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. 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.
The Reverend Sarah Reynolds
Associate for Community Formation
Ordained a deacon in June 2018, Sarah is thrilled to join the Holy Nativity community as the Associate for Community Formation. She's inspired by questions around what the next generation of church looks like in our modern, interconnected world and is grateful for the chance to wrestle together toward answers with the diverse, multi-faceted Holy Nativity community.
Sarah holds masters degrees in theology from The University of Chicago Divinity School and from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C., in addition to a certificate in Anglican Studies from Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley. Her favorite ways to spend her spare time include reading and writing, seeing live music and baseball, cooking, talking theology, and finding any excuse to be outdoors. Hailing from the Shenandoah Valley and harboring a deep love for Chicago where she lived for 6 years, she feels she's found her home in Los Angeles.
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 and Graduate Director of Philosophy at Loyola Marymount University.
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’s Interior 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
Pianist Rose Chen came to the U.S. in 1997 after winning numerous piano awards and making her solo debut at the National Concert Hall in her native Taiwan. In 2010 she received her Doctorate of Musical Arts at the prestigious USC Thornton School of Music. Rose’s music journey has also taken her to concert stages in Canada, Austria, Brazil, France, Israel, Hong Kong, and China.
In addition to her lifelong interest in western classical music, Rose shows her eclectic taste in music by partaking in projects including composing/recording music for a short film called Tasting Wednesday, the world premier of Suite Adeline for solo piano by techno pioneer Bruce Haack, and making new choral arrangements of Taiwanese folk and popular songs.
Rose is currently a music faculty at Cypress College and the music director of Los Angeles Taiwan Center Chorus. 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.
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
