Leadership

pastor Emily

Hello! I am Pastor Emily Kuenker and I am thrilled to lead the
community at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. I am particularly excited because my work with Prince of Peace is my first call (church speak for first job as a pastor), though I have been working in ministry for several years. I have worked both in
outdoor ministry and in youth and family ministry and most recently spent a year travelling to conflict zones studying the role of faith communities in peace building and reconciliation work.

I hail from Colorado, where I spent a lot of time enjoying long walks or mountain hikes with my siblings and parents. I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Classics from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota (which means I own and can read Harry Potter in Latin) as well as a Master’s of Divinity from Luther Seminary in St. Paul. I have a penchant for chai tea and a passion for baking artisan bread. I hope you’ll say hello when you see me hanging out at Westside Coffee or Crumb Brothers.

-Pastor Emily Kuenker

COUNCIL MEMBERS

Elaine Bastian

Council president

CARY YOUMANS

Council MEMBER

Cary Youmans moved to Cache Valley in early 2011. He knew the congregation at PoP were the people he was going to worship with in his new home after his first worship service with them.

He was asked to direct the PoP choir in 2012, and was baptized into church membership Easter, 2018. His journey following Jesus began at Quaker Hill Church Camp during the summer of 1977, and he began sensing a call to ministry in 1978. In preparation for his vocation, he earned a BS in Religion from Barclay College in 1983 and an MA in Church Music from Seattle Pacific University in 1992. He has pastored three congregations, and the PoP choir is the third church choir he has directed.

Through all that time in vocational ministry, spanning 1985 to today, Cary is an exemplar of the idea of "sinner and saint," experiencing God's limitless love and grace while being carried through the consequences of some monumentally poor choices. Cary's life and ministry are summed up in Psalm 40:1-3 and Luke 4:18-19:

Psalm 40
1 patiently waited, Lord, for you to hear my prayer. You listened 2 and pulled me from a lonely pit full of mud and mire. You let me stand on a rock with my feet firm,
3 and you gave me a new song, a song of praise to you. Many will see this, and they will honor and trust you, the Lord God.

Luke 4
18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me.
He has sent me to preach good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to liberate the oppressed,
19 and to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.

(Both citations Contemporary English Version (CEV) Copyright © 1995 by American Bible

Holden Potter

Secretary

Brad kropp

Treasurer

Julia freimuth

Landis Wenger

Council Member

Landis grew up in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, with deep roots in the Anabaptist tradition. In 2019, he came to Utah to pursue a master’s degree in Environmental Planning. Over the past four years, Landis has developed a deep love for the natural beauty that surrounds Cache Valley. Presently, he holds the position of regional trails and active transportation coordinator for Cache County. This role allows him to collaborate with all the municipalities in the valley, as well as other organizations, to ensure that our neighbors can access and enjoy this captivating beauty.

Since relocating to Utah, Landis has found community and growth at Prince of Peace, his new home church. He feels privileged to contribute to this community through his involvement on the Church Council. In addition to his passion for conserving and enjoying the natural world, Landis is a strong advocate for the notion that the church should serve as a hub of inclusivity and fellowship, reaching beyond the building's walls to benefit all people. This is why he has eagerly agreed to continue his role as council Liaison to Prince of Peace's Outreach and Community Partnership Team.