Hello!  I am Lura Kidner-Miesen , pastor of the Stayton United Methodist Church.  Stayton is a beautiful part of the state and my family and I enjoy experiencing all there is to see and do in the area. I have twenty years experience being a pastor and I believe it is important for me to take the time to understand you and your congregation in order to provide good pastoral care and leadership.

 My parents are from the Black Hills of South Dakota.  We moved to Idaho when I was an infant.  I graduated from Boise State University and taught English for a year.  My husband and I married and entered seminary.

After Graduating from the Iliff School of Theology in Denver, I served for two years as the associate minister at Trinity United Methodist Church in Idaho Falls.  I then served six years as the pastor of the United Methodist Church in Castleford, a small farming community in southern Idaho.  After that I served for seven years as the pastor of the United Methodist Church in Middleton, a small town near Boise.  I am now completing five years at the United Methodist Church in Baker City in northeastern Oregon.  In addition to my work as a pastor, I especially enjoy being with my family, reading, and walking.

My husband Neil Miesen, is from Nampa, Idaho and attended Boise State University and University of Idaho.  He served in the army three years and is now in the Army Reserves.  He has been a social studies teacher for several years.

We have two children.  Our daughter, Anna, is sixteen and will be a junior in high school.  Our son, Patrick, is thirteen and will be in the eighth grade.  We look forward to meeting you soon.  May God bless bless us in the years ahead as we work together for Christ and the church.