Five persons have been nominated for the election of a bishop in the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast.

All of those nominated by the search committee are from outside the diocese. They are: the Very Rev. Philip M. Duncan, dean of St. Matthew's Cathedral, Dallas; the Rev. Andrew MacBeth, rector of Eastern Shore Chapel, Virginia Beach, Va.; the Rev. Pierre W. Whalon, rector of St. Andrew's, Fort Pierce, Fla.; the Rev. Canon Donald L. Woodrum, rector of St. Luke's, Live Oak, Fla.; and the Rev. Steve Zimmerman, rector of St. Andrew's Chapel, Boca Raton, Fla.

The election will be held Jan. 6, 2001. The bishop-elect will succeed the Rt. Rev. Charles F. Duvall, who will retire as diocesan bishop.