Clergy & Staff
The Reverend Peter H. Rood
Rector
A California native, Peter is a graduate of Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena. While managing accounts for a large Wall Street investment firm, he worked closely with The Reverend Dr. John Perkins to help organize and establish the Harambee Christian Family Center in Northwest Pasadena and began to sense a call to ordained ministry.
Peter attended the Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas, and was ordained in 1994. After serving on the staff at The Church of Our Saviour and as chaplain to The Right Reverend Frederick Borsch, Peter was called to Holy Nativity in 2002.
He remains guided by social activism in peace and justice causes and continues to be engaged in and enriched by dialogue with those of other faith traditions.
Peter is a board member of The Guibord Center-Religion Inside Out (theguibordcenter.org) and is a certified Sivananda yoga teacher. His hobbies include gardening, cooking, reading, yoga, and running.
The Reverend Scott Taylor
Deacon
Scott hails from Wisconsin and has lived in Los Angeles for almost 20 years. Five years ago, he observed the Episcopal chaplaincy program in the jail and found his heart moved. He trained to become a board-certified chaplain at Good Samaritan Hospital and worked as a jail chaplain for almost five years. Previous to this, for more than 20 years, he consulted in strategic planning and brand management.
On December 20, 2014, Scott was ordained a Deacon and assigned to Holy Nativity. He is attending Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena. During most weekdays, Scott is at All Saints’ Beverly Hills, managing the social justice ministries including the Monday Meal. Scott’s many passions range from prison reform and improving mental healthcare in the jail to stewardship of the environment, hiking, jazz, and classical music.
Margie Wakeman Wells
Rector's Assistant
Margie is a member of the Holy Nativity community and is a volunteer in the church office. She assists Father Peter with directing the activities and administration of the church.
Margie holds a BA from the University of California Santa Barbara and is a long-time teacher. Currently she does online consulting work for College of Court Reporting in Indiana and travels giving lectures to court reporting associations on “All Things English.” She has written and published several books through Margie Holds Court Publishing. Check out her website: margieholdscourt.com.
Margie has two grown sons and lives with her husband, Bill, in Culver City, California.
Dr. Brad Elliott Stone
Adult Christian Education Director
Dr. Brad Elliott Stone holds a Ph.D. from the University of Memphis; was a William J. Fulbright scholar, Spain; and speaks five languages. He is a Professor of Philosophy at Loyola Marymount University and the Chair of the Department of African American Studies.
Brad heads the FEAST program (Faith Enrichment and Spiritual Training) at Holy Nativity. As the head of this Christian education program for adults, Brad has instituted the “Six for Supper” program; teaches Bible study, having just completed a survey of the Bible called Bible 101; and heads up the God Talk Book Club, where we have read Teresa of Avila’sInterior Castles among other selections.
Brad has been certified by The Right Reverend J. Jon Bruno to preach and does so several times a year.
Dr. Rose Chen
Accompanist and Choir Leader
Taiwanese pianist Rose Chen received her Doctor of Musical Arts from the prestigious USC Thornton School of Music in 2010. She has performed as a soloist and chamber player in Canada, Austria, Brazil, France, Israel, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, and throughout the U.S.
An advocate for Taiwanese contemporary music, Rose directs the Los Angeles Taiwanese Chorus, with whom she premieres several of her choral arrangements.
Rose’s recent projects include composing and recording piano music for a short film called “Tasting Wednesday” and the world premiere of “Suite Adeline” for solo piano by techno pioneer Bruce Haack (1931-1988).
Rose has been on the music faculty at Cypress College since 2013. rosechen.com
Roxanne Hill
Lay Associate for Pastoral Care
Roxanne graduated from Loyola Marymount University with a Bachelor of Art’s degree in sociology and a double minor in French and psychology. She later earned a Master of Arts degree in religion at the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest.
She currently works at Loyola Law School as Program Administrator at the Center for Juvenile Law and Policy.
Roxanne has served as Liturgical Assistant at Holy Nativity Episcopal Church, where she is currently the Lay Associate for Pastoral Care. She also serves as chaplain to incarcerated women at the Century Regional Detention Facility.
In addition, she is a certified Personal Fitness Trainer. Her diverse interests include sustainable living, HIV/AIDS work, and event planning. She also enjoys Indian and Caribbean dance and likes to travel.
Melissa Pérez
Godly Play Director
Melissa Pérez, born and raised in sunny Southern California, is a 2012 graduate of Loyola Marymount University with a B.A. in communication studies and a minor in psychology.
Melissa has been actively volunteering with children with mental and learning disabilities and those in impoverished communities since age 15. Her love for nurturing one-on-one relationships with children of all ages and backgrounds stems from growing up with a younger brother who battles high-functioning autism, likened to Asperger syndrome.
Melissa hopes to attend grad school in the near future to study non-profit management in order to fuse her passions of entertainment and helping those in need. She is currently an agent assistant at one of the top talent agencies in the entertainment sector.
Melissa looks forward to instilling a bit of God’s love and lessons in all the kids who attend Godly Play!
