. Let us pray for Dabney, and all whom we love, but see no longer.
O God of grace and glory, we remember before you this day our brother, Dabney. We thank you for giving him to us, his family and friends, to know and to love as a companion on our earthly pilgrimage. In your boundless compassion, console us who mourn. Give us faith to see in death the gate of eternal life, so that in quiet confidence we may continue our course on earth, until, by your call, we are reunited with those who have gone before; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Faithfully in Christ,
The Rt. Rev. Douglas F. Scharf
Sixth Bishop of the Diocese of Southwest Florida
