A Letter from the ENT

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Grace and peace to you.

After many months of prayerful discernment and careful evaluation, the Episcopal Nominations Team (ENT) is delighted to publish the name of the nominee we believe suited to serve in this particular season as the next Bishop Ordinary of the Diocese of the Western Gulf Coast.

From the outset, the ENT neither assumed nor intended that this process would result in the presentation of a single nominee. Over the course of the process, however, a clear and unified sense of direction emerged. After completing our discernment and subsequently consulting with the Diocesan Council, Bishop Clark, and Bishop Kevin Allen, our bishop advisor, the ENT has determined that we will present one nominee to the Synod.

This conclusion was reached only after a long and rigorous process, shaped by prayer and sustained attention to the life and needs of the diocese, including:

• Prayerful evaluation rooted in Scripture and the BCP Ordinal;

• Careful consideration of feedback from the diocesan survey, through which leaders in the diocese shared their hopes and priorities for the next bishop;

• Receiving 15 nominations and thoroughly vetting 9 candidates;

• Conducting interviews, reviewing applications, calling references, and commissioning third-party screenings;

• Multiple full-day, in-person meetings and more than 65+ hours of collective discussion.

The ENT exists because the Synod entrusted us with this work, and we are very grateful to have had the opportunity to serve in this manner. Throughout the process, the voices, concerns, and aspirations of the diocese—expressed especially through the survey and prior Synod actions—have meaningfully informed our discernment. Presenting a single nominee is not intended to limit or preempt the Synod’s vital role in this process, but to communicate faithfully where the ENT has arrived after completing the task entrusted to us. We now place our discernment before the Synod, trusting that the Synod will undertake its own prayerful discernment in accordance with its calling and responsibilities.

With that understanding, the ENT unanimously presents to the Synod our nominee for Bishop Ordinary of the Diocese of the Western Gulf Coast: The Revd. Dr. Ben Sharpe. Fr. Ben brings gifts of faithful pastoral leadership, spiritual depth, and a clear vision for the future of our diocese. While many capable leaders serve the wider Church, the ENT is convinced that the Spirit has led us to him as the shepherd for this next season.

We invite you to join us in prayer for Fr. Ben, his wonderful wife Lisa, and for the Diocese of the Western Gulf Coast as we move into this next phase of discernment. May the Holy Spirit grant wisdom, unity, and clarity to all involved, and may Christ be glorified in the life and mission of this diocese.

With gratitude and in Christ’s service,

The Episcopal Nominations Team

If you are a Synod Delegate and you have any questions or concerns regarding the ENT’s discernment process, Fr. Drew (ENT Chair) would be happy to connect with you, hear your feedback, and discuss in greater detail. You are invited to schedule a virtual meeting here.

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Episcopal Nominations Team

In early 2025, Bishop Clark Lowenfield announced his retirement, setting the Diocese of the Western Gulf Coast on a journey to elect a new Diocesan Bishop. The first step on that journey, according to the DWGC Canons, was forming an Episcopal Nominations Team (ENT), which the Synod accomplished on May 17, 2025. This team is responsible for drafting a Diocesan Profile, building the application process, reviewing nominees/candidates, and presenting nominees to the Synod. The members of the ENT are listed below.

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