New Rector Excited to Begin Role at St. Elizabeth’s, Sebastian

As confident as he is about God’s plans for the future of Holy Cross, Winter Haven, where he served as vicar since January 2018, the Rev. Deke Miller can hardly contain the enthusiasm he feels for his new position as rector of St. Elizabeth’s, Sebastian.

St. Elizabeth’s has been without a full-time rector for the past five years, but that changed when Miller assumed the role on July 1. It will be his first opportunity to serve as a rector, where he will not only care for the congregation’s spiritual well-being but also oversee the parish’s operations, programs, staff and resources. His Celebration of New Ministry will occur on Oct. 19.

“One of the main things that that excited me about St. Elizabeth’s is that it is a medium-sized parish,” he said. “It’s a very strong church. When Sindy [his wife] and I walked in for a visit, it felt like home. It felt like that’s where we needed to be, where we belonged. There is a lot of potential there for bringing in more families. It’s a great area, and they are starting to see a lot of growth there. We’re hoping very much to capitalize on that for St. Elizabeth’s.”

Miller said Holy Cross is in the midst of restructuring its leadership team, which led to him looking elsewhere to continue the ministry to which God has called him.

“It wasn’t easy for me or Holy Cross,” he explained. “Winter Haven is a fast-growing area, and there are a lot of new things happening and some good work going on there. They have the potential to take advantage of that.”

Miller brings to his new position eight years of experience of parish and youth work, having served in Fort Pierce and New Smyrna Beach before landing in Winter Haven. Miller also spent time as the camp/conference center director for Camp Wingmann in Avon Park where he taught, preached and counseled both younger kids and college-age youth.

He and his wife have been married for 32 years and have two daughters, 25 and 28.

The Rt. Rev. Dr. Justin S. Holcomb‘s overarching vision to make reaching people with the gospel of Jesus Christ the focus for the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida is an inspirational one for Miller. It’s one he intends to carry out at St. Elizabeth’s.

“Bishop Holcomb’s command of the gospel is powerful,” Miller said. “He has a way of preaching and teaching that really works well with the head but applies greatly to the heart. He knows how to communicate to the heart of a person, and that just blows me away.”

Leaving his role at Holy Cross also meant he had to resign as dean of the Southwest Deanery, which included leaving his position on the Diocesan Board. Election of an interim deanery dean to serve through the end of the 2026 Diocesan Convention requires a convocation of clergy and convention lay delegates from the Southwest Deanery. Holcomb, in consultation with the Diocesan Board, is considering whether a convocation will be assembled to fill Miller’s position.

This situation applies directly to proposed Amendment A-2 to the diocesan canons, “Deanery Dean and President Vacancies,” designed to give guidance on deanery vacancies. A-2 was first voted on and approved at the 2025 Diocesan Convention and will come up for final approval at the 2026 Convention. It would allow for a simple appointment by the bishop to fill such a vacancy; a two-thirds majority vote for approval in 2026 would constitute the required second vote and allow adoption of the amendment.

As the rector at St. Elizabeth’s, Miller sees himself in a dual role: investing not only in the congregation to help “take the gospel of Christ to the world,” but working in the community outside the four walls of the church. He said he’s a community-minded leader who hopes to quickly become active in civic clubs in Sebastian, just as he was in Winter Haven.

“There are a lot of dechurched people in Sebastian, and it’s our job to invite the people back in and to help grow the church,” he said. “It’s not only about reaching young families, but families of all ages. Younger families these days are finding other things to do, and we need to get them active and living out their faith.

“St. Elizabeth’s is a strong community of believers, and they have done a phenomenal job of keeping that church alive and well,” Miller continued. “Sindy and I are all excited about being in Sebastian and getting settled in. We’re excited about building relationships there.”