Our Ministers and Staff
Rev. Bret Lortie
Interim Minister
minister@uurockford.orgBetween 2018 and 2023, Rev. Bret served the United States Air Force as an active duty chaplain. Combined with enlisted service earlier in his life, as an aircraft inspector and then trombonist, he has been stationed in Nebraska, Illinois, Missouri, California, and Japan.
In parish ministry, Rev. Bret most recently served the Unitarian Church of Evanston as its senior minister. Previously he served as minister for First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Antonio, Texas. He is a former president of the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association Central Midwest chapter and served on the national UU Trauma Response Ministry Board. He currently serves in two UUMA leadership positions: as treasurer for the Military Chaplains chapter and as a good officer for the Central Midwest chapter.
In addition to parish work, since 2009 Bret has volunteered with the Air Force Auxiliary/Civil Air Patrol as both a chaplain and search and rescue pilot. As the Wisconsin Wing Chaplain, he leads USAF-AUX/CAP Chaplain Corps activities and personnel for the state.
Ministry is Bret's second career. Before entering seminary in 2002, he was the managing editor for the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists —a magazine that reports on peace, arms control, human rights, and global security issues. He continues to play trombone when he can, currently with the Verona Area Concert Bands. After years of wondering if they'd ever settle down, Bret and Cindy Lortie now live in Madison, Wisconsin, down the street from their son, daughter-in-law, and two young granddaughters.
Rev. Joyce Palmer
Assistant Minister
Joyce Palmer (She/Her/Hers) served as the Assistant Minister at Unitarian Universalist Church West in Brookfield, WI. She received her Master of Divinity degree from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. She served as Director of Membership and Lay Ministry at All Souls Church UU, in Washington, DC. Joyce is the lead on the Marjorie Bowens Wheatley Scholarship Committee through the UU Women’s Federation. Joyce has worked in child welfare as a supervisor and parent educator. Joyce and her family moved back to Rockford, IL to live closer to family. She enjoys reading, taking dance classes, spending time with her husband Tim and sons Dorien and Antonio, and walking her terrier mix, Rosey. Joyce is excited about her new position as Assistant Minister at Unitarian Universalist Church, Rockford.
Autumn Powell
Office Manager
Autumn Powell (She/Her/Hers) joined the team as Office Assistant in May 2016. She became our custodian, in addition, in December of 2016. She is now our Office Manager as of March 2020. She greets visitors and takes phone calls on weekdays and runs the management of the front office.
In addition, Autumn maintains the church calendar, coordinating all space use in the building (both for members, committees and teams, and outside renters). She is the appointed staff member for Building and Grounds Committee as well as the Finance committee.
Autumn is typically in the office Sundays from 9-1, on Tuesday - Friday from 11 AM - 4 PM.
Dr. Tim Anderson
Music Director
Dr. Tim Anderson (He/Him/His) became the Music Director in August 2004, the most recent chapter in a church music career spanning more than twenty years. Outside of church music, Tim has worked professionally as Music Director for productions by Artists' Ensemble Theater, Madison Repertory Theatre, New American Theater, and Rockford College. Tim has also provided accompaniment for various musical groups over the years, including Camerata Emanon, Mendelssohn Club, Bach Chamber Choir, and Rockford Symphony Orchestra. He is a Past Dean of the Rockford Chapter of the American Guild of Organists and currently serves as their Treasurer/Registrar. He is also the current President of the Unitarian Universalist Musician's Network.
A native of rural Northwest Illinois, Tim has taught philosophy and Spanish at several colleges in the area and currently is Instructor of Modern Languages at Kishwaukee College. He holds a B.A. in mathematics from Rockford College, M.A. in philosophy from Washington University in St. Louis, and M.A. in Spanish from Middlebury College. In a so-far wildly successful bid to stay in school all his life, he is pursuing doctoral studies at the University of Illinois – Chicago in Hispanic Linguistics.
Lindsay Trank
Director of Religious Education
Lindsay Trank (She/Her/Hers) became the Director of Religious Education in July 2016. She works closely with the Religious Education team to plan and implement weekly lessons as part of the Religious Education curriculum. She also works with the Community Fellowship Team to plan whole-congregation events throughout the year. Lindsay coordinates all of our Religious Education and Youth Group volunteers. Additionally, Lindsay is involved in planning multigenerational worship throughout the year. She also serves as Co-Director of Woodsong Nature School.
Lindsay has over fifteen years of experience working with children. That experience has included classroom teaching at the fourth, sixth, seventh, and eighth-grade levels, working with adults in an ESL program, and tutoring students of all ages. Lindsay has two lovely children, with whom she enjoys biking, taking walks, and gardening.
Lindsay was born and raised in Rockford. She graduated from Guilford High School and received her Bachelor’s degree from Augustana College in Rock Island, IL. She also received her Master’s Degree in Teaching and Leadership from St. Xavier University in Chicago, IL.
Liz Long
Assistant
Liz Long joined us in September 2025 as an Assistant to Rev. Joyce Palmer - Assistant Minister, and to Lindsay Trank - Director of Religious Education. She will also serve as the lead caregiver/teacher in the Grade K+under classroom on Sundays. Liz has enjoyed working with children for many years. She is a Rockford native and a graduate of Auburn High School and Rock Valley College. She is a proud Auntie of 4 awesome children, a cat mom, and she loves art, music, and being in nature. She is very excited to begin working with the UU Church.
Michelle White
Custodian
Michelle White became our custodian in July 2024. We are thrilled to have her on our staff!