Discerning Together: Announcing Slate of Nominees for Bishop Coadjutor
Beloved People of the Diocese of West Texas,
On behalf of the Nominating Committee for our Bishop Coadjutor, the Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas is pleased to submit our slate of nominees.
The Rev. Ripp Hardaway - Episcopal Diocese of West Texas
The Rev. Alex Montes-Vela - Episcopal Diocese of Texas
The Rev. Dr. David G. Read - Episcopal Diocese of West Texas
Over the course of this process, we hoped to present a slate of nominees that would all be qualified to serve the Diocese of West Texas as our next bishop. We believe that through the faithful and diligent work of discernment–with an extraordinary pool of potential nominees and anchored in the Diocesan Profile published by the Executive Board with survey input from across the diocese–Alex, David, and Ripp fit that description on many levels.
The Committee has published a Meet the Nominees booklet to provide insight into the ministry of each of these fine individuals and to help all of us discern who is being called to serve as our next Bishop. A Spanish translation of this booklet will be made available in January 2023. It includes a brief statement from each nominee about their call to continue in this process as well as selections from their profile with the Office of Transition Ministry of The Episcopal Church to give a snapshot of each person’s ministry, video greetings from the nominee, and links to sermons they have selected as examples of their preaching. We hope it will give you a good introduction to the slate that will be presented for the election on February 18th.
As a diocese, our work of discernment continues. As we prepare for the Discernment Forums taking place January 27-29, please continue to pray for this process, for our delegates to Council 2023, and for the Standing Committee as we discern together for our future.
If you will serve as a delegate to Diocesan Council in February, make time to pray for our nominees and carefully consider the information presented in this booklet. As you read, listen, and pray, know that God is continuing to work in this process and be present in the election and transition that will come next.
I would like to extend a special word of gratitude to all those who have served as part of the Bishop Nominating Committee. Thank you for your wise and discerning work with the Holy Spirit in this unique task and for offering your gifts and insight throughout.
Please continue to keep all of our nominees and their families in your prayers, and may God continue to bless us in the months ahead. I’m grateful to be a part of this diocese, and I look forward to our future together. God bless each and every one of you in our life together as the Diocese of West Texas.
Peace,
Ben+
The Rev. Dr. Ben Nelson
President of the Standing Committee
Meet the Nominees
- Click here to read the Meet the Nominees online.
- Click here to save the Meet the Nominees as a PDF.
Nominee Introduction Video
- Click here to view a ten-minute introduction video from the slate of nominees.
Share the News
- Use the link to the diocesan blog to share this news with others in your congregation: www.dwtx.org/blog/meetthenominees
- Click here to save a printable copy of the letter from the Standing Committee.
- Church offices and clergy will receive a Sharing Toolkit next week, including flyers and digital images to share with their members.
More Information
- Read prior communications from the Standing Committee
- View the Diocesan Profile online.
- Visit the Bishop Election web-page.
Timeline for Electing Next Diocesan Bishop
October 2022
Nomination Process closes; Nominating Committee conducts interviews of nominees and makes reference calls; background checks conducted
November 1, 2022
Nominating Committee invites selected nominees to Discernment Retreat
November 14-17, 2022
Discernment Retreat - Nominating Committee and Consultant on retreat with selected nominees
December 18, 2022
Final slate of nominees for Bishop Coadjutor published
January 27-29, 2023
Discernment Forums will take place at St. Alban's, Harlingen (1/27), in Corpus Christi (1/28), and at St. Thomas, San Antonio (1/29) with opportunity to attend at least one forum via livestream
February 18, 2023
Election of a Bishop Coadjutor at the conclusion of Diocesan Council in Corpus Christi
July 8, 2023
Consecration of the Bishop-Elect
A Prayer for the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas
Almighty God, giver of all good gifts, you have called us to a life-giving fellowship in the Diocese of West Texas: Encourage and build up in us the love of Christ Jesus that we might continue to strengthen the legacy of those who have tended and led this diocese with godly courage; look graciously upon us and on your whole Church; by your Spirit, guide the Standing Committee, the delegates, and the clergy who shall discern the one you call to be a bishop for our diocese; send us a faithful shepherd who will care for your people and equip us for our ministries. All this we pray in the name of Jesus Christ, who with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns now and forever. Amen.
Bishop Nominating Committee
The Standing Committee Members
President - the Rev. Dr. Ben Nelson, TMI Episcopal, San Antonio
Mrs. Nancy Beauchamp, Good Shepherd, Corpus Christi
The Rev. Scott Brown, TMI Episcopal, San Antonio
Dr. Liz Manning, Holy Spirit, Dripping Springs
Mr. Richard Mosty, St. Peter’s, Kerrville
The Rev. Matthew Wise, St. Mark’s, San Antonio
The Assisting Members
Mrs. Thurma Hilton, St. Richard’s, Round Rock
The Rev. Alex Holloway, St. Margaret’s, San Antonio
The Rev. John Inserra, St. Alban’s, Harlingen
Ms. Andrea Knight, Resurrection, Windcrest
The Rev. Karen Morris, Emmanuel, Lockhart
The Rev. Arnoldo Romero, St. James, Del Rio
