Presiding Minister:

Rev. Rosemary Peek has been ordained for 17 years and most recently served as pastor of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Sylva, North Carolina. During her time there, she also led a campus ministry in partnership with Western Carolina University, working with students and young adults in thoughtful conversation about faith, vocation, and the complexities of modern life. Her focus often included intergenerational connections and faith formation. 

A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, Rosemary earned her undergraduate degree from Queens University of Charlotte and her Master of Divinity from Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, South Carolina. Her roots in both Charlotte and western North Carolina have shaped her deep appreciation for the communities and traditions of the region she calls home.

In addition to her congregational work, Rosemary serves as an adjunct faculty member at Brevard College, where she teaches courses in religion, including World Religions, Religion and Literature, and Ethics. Across her ministry and teaching, she has a particular interest in fostering connections between church and community, encouraging relationships that are grounded in listening, mutual care, and shared life.