Our Leadership

The very Reverend

Anna Russell Friedman

Canon and Associate Rector for Family Ministries

The Reverend Canon

Madeleine Rebouché

Canon and Associate Rector for Outreach and Christian Formation

The REVEREND

Richard Wineland

Associate Rector for Evangelism, Parish Life, and Cathedral Life

The REVEREND

Leslie McGilberry

Director of Finance and Administration

Emily Joy Allison

Director of Communications

Melanie Percival

Parish Coordinator

Mark Goodrum

Property Coordinator

Elmarie Brice

Reception

Anzora Lee-Starks

Print/Production Manager

Dr. Michael Velting

Dr. Peter Rogahn

Associate Organist and Choirmaster

Emily Berry

Emily Joy Allison

Melanie Percival

Mark Goodrum

Elmarie Brice

Anzora Lee-Starks

Part-Time Contractor

Bookkeeper

We are a Cathedral Parish in the Diocese of Tennessee

As part of The Episcopal Church, Christ Church Cathedral belongs to a regional body of churches known as a diocese. We are not a standalone congregation, but a parish of the Diocese of Tennessee. We are overseen by our bishop, The Right Reverend John Bauerschmidt, who serves as chief pastor of the diocese.

As a cathedral, we are also the seat of our bishop and the place for diocesan celebrations and worship services. The Episcopal Church is also part of the Anglican Communion, a worldwide gathering of Anglican and Episcopal churches in over 165 countries.

We are governed by our Vestry

Our Dean and Rector works alongside the Cathedral’s elected council called the Vestry, led by the Wardens (chairs). These church members oversee the finances and the property of the Cathedral and strive to model Christian leadership by giving their time, talent, and treasures to the Cathedral. The vestry represents the congregation in decision-making and welcomes ideas and feedback. Our current vestry is:

We all participate in the Ministry of the Baptized

All baptized Christians have gifts for ministry and are empowered by the Holy Spirit to serve the Cathedral and glorify God. We encourage you to take advantage of opportunities to regularly serve with us.

The Very Reverend Serena Sides was elected as Dean and Rector at Christ Church Cathedral in October 2024. She joined the Cathedral on December 1, 2024.

Prior to coming to the Cathedral, Serena served at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church in Nashville, including as Interim Rector for almost eighteen months and as Associate Rector for over two years. Serena also served briefly at St. Augustine’s Chapel at Vanderbilt University and as the Assistant Rector at Christ Church on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

A life-long Episcopalian, Serena came to the priesthood as a second career. She practiced corporate law and worked in national security for almost 16 years in New York City and Washington, D.C. before discerning a call to the priesthood. She was ordained to the priesthood in June 2017 at the Washington National Cathedral. Serena grew up in Washington, D.C. and Connecticut. She holds a B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; a J.D. from Harvard Law School; and an M.Div. from Virginia Theological Seminary. Serena and her family moved from Washington, D.C. to Nashville in August 2019 when her husband, John Sides, took a position as Professor of Political Science at Vanderbilt University.

Serena and John have two children in high school, Ethan (17) and Hannah (15). Serena enjoys the nearby hiking trails, reading fiction, baking desserts, walking their dog Coco, rooting for the UNC Tarheels, and attending her children’s many ice hockey games.

Anna Russell is a Nashville native who grew up attending Christ Church Cathedral. After her ordination in 2010, she served as the Priest-in-Charge at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Carlowville, Alabama. During that time, she also served as a full-time chaplain resident at the Tuskegee and Montgomery, Alabama V.A. Hospitals working with psychiatric patients and veterans struggling with PTSD. She later spent seven years as the Associate Rector in charge of Christian Formation and Pastoral Care at All Saints Episcopal Church in Homewood, Alabama. During her time in the Diocese of Alabama, Anna Russell served as a member of the diocesan Disciplinary Board.

Anna Russell received her B.A. in Studio Art from Lake Forest College, her M. Div. from Vanderbilt Divinity School, and her Diploma of Anglican Studies from the University of the South. She and her husband, Christopher, are the parents of three boys, Knox, Cole, and Will. When she is not running around church, you can find Anna Russell and her family at her boys’ various sporting events, walking their great pyrenees, Winnie, or relaxing on the couch watching The Great British Baking Show.

Madeleine Rebouché is from Shreveport, LA and grew up in the Episcopal Church. She graduated with a B.A. in Religion and Writing from Texas Christian University before moving to Colorado where she lived and worked in an intentional living community with incarcerated teenagers. It was during these two years that Madeleine began to discern a call to full-time ministry. Madeleine then graduated with her M.Div. in 2019 from Duke Divinity School, where she worked as a chaplain in a women’s prison, studied theology and the arts, and began the discernment process for ordination to the Priesthood with the Diocese of Western Louisiana.

After her M.Div., Madeleine completed a chaplain residency through the Clinical Pastoral Education department at Duke University Hospital. There, Madeleine served as the Chaplain to the Neonatal and Pediatric floors, specializing in Pediatric Palliative Care. Madeleine moved to Nashville in 2020 to continue her theological studies in the Th.M. Program at Vanderbilt Divinity School and graduated in December 2021. She was ordained to the Priesthood in Western Louisiana in January 2021 and began serving at Christ Church Cathedral.

When she’s not at church, you may find her and her yellow lab, Olive, on a paddle board on the lake or see Madeleine scooting around town on her red moped.

Richard Wineland grew up in the Allegheny Mountains of Central Pennsylvania, near the railroad city of Altoona. He studied at Penn State University and Goshen College in Indiana, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in music performance. He received a Master of Divinity degree from Mennonite Theological Seminary in Indiana, and an MA equivalent in Psychology from Andrews University in Michigan. Currently he is completing a Doctor of Ministry degree in missional leadership and congregational development at Bexley Seabury Episcopal Seminary in Chicago.

Richard served as a Mennonite and Lutheran pastor for 10 years prior to becoming an Episcopal priest, leading congregations in Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Tennessee, and has served Episcopal parishes in Indiana and Tennessee since 2005.

Fr. Richard has been involved in many nonprofit organizations throughout his ministry, and currently serves on the Boards of the Pastoral Center for Healing and Child Arise-Tennessee. He has also served on the Board of Directors of two church-wide organizations; Recovery Ministries of the Episcopal Church and the Episcopal Peace Fellowship. He was the founding Executive Director of the Community Music School of Goshen College, in Indiana.

Richard is a lifelong singer and musician, a published composer, and has performed at the Grand Ole Opry House and on national television. As a writer he has also had articles published in both academic journals and denomination-wide publications.

Richard is married to Lee Armstrong, a musician, poet, and registered nurse. Together they have seven adult children, scattered from Brooklyn to Los Angeles. The Winelands live in southeast Nashville.

Mary has been a parishioner at Christ Church since 2011 and has lived in Nashville since 2008. She has been in the book business since her teenage years. Mary has worked at Cokesbury (which is a part of the United Methodist Publishing House, an agency of the United Methodist Church) since 2013 where she purchases books in addition to other religious goods (everything from candles to baptismal fonts). She has recently retired from her position.

Mary has been married to Peter King since 1996. They met while working in a bookstore in St. Louis and Pete now works at Parnassus Books. Mary and Pete have more than 30 nieces and nephews (and growing) that they are devoted to.

Michael Velting is Canon for Music at Christ Church Cathedral, where he has been organist and choirmaster since 1994. Canon Velting serves as principal organist, director of Cathedral choirs, and administrator of our music program. Previously, he was Assistant Organist and Choirmaster of Washington National Cathedral and Adjunct Professor of Organ at the American University in Washington, D.C.

He holds both a master’s degree and doctorate in Organ Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music of the University of Rochester. From 1982 to 1986, he lived in Paris, France, winning the Prix de Virtuosité at the Conservatoire National de Région in Rueil-Malmaison. While there, he also served as organist of the American Cathedral of the Holy Trinity from 1984 to 1986.

Dr. Velting has performed in Germany, England, Canada, Switzerland, and France, and throughout the United States. He was instrumental in the design of the Lively-Fulcher organ for Christ Church Cathedral. He is a member of both the American Guild of Organists and the Association of Anglican Musicians. He has served as Councillor for Conventions on the National Council of the American Guild of Organists since 2014. He is a former dean of the Nashville chapter of the AGO and has twice served as a judge for AGO organ competitions. He was chair of the Committee on Performances for the 2012 National Convention of the American Guild of Organists and is a past recipient of an Outstanding Teacher award by the Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts.

Peter Rogahn is the Associate Organist and Choirmaster at Christ Church Cathedral. His previous positions include Organist and Assistant Director of Music at First Presbyterian Church of Nashville and Precentor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Indianapolis. A passionate advocate for music education, he spent four years at Lawrence North High School in Indianapolis as a Choral Accompanist and Instructional Assistant. He has also collaborated with numerous choral ensembles, including the choirs of Stewarts Creek High School, the University of Indianapolis Women’s Chorus, the Indianapolis Children’s Choir, and the choirs of Center Grove High School in Indianapolis.

Peter serves on the faculty at Belmont University where he teaches organ. He has also held several officer positions in the Nashville Chapter of the American Guild of Organists and currently serves as Dean.

He holds a Doctor of Music degree in Organ Performance and Literature with minors in Music Theory and Choral Conducting from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. He is a recipient of the Indiana University Artistic Excellence Award and the Indiana University Graduate Tuition Award. He also earned a Performer Diploma and a Master of Music degree from Indiana University, as well as a Bachelor of Music degree from Concordia College.

Outside of his musical life, he enjoys reading science fiction and history, walking in nature, and spending time with his two cats. He and his wife, pianist Tiantian Liang, are excited to continue their musical journey as part of the Cathedral community.

Emily Berry is a Nashville native who joined the staff at Christ Church Cathedral as Director of Youth Ministries in August 2025. Before coming to the Cathedral, Emily spent three years as the Director of Youth Ministry at St. Augustine’s Episcopal Chapel at Vanderbilt. Prior to that, she taught high school math and Latin at Harpeth Hall and at Cane Ridge High School, and tutored high schoolers across Nashville.

Emily graduated from the University of Virginia with a B.A. in Classics, and earned an M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration from Peabody College at Vanderbilt. When she’s not hanging out with teenagers, she loves to walk in the woods with her husband Dave (a fellow Nashville native and Sewanee grad), play with the four small Berrys (Evelyn, James, Cooper, and Marion), and cook for old and new friends.

Leslie grew up in Houston, graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in accounting and became a CPA in 1994. After working in public accounting there, she moved to Nashville in 2002 and started an accounting and tax practice helping architecture, art and design entrepreneurs build their businesses. She then spent twelve years in nonprofit financial leadership and real estate development before coming to Christ Church Cathedral to combine her finance, operational and organizational skills with her love for the Episcopal church.

Leslie worships at St. Bartholomew’s Church, where she leads their Racial Justice ministry. She is married to Scott and has two adult daughters, Jackie and Allie, and a five-pound Poochon named Marty. She loves interior design, architecture, international travel and sporting events. When not working or volunteering, you will find her laughing with her family, rooting on the Nashville Soccer Club, caring for more than one hundred houseplants or planning her next trip.

Emily Joy Allison (she/her/hers) is a writer, theologian and non-profit communications professional of over a decade. Throughout her career she has worked with churches and other organizations focusing on issues like children’s literacy, education reform, housing and homelessness and beyond, and before coming to Christ Church Cathedral she spent three years in electoral politics coaching and training women candidates for office across the country. At the Cathedral, Emily handles all things communications, from social media and newsletters to graphic design and the church website.

Emily graduated from Vanderbilt Divinity School in Nashville in 2022 with a Master of Theological Studies and a certificate through the Carpenter Program in Religion, Gender and Sexuality. She is the author of a book on abuse prevention and response in churches, and her second book, In The Beginning: A Guide to Reading the Bible for the First Time, is slated to be published in 2027. She has been a prominent voice in the conversation about religion in the U.S. and has traveled the country speaking to church groups, colleges, and conferences about Christianity and social justice.

When she’s not at the Cathedral, Emily enjoys practicing yoga, watching reality tv, and hanging out with her two dogs, Harley and Oscar, and her cat Tig. She has called Nashville her home for over 11 years and currently lives in East Nashville.

Melanie joined the Cathedral staff in March 2025 as Parish Coordinator. In this role, she helps with scheduling, membership, and supporting parish events and ministries. She enjoys being part of a team that truly desires to invest in the community and share the love of God.

Originally from North Carolina, Melanie graduated from UNCC with a degree in history and a lifelong love of writing. She now lives near Nashville with her husband, their two kids, two Australian Shepherds, a cat named Smee, and a leopard gecko named Captain. Their home is full of laughter and lots of pet hair.

Outside of work, Melanie enjoys drawing, exploring the outdoors, listening to non-fiction audiobooks, and watching cooking competitions. Though she has no formal culinary skills, she still holds out hope that one day the Food Network will call and invite her to judge a show—just for the snacks.

Melanie is glad to be part of the Cathedral community and is grateful for the chance to support the life of the parish in small but meaningful ways.

Dr. Michael Velting

Dr. Peter Rogahn

Emily Berry

Leslie McGilberry

Emily Joy Allison

Melanie Percival

Mark Goodrum

Elmarie Brice

Anzora Lee-Starks

Dr. Michael Velting

Dr. Peter Rogahn

Emily Berry

Emily Joy Allison

Melanie Percival

Mark Goodrum

Elmarie Brice

Anzora Lee-Starks

Part-Time Contractor

Bookkeeper

We are a Cathedral Parish in the Diocese of Tennessee

We are governed by our Vestry

We all participate in the Ministry of the Baptized

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