Fr. Joel was born in Austin, Texas and raised in Oklahoma and Tennessee, graduating from high school and college in Nashville. After taking a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, he earned a Master of Divinity degree from Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri and served for eight years as a Chaplain in the United States Air Force, with assignments in Abilene and San Antonio, Texas as well as Greenland and Germany.

Following his military service, Fr. Joel attended Nashotah House Theological Seminary in Wisconsin, where he received a Diploma in Anglican Studies. From July 2008 through September 2012, Fr. Joel served as Rector of St. Andrew's Church in Breckenridge, Texas. He is a member of the Society of the Holy Cross, the Guild of All Souls, and the Diocesan Commission on Ministry.  Additionally, Fr. Joel is a Priest Associate of the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham and a member of Forward in Faith, North America.  He enjoys biking, jogging, movies, reading, travel, food, and sports.

Shelly, Fr. Joel's wife, a Nurse Practitioner, works in healthcare in the Fort Worth area. Fr. Joel and Shelly have four children, Noah, Mia (married to Taylor), Eli, and Heath, and three grandchildren, Marshall, Eloise, and Luke. The Hamptons reside in Aledo.

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You can email Father Joel at joel.hampton@fwepiscopal.org.