Our diocese has 12 chaplains who provide pastoral care for approximately 300 retired clergy and 250 spouses. The chaplains are assigned regionally by deanery and under the direction of the Office of the Bishop.
Chaplains provide pastoral care when needed with illness and at the time of a death. Our focus is to connect the retirees with a local congregation if they are not already attached. In the spring the bishop sponsors a well-attended annual Retired Clergy/ Spouse Day at DaySpring. The following is a sampling of our ministry: hospital visits, luncheons with clergy and spouses; mailing birthday cards and Christmas cards, attending funerals and following up as needed; phone calls- -particularly to the ill and infirm, home visits–again to the ill and infirm, transportation on occasion.
The Chaplains are:
- The Rev. Canon Chris Gray and Paula Gray (Diocesan Chaplains)
- The Rev. John Hiers (Clearwater Deanery)
- The Rt. Rev. Barry Howe and Mary Howe (St. Petersburg Deanery)
- The Rev. Jerry Stadel and Anne Stedal (Tampa Deanery)
- The Rev. Ted Copeland (Manasota Deanery)
- The Rev. Joyce and Jon Treppa (Venice Deanery)
- The Rev. Ken and Cheri McCaslin (Naples Deanery)
- The Rev. Alan Kelmereit and Deborah Kelmereit (Ft. Myers Deanery).
Last Updated: 2-25-25