The Reverend Ben Wyatt
Father Ben Wyatt serves as Priest-in-Charge of Church of the Nativity. He took up his call on September 1, 2021.
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Father Ben has served five churches during his ordained ministry. Most recently he served as the "Pathways Priest" for the Diocese of Indianapolis, working with local parishes to enhance their spiritual, financial, and organizational vitality. He has also served as Curate and Assistant Rector at Trinity Episcopal Church in Hartford, CT. Prior to entering the priesthood, Fr. Ben worked as an IT security professional.
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In addition to his work at Nativity, Father Ben also helped found and serves as a content editor for Earth & Altar, an online magazine dedicated to promoting conversations regarding inclusive orthodoxy. He also writes and hosts the podcast The Road to Nicea, a lighthearted and historically rigorous exploration of the controversies surrounding the Nicene Creed.
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When he is not working, Fr. Ben enjoys cooking, dessert creation, reading, hiking, and chess. He firmly believes in the restorative power of a good nap.
Ben holds an M.Div. and S.T.M. from Yale Divinity School. He also has a B.A. in Physics and Religious Studies from Vanderbilt University. Fr. Ben has advanced training in clinical mental health counseling.
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Email: priest@nativity-indy.org
Joanna Bollinger
Parish Administrator Joanna joined Nativity in December 2019. She was born in Lawrenceburg, IN Married to Charles, a policeman, she has four children and two grandchildren, and is civically active. An Episcopalian for over 20 years, Joanna was a member of St. Stephen’s in Terre Haute, where she served on the vestry, taught Sunday School, was a choir member, and chaired the social committee. We are blessed to have someone of her experience and skill supporting Nativity.
La Reverenda Yuri Rodriguez
La Reverenda Yuriria (Yuri) Rodríguez , is a newly ordained priest from the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis. She recently completed the Masters in Divinity program at Sewanee, School of Theology, at the University of the South. Yuri is a native Costa Rican, who became a US citizen in October of 2022. Yuri holds BM and MM degrees from the Indiana University – Jacobs School of Music, in Bloomington, IN, where both her children (Mercedes and Belén) were born.
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Before becoming a priest, Yuri worked as a singer, artist, and educator, specializing in Latin American music and culture. For 20+ years, Yuri has performed in, and conducted choirs of sacred and Latin American music in the United States. Through music, she has developed programs and curriculums to accompany diverse communities in their journeys of faith, affirm their sense of identity, and celebrate God already present in the other. Since 2013, she worked as Associate Director of Music and Communications Manager at Christ Church Cathedral, Indianapolis.
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Parallel to serving the community at Church of the Nativity, Yuri will be part of the 2023 Trinity Leadership Fellows Program, a group of 23 professional and faith leaders from various faith traditions and vocations, who will receive training and mentoring on how to deepen the skills needed to effectively serve their communities and congregations. Read more about the Trinity Leadership Fellow Program here.
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Yuri has been recipients of grants from the Episcopal Evangelism Society and Becoming Beloved Community. Through these grants, she has developed evangelism initiatives like Caminemos con Maria, and Worship with Bravery.
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For fun, Yuri and her family enjoy being in the outdoors, low intensity hikes, gathering with friends, and making music.
Vestry
The vestry is a committee elected by members of a congregation to serve with the church wardens in managing the secular affairs of the church. Members are elected to three year staggered terms.
Vestry members are:
Doug Fuller, Senior Warden
Donna Cox, Junior Warden
Amanda Gallagher
Donna Tonnis
Bill Smith
Rocky Patrick
Nana Quay-Smith
John Ridder
Pamela Obungu
Helen Byler
Emily Moore