Pastor Cate Luehr has served as an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) for over 16 years. Because the ELCA and the United Methodist Church (UMC) are full communion partners, she is able to serve in both denominations—something that has shaped her rich and varied ministry.
For 12 years, Pastor Cate faithfully led Emanuel Lutheran Church in La Habra, CA. In 2021, she followed a call into new terrain, completing a year-long chaplain residency at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, where she offered spiritual care in a clinical setting.
Since then, she has embraced a range of creative and collaborative roles. She currently coordinates the Mission Collaborative, an ecumenical network of congregations—including La Mirada Methodist as a founding member—working together to serve the communities of Whittier and La Mirada through shared outreach and justice-focused ministry.
In 2023, Pastor Cate was also appointed Candidacy Coordinator for the Pacifica Synod of the ELCA, where she accompanies individuals discerning calls to ordained ministry as pastors and deacons.
She lives in La Mirada with her spouse, Clayton Mark, and is deeply committed to building bridges across faith traditions, generations, and neighborhoods.