06/02/2026
Happy Pride Month!
There are so many wonderful things happening here at PEACE United, and we are so excited to announce that we have found a new pastor!
Rev. Dr. Laurie Lyter Bright’s call weekend will be June 20–21, 2026. We invite you to come meet Laurie and her family, hear more about her story, and ask any questions you may have.
On Saturday, June 20, from 10:00 AM–12:00 PM, we’ll gather for muffins, pie, and beverages. Laurie will share about herself starting at 10:30 AM, with Q&A to follow.
Then on Sunday, June 21, at 9:00 AM, Laurie will lead us in worship. We’ll hear her message, sing together, and the congregation will vote to officially welcome her. Afterward, we’ll celebrate with fellowship in the social hall with homemade biscuits and gravy.
Rev. Dr. Laurie Lyter Bright is thrilled to have found PEACE United, and we can’t wait for you to meet her!
More about Laurie and her family is shared below.
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Laurie was born in the north suburbs of Chicago and started scheming to save the world in first grade. She went to the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, for a BA in English Literature, and then went off to Princeton Theological Seminary for two years and a seminary exchange to San Francisco Theological Seminary at the Graduate Theological Union at Berkeley for an M.Div.
After being ordained in the Presbyterian Church (USA) in 2012, she served her first congregation, First Presbyterian Church of Loveland, Colorado, as their solo pastor. That was where she learned exactly how much she didn’t know about ministry (in the company of very gracious and patient people). During her time serving in Loveland, she began work toward her PhD in Education at Colorado State University. She also decided to take God’s less-than-subtle hint after meeting Jesse (of Indianapolis, IN), and went from being a Lyter to a Lyter Bright in July, 2015.
In January of 2018, Jesse and Laurie welcomed Matilda to the world, and yes, they used a light-bright to share their baby announcement. In 2019, they welcomed Sonora and completed the human part of their pack. Her first book came out in 2018 and she completed her PhD in 2020, focusing on the church as a site of social formation of r**e culture.
After many adventures, the Lyter Brights currently live in Milwaukee, where the girls just wrapped up kindergarten and second grade, and Jesse is a primary care nurse.
Laurie has had the privilege of serving several congregations (both UCC and PC(USA)) in a variety of roles, and executive directing two faith-based non-profits. In 2023, Laurie began teaching as an adjunct professor for United Theological Seminary in the Twin Cities. She has taught three grad courses (Organizational Leadership and Nonprofit Management, Intersectional Feminist Theology, and Leadership in Social Change: Theory and Practice). She is a forever student and adores learning alongside her students.
Laurie finds God in the spaces and relationships between people, communities, and the world. She has a deep love of interfaith collaboration and believes that we all belong to each other. She has strong opinions about the best Muppet movie, delights in traveling, gives her pets increasingly absurd names, is always reading at least a few books, and maintains the fierce conviction that God is Love is a complete theology.
