The Rt Revd Brent Edward Whetstone

Bishop Brent Edward Whetstone was born on June 17, 1981, to the late Robert Whetstone, Sr., and Kathy Gott Whetstone. He and his three brothers were raised in Cortland, Ohio. Bishop Whetstone earned his Bachelor of Science degree in 2020 from Liberty University, majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Ethics. He later received his Master of Arts in Religious Studies from the John W. Rawlings School of Divinity in 2021 and completed his Master of Divinity studies through the same institution. His academic work has focused heavily on theology, ethics, leadership, chaplaincy, and pastoral ministry.

Bishop Whetstone and his wife, Heather Fenstermaker Whetstone, reside in Northeast Ohio and are the parents of Caitlyn, Isabella, Noah, Madeline, and Abigail. Outside of ministry, Bishop Whetstone is an avid hockey and soccer fan—a devoted supporter of the Columbus Crew who enjoys attending matches throughout the season—and he loves traveling to England whenever the opportunity arises. He and Heather also share a deep love for the arts and theater, frequently attending productions in Cleveland and supporting their children’s involvement in theatrical performance and the performing arts.

Bishop Whetstone has faithfully served in ministry for more than twenty years. Prior to ordination, he served in youth ministry within the Episcopal Church at Christ Episcopal Church in Warren, Ohio, and later within the Southeast Mission Area of the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio. Following a period of spiritual discernment, Bishop Whetstone and his family departed the Episcopal Church and became part of a mission congregation within the Anglican Church in North America Diocese of the Great Lakes, where he served in various leadership roles before being called into healthcare chaplaincy.

For more than a decade, Bishop Whetstone has served in healthcare ministry and organ donation advocacy, focusing particularly on trauma chaplaincy, end-of-life care, family support, and pastoral accompaniment during moments of crisis and grief. His ministry has emphasized compassionate presence, ethical leadership, and service among vulnerable populations, particularly throughout Appalachia and the Great Lakes region.

Since ordination, Bishop Whetstone has successfully planted two churches in Warren, Ohio: the Mission Church of Saint Thomas the Martyr and Our Lady of Walsingham Anglican Church. He currently serves as Bishop within the Anglican Province of North America and provides ecclesiastical oversight for the Anglican Ordinariate of Saint George, a chaplaincy-focused jurisdiction dedicated to sacramental ministry, pastoral care, and the formation of clergy and chaplains serving in diverse settings throughout North America.

Alongside his pastoral and episcopal ministry, Bishop Whetstone is a dedicated philanthropist. In 2022, he and Heather founded the Whetstone Family Foundation, a charitable organization advancing Hope, Health, and Humanity across Appalachian Ohio. Sustained by the personal giving of the Whetstone family, the Foundation awards scholarships to students pursuing careers in medicine, public health, and the arts — beginning with its inaugural awards at Bloomfield High School — and supports schools, clinics, and community programs that uplift the region. For the Bishop, philanthropy is an extension of the Gospel: a conviction that where you come from should never determine how far you can go.

In October 2025, Bishop Whetstone published his memoir, Anatomy of a Yes: Field Notes from an Organ Donation Advocate in Appalachia. Drawn from more than a decade at the bedside of organ donation, the book is an unflinching account of grief, grace, and the families who say yes in the darkest hour of their lives.