Diocese of Florida announces in-state bishops will assist during leadership transition
[Episcopal News Service] Two bishops from nearby dioceses will begin assisting the Diocese of Florida on Oct. 1 as it continues a prolonged leadership transition and seeks a new diocesan bishop.
The Jacksonville-based Diocese of Florida announced recently that Central Florida Justin Holcomb and Southwest Florida Bishop Douglas Scharf have agreed to serve as assisting bishops and “will primarily serve in important advisory roles as we continue our bishop search and election process.”
The new assistance from Holcomb and Scharf follows the service of two other bishops, former Georgia Bishop Scott Benhase and former New Jersey Bishop Chip Stokes. Benhase will end his work in the Diocese of Florida on Sept. 30. Stokes will continue to provide “sacramental support” through Florida parish visitations and ordinations. The diocese also has been working with former El Camino Real Bishop Mary Gray-Reeves on a diocesan trust-building and healing process.
The Diocese of Florida has been without a diocesan bishop since the October 2023 retirement of Bishop John Howard. In March 2025, the standing committee announced it had initiated a series of steps that would allow for a bishop election in 2026 and a consecration in early 2027.
