Miller and Schultz spoke to members gathered for the church's Annual
Meeting, which typically meets for an hour, and announced that, due to
the gravity of the decision placed before the members, the Annual
Meeting would be extended to include a three-hour session scheduled for
1:00 4:00pm January 31, 2004. Present to address parish members at the
later gathering will be the Bishop of the Diocese of Central Florida,
the Right Rev. John W. Howe, and a representative from AMiA, the Rev.
Dr. Tim Smith. At the conclusion of the presentations and question and
answer session, parishioners have been asked to vote either to accept or
reject the vestry's proposals.

Fr. Miller also informed the congregation that he has requested a letter
dimissory from Bishop Howe to the AMiA. A letter dimissory is, in
effect, an ecclesiastical letter of transfer. Miller reported that the
Bishop was amenable to this, and added that other clergy of the parish
staff, including the Rev. Jonathan H. Riddle and the Rev. E. Lynn
Turner, had also requested letters dimissory. Fr. Gray T. Echols,
Miller's assistant for seven years, received his letter dimissory from
Bishop Howe to the AMiA on Friday, January 23, 2004. One member of St.
John's clergy, deacon Elizabeth A. Murray, has decided to remain in the
Episcopal Church.

The Vestry proposals and letters dimissory come on the heels of the
election of Gene Robinson to the office of Bishop in the Episcopal
Church in November of last year. Robinson abandoned his wife and two
children to embrace a noncelibate, homosexual relationship in which he
has remained to date. In addition, Miller noted that at the last General
Convention, the legislative body of the Episcopal Church, resolutions
were adopted which enabled Church liturgies for the blessing of same-sex
unions to occur.

Schultz stated that plans were under way to have the property, on Young
Street in historic Eau Galle, appraised for the purpose of negotiating a
purchase from the Diocese. It was unclear as to whether such a purchase
would proceed, as diocesan- and national-level requirements would need
to be explored. If it is not possible to purchase the land, departing
members would gather in another location to make additional plans.

Yes, there is a measure of sadness in this, Miller remarked. But, God
has given us a truly exciting vision. We labored long and hard to see
the vision take shape within Episcopal Church, but the new wine is
rupturing the old wineskins. Now we are beginning to understand that
part of the great adventure of fulfilling God's vision for St. John's
may entail seeking a new location. That's a bit scary, but thrilling, as
well. I have great faith that God will provide for us, just as He always
has.

Asked about those who choose not to follow him out of the Episcopal
Church, Miller stated, My heart and love remain with them. These are
people I have served in Christ for eight years, and we have greatly
enriched one another's lives. I will miss them, and I understand that
leaving a church as warm and lively as St. John's is an extremely
difficult thing to do. It's been agonizing for me " the hardest year's
I've ever given to God. Jesus still has good work for those who chose to
stay, and I am working very hard with Bishop Howe to make sure that the
pastoral needs of those who remain will be met, and I am certain that
they will be.

END