Reverend Lora Young
MINISTER
Rev. Lora Young has served South Valley since 2020. Prior to answering the call to the UU ministry, Rev. Lora worked in the non-profit sector in leadership roles from program development to fundraising and management. She earned her Masters of Divinity from the Iliff School of Theology in June 2017 and was ordained the following June. She worked as a chaplain in hospice and hospital settings before coming to South Valley.
Her approach to ministry is collaborative, compassionate, and grounded in evidence-based approaches to learning and human development. She hails from a traditional protestant background and still maintains a theistic orientation but has incorporated a warm-hearted humanism, Celtic Christianity, and a bit of mysticism into her outlook over the years. Meditation, yoga, and a voracious love of fiction ground her as she seeks to co-create beloved community with others here in the Salt Lake Valley.
Reverend John Cooper
AFFILIATED MINISTER
John works as a Board-Certified Chaplain at the Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City, providing spiritual care to patients, families, and staff.
Areas of interest include the use of research to demonstrate the role of spiritual care, life stories as sacred texts, and end-of-life needs. John is also a member of our choir, The South Valley Singers.
Robb Carlson
DIRECTOR, RELIGIOUS EXPLORATION
Robb Carlson hails from northern Colorado and has served local congregations in the United Church of Christ over the last fifteen years in the area of children, youth, and family faith formation ministries. Robb holds a B.A. in philosophy from the University of Northern Colorado and is currently completing his Thesis at the United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities for a Master of Arts in Ethics & Justice. Robb has been involved in the leadership of numerous outdoor/camp ministry programs for children and youth as a camp counselor, camp director, retreat coordinator, song leader, and worship musician.
Brenda Julander
CHURCH ADMINISTRATOR
Brenda is a professional administrator, marketer, and event planner. She is also a traveler and life-long learner who enjoys a good esoteric dive into the intersections of spirituality and psychology.
Brenda loves to study comparative religion and find the threads that connect us all. She is also an avid reader who lists Joseph Campbell, Margaret Atwood, and Neil Gaiman among her favorite authors.
John Allen
MUSIC DIRECTOR
A product of musical parents, John Knight Allen began his musical development with the piano at age 4. He recently completed his Master’s degree in vocal performance and his DMA in voice and choral conducting from the University of Utah as a student of Robert Breault and Barlow Bradford.
Summer studies include the Chautauqua Institution in New York, the Aspen Music School in Colorado, and abroad in Italy. John has performed internationally both as a violinist and vocalist and enjoys interpreting the standard repertoire as well as championing new works.
Ricklen Nobis
PRINCIPAL PIANIST
Rick is a keyboardist, vocal coach, composer, and music educator. His long career includes stints with the Oakland, San Antonio, and Utah symphonies.
Rick was instrumental in creating the Film Composer’s Lab at the Sundance Institute. He has been associated with Utah’s Repertory Dance Theater for over thirty years.