Bret Lortie

Ministerial Experience

Chaplain
United States Air Force, Captain, 2018-2023
Appointed to a large chapel team (Travis Air Force Base, California, 2018-2021) and oversaw ministry services to five squadrons with 2,700 personnel. Subsequently accepted special overseas assignment (Kadena Air Base, Japan, 2021-2023), headed a team of 10 mental health and religious affairs professionals, and launched a new initiative for the largest Mission Support Group in the Air Force serving 3,400 military personnel and their families.
Senior Minister
Unitarian Church of Evanston, 2013-2018
Led a large Chicago-area congregation in maturational, spiritual, and numerical growth. Restructured both staff and governance to be more equipped in serving the congregation’s public and justice ministries, oversaw $750,000 budget, and supervised executive staff in day-to-day management of church.
Senior Minister
First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Antonio, Texas, 2007-2013
Led a congregation of more than 400 members, established strong interfaith relationships in the city of San Antonio, managed a $420,000 budget, and supervised the staff.
Intern Minister
Unitarian Universalist Society of Geneva, Illinois, 2005-2006
Youth Ministry Advisor
Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 2002-2006

Master of Divinity, 2007
Meadville Lombard Theological School, Chicago, Illinois
Doctoral Coursework in Cultural Studies, 1995-1996
University of Oklahoma
M.A. in English/Cultural Studies, 1995
Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville
B.A. in Writing/Journalism, 1991
Principia College, Elsah, Illinois

Managing Editor
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 1999-2004
Wrote and edited a wide variety of articles on arms control, peace issues, and international public affairs; supervised the editorial and art staff; and managed a $500,000 budget.
Freelance Writer and Editor, 1996-1999
Writing Instructor, 1991-1996:
Lewis & Clark Community College, IL
Belleville Area College, IL
Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, IL
University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK

Unitarian Universalist (UU) Ministers Association, 2003-present
UU Central Midwest Ministers Chapter, President, 2016-2018
Evanston4All Solidarity Response Team, 2016-2018
Community Renewal Society, Community Organizer/Leader, 2014-2018
Post-Ferguson Black Lives Matter Rally, Organizer, 2014
Evanston Interfaith Action Clergy Leadership Group, 2013-2018
UUA “Next Generation Project: Recruiting Ministers for the Future,” 2012
San Antonio Industrial Areas Foundation Clergy Leader Group, 2007-2013
San Antonio Interfaith Clergy for Social Justice Steering Committee, 2011-2013
UUA Committee on Military Ministry, 2011-2015
Occupy San Antonio, Participant, 2011-2012
UU Trauma Response Ministry Team Board of Directors, 2010-2015
San Antonio AIDS Foundation, Board Member/World AIDS Day Organizer, 2010-2013
Civil Air Patrol (USAF Auxiliary), Volunteer Chaplain, 2009-2019
UU Small Group Ministry Network Board, 2007-2009
UU Christian Fellowship, 2006-present
UU Buddhist Fellowship, 2006-present
Small Group Ministry Network Board of Directors, 2005-2008
Meadville Lombard Undoing Racism Team, 2002-2006
Meadville Lombard Peace Network, Founding Member, 2002-2005
Music and Worship Committee, Unity Temple, 2002-2004
Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Youth Ministry Advisor, 2000-2005