Clergy & Staff
Whether you’re looking for a spiritual home or a small group, want someone to pray for you, or just want to say hello, we’d love to hear from you. Use the form and a member of our staff or clergy will be in touch as soon as possible.
Clergy
-
Fr. Clint Wilson was called as Rector of St. Francis in December 2019. He is originally from Birmingham, Alabama, and studied Biblical Studies and Theology at Denver Seminary in Colorado and Nashotah House Theological Seminary in Wisconsin on his eventual path to ordination. Before coming to St. Francis, he served parishes in Denver, Colorado; Denton, Texas; and Nashville, Tennessee. Fr. Clint is married to his college sweetheart, Theresa, and together they have a son and a dog, both of whom require many treats! They are passionate about the reconciling power of the Good News of Jesus Christ, and they believe the local church is, in all its flaws and joys, the place where all creation is called to rest in the finished work of Christ.
-
Mthr. Barbara works with ministry leaders to offer worship that is beautiful and glorifies the Living God, and helps oversee formation opportunities so that the adults of St. Francis can deepen their walk with Christ. She was ordained to the Transitional Diaconate in the Diocese of Northern California in June 2021, and ordained to the Priesthood in Diocese of Kentucky in December 2021. Before attending seminary in Austin, TX, she studied International Relations and Middle Eastern Studies at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego and worked in public policy and communications. Mthr. Barbara is married to Joshua who works as a management consultant, and they are the parents of a baby girl and a baby boy.
-
Nathan works with youth and families to empower them for faithful living as the Church. Before earning a Master of Theological Studies from Duke Divinity School, he grew up in Crestwood, KY, graduated from South Oldham High School, and studied Aeronautical Engineering Technology at Purdue University. He is a candidate for ordination to the priesthood and is pursuing a Diploma in Anglican Studies from Nashotah House Theological Seminary. Nathan is married to his high school sweetheart, Alex Dearen, and has three daughters: Lunette, Eleanor, and Frances.
-
The Rev. Charles D. “Chuck” Ellestad originally hails from Madison, Wisconsin, and earned both his Bachelor of Science in chemistry and Master of Arts in history from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In 1978, he earned another Master of Arts from Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, followed by a Master of Divinity from Nashotah House Theological Seminary, where he was trained in the Anglican tradition, in 1981. He was ordained to the diaconate in the Diocese of Milwaukee in 1982, and to full priesthood in the Diocese of Lexington in 1983.
His first leadership roles in The Episcopal Church were as Assistant Priest at Christ Church in Lexington, Kentucky, and Canon to the Ordinary in the Diocese of Easton (Maryland). From 1989 to 2006, he served as Rector of the Church of the Ascension in Frankfort, Kentucky, after which he retired from full-time parish ministry. He has worked as a hospice chaplain for Bluegrass Care Navigators since 2006, and has served as Priest Associate at St. Hubert’s Church in Clark County. He has also been deployed as a missioner priest by the Diocese of Lexington, serving parishes in eastern Kentucky in need of clergy.
-
As Priest Associate, Mthr, Jennifer offers pastoral care to our parishioners and oversees the 5:00 pm Sunday Eucharist. In addition to her work at St. Francis, Mthr. Jennifer is a full-time chaplaincy resident with the University of Louisville medical system.
Staff
-
Amber Picklesimer serves as the Director of Children’s Ministry at St. Francis in the Fields. She is passionate about helping children know that they are loved by God, welcomed in the Church, and invited to grow as disciples of Jesus. Before joining the staff at St. Francis, Amber spent many years teaching and forming children in school, church, and home settings. Her experience includes teaching middle and high school English, teaching preschool, serving as a Sunday School teacher, and homeschooling her own children. She brings a love for Jesus, Scripture, liturgy, and the Church into her work with children and families. Amber especially enjoys creating spaces where children are free to wonder, ask, pray, worship, and belong in the life of the Church.
Amber and her husband, Kevin, have two children, Eliana and Nathaniel. As a family, they enjoy playing board games and exploring together. Amber is grateful to be part of the St. Francis community and to walk alongside children and families as they grow in faith.
-
Laura Kellow serves as Lay Minister for Pastoral Care at St. Francis, where she is passionate about accompanying people through both the ordinary and extraordinary moments of life—helping others recognize God’s movement and presence throughout their stories. Laura holds a Master of Science in Social Work from the University of Louisville’s Raymond A. Kent School of Social Work and a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from the University of Kentucky. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Kentucky and Indiana. Laura is currently discerning a call to the priesthood in the Episcopal Church and is pursuing a Master of Divinity through Duke Divinity School. Her professional background includes serving as an inpatient social worker at a regional hospital, working with a local hospice agency, and serving on staff with a campus ministry—roles that have deepened her love for pastoral presence, compassionate care, and good coffee. Laura is married to Jeffrey, a mechanical engineer and Kentucky native, and together they are raising their two joyful and inquisitive children, Abe and Caroline.
-
Kirk was appointed Director of Music in August 2023. Prior to coming to St. Francis, he served parishes in Houston and Atlanta. Kirk studied organ and choral conducting at the Oberlin Conservatory, the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, and holds a doctorate from the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music. He is married to Laura, College Counselor at Sacred Heart Academy, and they enjoy the company of their two Pomeranians, Gerre and Miss Nugget.
-
Dr. Jeffrey Smith, our first ever Artist-in-Residence, is Professor of Practice (Organ: Sacred Music) at the IU Jacobs School of Music. His prior positions include St. Paul’s Parish, K Street, in Washington D. C., where he served as Director of Music for 17 years. From 2004 to 2009, Dr. Smith served as Canon Director of Music at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. He is a noted improviser, having studied with Gerre Hancock and Philippe Lefebvre, the now-retired organist of Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris. Dr. Smith will serve as our principal organist during the academic term.
-
Caroline has been a member of our parish since 1984 and has been involved in parish life, the vestry, two capital campaigns, missional efforts, Alpha, Sunday school, and much more. Most recently, she led the Parish Life Committee and launched the Food For Thought ministry, recruiting a team of very faithful volunteers to assist. She is married to Dave Eager, and their wedding was here at our parish in 1985. Together they have two children, Chase Conley (Andrew) and Paul Eager (Taylor), along with two grandchildren, June and James.
-
Julie Chapman is the Parish Accountant. She is an experienced accountant, having worked as a Corporate Reporting Manager and Internal Auditor. She worked over sixteen years at the American Printing House for the Blind, where she was promoted several times, ultimately becoming the Director of Programs and Audit. She has been married for 37 years to Tim, a Construction Superintendent for Lichtefeld, Inc. They have two beautiful daughters, Brandi and Kelli, and two wonderful sons-in-law, Brandon and Patrick. With grandbaby number one on the way, they are looking forward to the next chapter of their lives. Julie’s hobbies include crafting and gardening, but most of all, she loves spending time with family.
-
Karen is a lifelong Episcopalian and has been a member of St. Francis in the Fields since 2016. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in English and history from Centre College, and Master of Divinity from Boston University School of Theology. She has always had a passion for the written word, graphic design, and the art of Anglican liturgy. At St. Francis, she coordinates internal and external communications via the website, church-wide publications, Sunday leaflets, and social media, and assists with day-to-day operations. She is married to JR, a software developer, and together they have one son.
-
Elizabeth came to St. Francis in the Fields as a Louisville Fellow 2024-25 and is now the Office Manager. She is from New Jersey and has previously worked as an administrative assistant at Rehabilitation Specialists of NJ. In her spare time, she enjoys painting and reading.
-
Theresa Wilson is the director of St. Francis’s Louisville Fellows Program, a leadership development program for recent college graduates, forming them as marketplace and ministry leaders committed to enriching the culture of our city. Before moving to Louisville, Theresa served as the Executive Director of The Nashville Fellows Program for almost five years. Her passion for young adult leadership development began when she worked for a college in Birmingham, AL, in the student life department. It was during this time she realized she wanted to pursue a graduate degree that would enable her to engage in leadership development of college students and young adults long-term. Thus, she ended up pursuing an M.A. in Leadership from Denver Seminary with a focus in Student Affair in Higher Education through Colorado State University. The marrying of these two educational experiences has prepared her well to lead a Fellows program, as well as the experiences she had working in higher education at Colorado Heights University and the University of North Texas. Theresa is married to Fr. Clint Wilson, and they have two sons, James and Leo, and a black lab named Basil. As a family, they love all things outdoors – hiking, biking, paddle boarding, exploring, and camping. They also love trying new restaurants, breweries, and distilleries – and all the more if they are with friends. They have a deep love of the Church and have committed their lives to discipling those in the church and pursuing greater Church unity as a witness to the powerful work of Christ in a fragmented world.
-
As Head Sexton, Danny maintains the wellbeing of our church building and works to maximize the beauty and utility of our grounds. He also ensures our spaces are prepared for the many classes, programs, and events offered at St. Francis, and for our weekly services in the Nave and Chapel. Before joining St. Francis, Danny was the Maintenance Director at Harmony Landing Country Club. He is enthusiastic about extending the life of our parish home and practicing wise stewardship of our facilities so that future generations of parishioners might enjoy them as we do now.
-
As the St. Francis Sexton, Scott plays a key role in maintaining the church building and grounds. God has blessed Scott with talents to create and build products both in his professional career, as an Industrial Designer, and through participation in St. Francis outreach ministries such as Habitat for Humanity and Porch de Solomon. Scott and his wife Cindi have raised two children during their 39 years of marriage. They have been active members of St. Francis for more than 20 years.
-
Kevin is a seminarian at Nashotah House Theological Seminary, discerning a call to the Diaconate. He and his wife, Amber, have been married since 2013. They have two children, Eliana and Nathaniel. The family resides in Shelby County, where they enjoy teaching, gardening, and service. They have been active members of St. Francis in the Fields since 2021.
In his professional life, Kevin has worked in data and software engineering since 2008. Since 2014, he has been managing engineering teams specializing in incident management software, fostering collaboration and growth in his field. Kevin’s studies at Nashotah House reflect his deep commitment to serving God and others. His discernment journey is grounded in a desire to integrate compassionate ministry with the leadership skills and experiences he has cultivated throughout his career.
-
Simmons Falk
A/V Specialist
Vestry
-
Amy Spears
-
Caroline Lussky
-
Claire Mulloy
Clerk
-
David Laird
-
Joe Cross
-
Justin Leighty
-
Lauren Theobald
-
Maida Wood
-
Matt Dickie
-
Matt Price
Senior Warden
-
Mitzi Root
-
Richmond Simpson
Junior Warden
-
Sam Ellington
-
Tanya Marquardt
-
Tarah Rasey