The electing synod of the Anglican Diocese of the Western Gulf Coast (DWGC) concluded today without electing a new diocesan bishop. After seven ballots, the convention deadlocked between the two nominees— the Rev. Fr. Russell Martin and the Rev. Fr. Ben Sharpe—prompting the convention to refer the election to the ACNA College of Bishops.
Social media reports from Anglican observers, confirmed by multiple sources close to the synod, described a clear divide: clergy largely supported Fr. Russell Martin, while the laity favored Fr. Ben Sharpe. Balloting began with deadlock evident after the first four rounds, and despite continued voting through the seventh ballot, neither candidate secured the required majority. The tally for the fourth ballot, one observer told AI, was 24 clergy, 15 laity votes for Fr. Martin, and 15 clergy and 28 laity for Fr. Sharpe. The seventh ballot saw 22 clergy, 15 laity for Martin, and 15 clergy and 28 laity for Sharpe. A vote was then taken to refer the matter to the College of BIshops. It passed 21 to 17 amongst the clergy, and 23 to 20 amongst the laity.
As of late Saturday evening, the Diocese of the Western Gulf Coast had not yet issued an official press statement on its website or social channels updating the election outcome. Pre-synod materials on the diocesan site (dwgc.org) had confirmed the two-candidate slate and the electing synod date of May 16 at St. Timothy’s Cathedral in Spring, Texas, with walkabouts completed in late April.
The election was to select a successor to the Rt. Rev. Clark Lowenfield, who has led the diocese (covering parts of Texas and Louisiana) since its formation. The process had drawn pre-election attention in Anglican circles, including discussion on the Stand Firm podcast about issues surrounding the nominees and broader ACNA conversations on women’s ordination.
Under the Constitution and Canons of the Anglican Church in North America (Title III, Canon 8, Section 4), when a diocesan convention or its equivalent fails to elect a bishop after balloting, authority shifts to the College of Bishops. The canons state explicitly: “If the diocesan convention fails to elect a bishop, the College of Bishops shall have authority to elect a bishop for the diocese, in the manner set forward by canon.” The diocesan body is required to continue voting until a majority is achieved; only if the convention is unable to elect a bishop does the provincial College assume responsibility.
In practice, this means the College of Bishops—comprising all active ACNA bishops—will now select the next Bishop Ordinary for the Western Gulf Coast. The College is scheduled to meet June 15–17 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where consent or election processes for such cases are typically addressed. No new search for candidates or diocesan nomination process is triggered; the College elects directly from its discernment, consistent with provincial canons and the diocese’s own governing documents (which must align with ACNA standards)
This marks the first known instance under current ACNA canons where a diocesan election has deadlocked and been referred upward in this manner. The diocese remains under the care of its current leadership until a new bishop is elected and consecrated.
