The Very Rev. Christopher Montella serves as the Rector of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church & Preschool in Santa Clarita, California in the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles.
Christopher graduated from Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge in 2015 after completing an innovative joint program between EDS and Bloy House, The Episcopal Theological School at Los Angeles and served on the Bloy House Board of Trustees from 2017-2023.
Prior to ordination, Christopher spent 25 years working in the fashion industry in New York City and Los Angeles working for brands such as Ralph Lauren, Coach, Perry Ellis & Nike. He transitioned to full time ministry in 2017.
Christopher has been an active member of the Bishop’s Commission for LGBTQ+ Ministry in EDLA since 2010 and has served as Chair since 2016. The Commission’s work of sharing faith and hope, advocating for LGBTQ+ issues and working to provide a theological foundation for healing the rift between sexuality and spirituality in the Church is a vital part of his ministry as a priest in The Episcopal Church. In addition to this work, he serves on the diocesan program groups for Compensation & Benefits and for Mission Congregations and serves as the Dean of EDLA's Deanery 2.
Christopher finds his deepest joy in serving as the Chaplain to the preschool community associated with his congregation and through being actively engaged in youth ministry and walking with little ones and young adults on their journey of faith exploration.
He recently completed the EDS Anglicanism and Social Justice program and is excited for all of the opportunities that lay ahead of EDS as it discerns what the future holds and looks forward to a continued legacy of EDS being a place that forms changemakers and faithful leaders in the Church.
He is profoundly grateful for the life he shares with his husband Erick Long and their two dogs Dixon & Hattie.