Bishop Dabney Smith

Bishop Smith is the retired Bishop Diocesan of the Diocese of Southwest Florida, where he served from 2007-2022. In 2015, he was a candidate for Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church. From 1987-2007, Smith served as rector of churches in Louisiana, Florida, and Indiana. 

Over the course of his career in ministry, Bishop Smith served on the boards of many organizations, including: the Dominican Development Group, Nashotah House; the Seminary of the Southwest; and University of the South. 

Bishop Smith has also served the wider church as chairman of the Episcopal Church Building Fund; a member of the House of Bishops Planning Committee; and Vice President of Province IV. He was appointed by the Presiding Bishop to chair the Mission Beyond the Episcopal Church Committee of the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church. At the 2015 General Convention, he was elected to serve as a member of Executive Council.

Bishop Smith earned a B.A. in broadcasting production from the University of South Florida, Tampa (1980); a Master of Divinity from Nashotah House (1987); and a Doctor of Ministry from Seabury- Western Theological Seminary (1999).

Bishop Smith and wife, Mary Wallis Smith, are the parents of five grown children. They have 11 grandchildren. His hobbies include music and reading history and biographies.