Parish Leadership

Fr. Justin McIntosh leads St. Paul’s, Ivy as Rector (senior pastor), a role he has held since October 2018. He grew up in McLean, Virginia, and went to the College of William and Mary, where he majored in History and Religious Studies. He also has a Master of Divinity from Yale University, a Diploma of Anglican Studies from Berkeley Divinity School at Yale, and a Master of Science in Church Management from Villanova University. Fr. Justin was ordained to the priesthood in 2010. Before coming to St. Paul’s, he served as Rector at Leeds Episcopal Church in Markham, Virginia, and as Associate Rector at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in McLean. Fr. Justin and his wife, Elena, have three children: Joelle, Gabriel, and JP.

At St. Paul’s, Ivy, Fr. Justin enjoys working with the parish to live into its mission and vision, share the Good News of Jesus Christ, and grow in faith together. He loves preaching, collaborating with other leaders, and making Bible stories fun for kids by dressing up as Biblical characters at Vacation Bible Camp. If you can’t find him at home or at church, he’s probably on a beach somewhere, relaxing in flip-flops and shorts!

Find Father Justin in his office in Kirklea. Contact Father Justin at 434/979-6354 or send an email.

Mthr. Amanda Kotval started her ministry at St. Paul’s, Ivy, as Associate Rector in July 2019 and transitioned to Vice Rector in January 2025. Before becoming a priest, she worked in non-profit membership and event management, ran a personal chef and catering business, and volunteered with Mary Washington Hospice in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Amanda was born in Athens, Georgia, but grew up in College Station, Texas. She studied Russian and Political Science at Texas A&M University and earned her Master of Divinity at Virginia Theological Seminary. She is now working toward a Doctor of Ministry at Nashotah House Theological Seminary. Amanda and her husband, Andrew, have two mostly-grown children, Ben and Levi.

As Vice Rector, Mthr. Amanda focuses on building community through evangelism, welcoming newcomers, and supporting lay ministries in the parish. She works closely with Lisa Bell, Director of Communications, and Gabriel Simerson, Director of Music Ministries. Amanda enjoys meeting newcomers for coffee, working with St. Paul’s wonderful lay leaders, and helping people grow in their faith through discipleship. She also stays active in church work at the diocesan and national levels, so if she’s not in her office, she’s likely at yet another church meeting.

Find Mother Amanda in her office in Kirklea. Contact her at 434/979-6354 or send an email.

Father Rick recently retired from Church of the Holy Comforter in Vienna, Virginia after serving as Rector for 22 years. A native to the Washington D.C. area, Father Rick has served as Rector of parishes in the Dioceses of Virginia, Connecticut, and Pittsburgh since his ordination to the priesthood in 1981. He is a graduate of the Catholic University of America, Virginia Theological Seminary, and Yale Divinity School. He has served in the Diocese of Virginia as Chair of the Liturgy Commission (2007 – 2015), and as a member of the Board of the Compass Rose Society, which supports the work of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Anglican Communion.  Father Rick and his wife Debbie have been married for 39 years and have three grown children and five grandchildren. Three of their grandchildren live close by in Charlottesville. Father Rick has an undergraduate degree in music performance (classical guitar) and enjoys pursuing his love for the instrument and its repertoire as much as possible.

Find Father Rick in his office in Kirklea. Contact Father Rick at 434/979-6354 or send an email.

Gabriel Rhys Simerson started as Director of Music Ministries at St. Paul’s, Ivy, in August 2024, after coming a long way from his first job as a firework salesman. Over the years, he has led music at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Burke, Virginia, and became Interim Director of Music at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in New Haven, Connecticut, at just 19. Gabe grew up near New Haven in a family full of musicians. His mother is an accomplished violinist, one grandfather was a champion barbershop singer, while the other played in big bands and repaired musical instruments. His aunt manages a university band program, and his brother is also a very talented musician and composer. Gabe attended American University in Washington, DC, where he initially pursued a career in radio journalism before discovering his passion for church music.

In his role as Director of Music Ministries, Gabe manages all aspects of our parish music programming, including directing the adult Parish Choir, the Children’s Choir, and the all-professional Schola Cantorum. He also administers the St. Paul’s, Ivy Concert Series, plans and plays music at our worship services, and creates opportunities for as many people as possible to join in a shared pursuit of meaningful worship, beauty, and excellence through music. Gabe enjoys discovering what people in the pews love to sing (and helping them sing it with gusto), as well as helping people of all ages unearth their own love for music and creating community spaces for all who love the arts. If you can’t find Gabe at church or at home, he’s probably stuck underneath his 1979 Chevy C10 Custom Deluxe pickup truck, muttering to himself and tinkering away.

Find Gabe in his office in Kirklea. Contact Gabe at 434/979-6354 or send an email.

Austin Geelhoed became St. Paul’s, Ivy’s Director of Children’s and Youth Ministries in August 2025, following years of leading youth retreats, working at summer camps, teaching English to children, and serving as a pastoral intern at a Spanish-speaking church. Austin grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and went to Calvin University. He earned his Master of Divinity from Western Theological Seminary in the spring of 2025. Austin and his wife, Maria, have one daughter, Amma Helena.

As Director of Children’s and Youth Ministries, Austin supports our children and youth as they grow in their faith. He enjoys building relationships, making space for fun and learning, and helping kids discover what it means to follow Christ in their everyday lives. Austin especially enjoys listening to and learning from the amazing questions that children and youth ask. He is fluent in Spanish, loves telling stories, and is always ready to cheer for Michigan sports teams.

Find Austin in his office in Kirklea. Contact Austin at 434/979-6354 or send an email.

Lisa Bell became our Director of Communications at St. Paul’s, Ivy in May 2022. She brings 40+ years of experience as a graphic designer, including running her own business and serving as the first full-time Director of Communications at All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Atlanta. Lisa grew up in Massena, New York, on the St. Lawrence River, and studied illustration at Syracuse University. She is also the proud mom of two adult sons, Cooper and Rowan.

As Director of Communications, Lisa oversees all parish communications, reaching both our parish and the wider Charlottesville, Ivy, and Crozet communities. She enjoys working with print and digital media and is always coming up with creative ways to help the St. Paul’s Ivy family stay connected and welcome others into their faith practices. Lisa is also a proud Irish citizen and has a long history of falling into large bodies of water while fishing with her father.

Find Lisa in her office in Kirklea. Contact Lisa at 434/979-6354 or send an email.

Since April 2013, Mary Lane has served as Parish Administrator at St. Paul’s, Ivy, bringing experience from previous positions at UVIMCO and Battelle Memorial Institute. An Albemarle County native, she attended the University of the Cumberlands and has one adult daughter, Jennifer.

As Parish Administrator, Mary oversees maintenance of the church buildings and grounds, greets and assists visitors during the week, and manages all church records. She loves getting to know parishioners and working with the staff. If you can’t find Mary, she’s probably buried in one of the 100+ books she reads each year!

Find Mary in the Parish Office in Kirklea. Contact Mary at 434/979-6354 or send an email.

Trevor Diaz became our Sexton in the fall of 2022, the same year his children started at St. Paul’s, Ivy Preschool. He grew up in southern Maryland, studied psychology at Messiah University, earned a Master’s in Nursing from the University of Virginia, and worked for eight years as a neuro ICU nurse.

As Sexton, Trevor volunteers his time to care for our buildings and grounds, helps the Parish Administrator with special projects, and works to keep our campus in good shape for the future. He enjoys working with Mary Lane, learning about groundskeeping from Tommy Keith, and watching his children grow up in a place that loves its neighbors.

Debby Bibens became part of St. Paul’s, Ivy in April 2024 as Bookkeeper and moved into the Parish Financial Administrator role in January 2025. She grew up in Staunton, Virginia, and earned her Bachelor’s Degree as an adult student from Mary Baldwin College. Debby spent 23 years working there in several positions, finishing as Senior Accountant. She also has a Certificate in Business Management. Debby is married and has two adult children and one grandson, Spencer.

In her role as Parish Financial Administrator, Debby works closely with the Parish Administrator and Treasurer. She handles the church’s financial matters, making sure everything is reviewed, recorded, and managed well. Debby enjoys connecting with everyone at St. Paul’s and values the chance to support the church community.

Allison Kretlow is the Co-Director and Pre-K teacher at St. Paul’s Ivy Preschool. She joined the team in September 2022 and brings 20 years of experience as a public elementary school teacher, university professor, and behavioral therapist for children with autism and developmental disabilities. Originally from North Carolina, Allison studied education at Furman University and later earned her master’s and Ph.D. in education from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She and her husband, Phillip, have two children, Walker and James.

As Co-Director and Pre-K teacher, Allison enjoys seeing the children grow and change. She values building relationships with preschool families and is grateful for the positive work environment each day. Allison is also a talented musician and has led children’s programs during the church year and at Vacation Bible Camp.