Fr. Chris Rodriguez

Father Chris M. Rodriguez, currently the rector of Trinity Church in Red Bank, New Jersey, has answered the call to become the next rector of Trinity Episcopal Church in Vero Beach, Florida.

 

Senior Warden Chalmers Morse and the Trinity Vestry affirmed the nomination from the Search Committee, headed by Chairman Rick McDermott, after an extensive search spanning seven months that vetted over seventy candidates from around the country. "We were very blessed to have had such an outstanding group of candidates to choose from and are excited to welcome Fr. Rodriguez and his family to Trinity and Vero Beach," said Mr. McDermott. "Fr. Chris possesses a unique set of skills and experience that made him a standout from the beginning of the process."

 

Father Rodriguez is second generation Basque on his father's side, his grandfather Rodriguez having immigrated to the United States during the Spanish civil war. He attended Pennsylvania State University graduating in 1991 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. He continued on to a doctoral program at the North Carolina State University but ended his studies early to discern a call to the priesthood. In 1994, he received a Master of Science in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. 

 

Upon graduation he moved back to Pennsylvania and worked as a Sr. Systems Engineer for a large healthcare corporation. During this time he was received into the Anglican Communion. Father did his seminary work at Trinity Seminary in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. While enrolled as a full-time student, he also worked as the Director of Information Technology for the seminary. After graduation from seminary in 2004, he was called to serve as Curate at All Saints' Church in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania.  

 

In January 2007 he was called to serve as Rector of Trinity Episcopal Church in Red Bank, New Jersey. There, in addition to preaching and pastoral care, he focused on ministry with young families, teaching and church growth. Father Rodriguez is passionate about Biblical preaching and changed lives. 

 

Father Rodriguez expects to preach his first sermon at Trinity on September 22nd. He and his wife, Kathy, have three daughters. For enjoyment he enjoys spending time with his family, exercising, playing the guitar, reading (history and theology) and meeting new people.  

 

In anticipation of the move to Vero Beach, Fr. Rodriguez writes, "In Matthew 28, Jesus tells us to 'go therefore and to make disciples' and we are excited to join the family of Vero Beach's Trinity Church in the Great Commission that our Lord has placed before us. It's an exciting time, and we're looking forward to joining our new partners in ministry."