Episcopal Church in Southeast Florida’s Duncan Center Reopens with a New Partnership

Episcopal Church in Southeast Florida
Posted Jul 25, 2022

The Duncan Center in Delray Beach, FL

It is with great excitement that we announce that the Episcopal Church in Southeast Florida’s Duncan Center has established a new partnership with the Roman Catholic Church which will allow the Duncan Center to be utilized to its full potential.

For years, the Duncan Center has struggled under increasing deferred maintenance and operational losses. Additionally, congregational and diocesan use has diminished over time due to its location and to the rising costs. Finally, during the pandemic, the Center had to cancel a number of reservations and close its doors for an extended period of time.   These circumstances have created a situation that has called for a creative solution.

To determine the next steps, the Bishop’s Office engaged a consultant who conducted interviews with clergy and laity in the diocese and gained critical insights.   In the light of this feedback, the Duncan Center board, with the approval of the Bishop and the Executive Board, decided to partner with Amoris Christi, a formation institute in the Roman Catholic Church.

Amoris Christi is a recognized institute of the Roman Catholic Church that offers programs geared toward college students and young adults to help them discern their vocation and mission in order to live a life of discipleship.

The Episcopal Church in Southeast Florida will continue to own and use the Duncan Center for a variety of events, including Cursillo, CREDO, workshops and retreats.  For the first time in many years, the Duncan Center will be on a sustainable financial footing which will allow congregations to use the facilities at a lower cost. Congregations and ministries who wish to use the Duncan Center for retreats and other events will need to contact Karen Weeks, the current president of the Board, who will assist with scheduling.

Not only does this new partnership give the Duncan Center a new lease on life; this new collaboration also opens a significant new chapter in our commitment on the journey of closer relationships with the Roman Catholic Church, and is an example of genuinely practical ecumenism.  There will be an inaugural celebration of the new partnership at the Duncan Center on October 13, 2022, at 5:00 p.m., at which Bishop Eaton, Bishop Barbarito of the Diocese of Palm Beach, and Bishop Joy Allapat of the Syro-Malabar Diocese will lead the prayers. All are welcome to this celebration.

More details to follow.

For more information, please contact Shani Maxwell at shani@diosef.org