Rev. Bret Lortie
Between 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.