Ben Linder, the director of youth and young adult ministries of the Diocese of Kentucky and a youth minister at St. Matthew’s Church, has announced he will be leaving those positions in August in order to return to Arkansas. Ben joined the diocesan and St. Matthew’s staffs in March 2007, splitting his time between the two ministries. Before coming to Kentucky, he held a similar position in the Diocese of Arkansas, where he was the director of youth and young adult ministries for St. Margaret’s Church in Little Rock and the summer program director for the Diocese of Arkansas’ Camp Mitchell Camp and Retreat Center.
In announcing his plans, Ben said he and his wife, Shanna, had decided to return to Arkansas when his 18-month contract with the diocese ended. Shanna, a Target employee, will be working as an executive team member with Target Distribution Center. She will return to Arkansas this May.
Commenting on his decision to leave, Ben said, "I have truly loved and valued my time in the Diocese of Kentucky and will be forever grateful for the opportunity given to me by the bishop and former Canon [Jay] Magness.  I am very lucky to have been a part of this wonderful community, and I am thankful for the relationships it has given me."
 Ben is the son of the Rev. Mark and Ticka Linder. A graduate of Western Kentucky University, Ben spent his college years in Bowling Green, where his father was rector of Christ Episcopal Church.
Before beginning a search for a new diocesan youth director, the diocese plans to reformulate the position. Once the job description is available, it will be posted here and announced in Episcopal News.