First Presbyterian Church welcomes clergy couple

Keith and Laura Hudson, pictured with son Lucas, are the new co-pastors at First Presbyterian Church in La Grande. The Hudsons will be installed as pastors Nov. 29. Submitted photo

The Hudsons will share both church ministry work and care of their 2-year-old son, Lucas.

Laura was born in Indiana and attended Lewis and Clark College in Portland. After college, she went to Bangladesh with the Peace Corps.

Keith was born in South Dakota, but moved to Wyoming when he was young. He graduated from the University of Wyoming and went to work as an insurance adjuster, handling claims in a four-county region of eastern Wyoming.

Keith then went to Alaska as a Young Adult Volunteer to work with youth. Keith met Laura at a church picnic in Sitka, and the two were married in 2003. They stayed in Alaska for two more years before both sensed a call to church ministry.

Laura and Keith attended Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary together and completed a year-long internship at a church in Monroe, La.

They will be ordained at their home church in Sitka, Alaska, on Sunday, and officially installed as the co-pastors of First Presbyterian Church of La Grande at 4 p.m. Nov. 29.

The Hudsons said they look forward to getting to know the people of La Grande and getting involved in the community.

The whole family enjoys hiking and being outdoors. The Hudsons said they will enjoy exploring the beautiful landscapes of Northeast Oregon.