Anglican Diocese of the Western Gulf Coast Elects Paul Donison as Bishop

The Anglican Diocese of the Western Gulf Coast has elected the Rev. Paul Donison as its new bishop ordinary. The election follows a period of leadership transition for the Texas-based diocese, which had previously reached a deadlock during a synod in May. After seven ballots failed to produce a winner between two initial candidates, the matter was referred to the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) College of Bishops, who subsequently moved forward with Donison as the sole candidate for the November 7 vote.

Bishop Ryan Reed, who has served as the interim bishop since September, described the election results as overwhelming. Donison will serve as bishop-in-charge and ordinary-elect until the ACNA College of Bishops reviews the election at their January meeting. Following his confirmation, the diocese is expected to expand to include the Great Plains Missionary District, where Donison previously served as an assisting bishop. The diocese, which originated in 2011, encompasses congregations across Texas and Louisiana, while the missionary district operates in Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and northern Texas.