2026 UU Christian Fellowship Revival
Meet Your UUCF Revival 2026 Presenters
The Rev. Ashley Horan (she/her) serves as the Vice President for Programs and Ministries. The Vice President is charged to oversee and coordinate the UUA’s primary programs and ministries in alignment with the UUA’s mission and values. As a new executive role, this portfolio takes on supervision of the Ministries and Faith Development, Congregational Life (regional staff), and Organizing Strategy/Side With Love staff groups
Previously, Ashley served as the Organizing Strategy Director, where she led the Organizing Strategy Team that holds all the outward-facing justice work of the Association under the banner of Side With Love and its related campaigns: UU the Vote, Create Climate Justice, Love Resists, and UPLIFT Action for LGBTQ, Gender & Reproductive Justice.
Prior to her work at the UUA, Ashley served as the Executive Director of the Minnesota UU Social Justice Alliance, and the Curriculum Developer for Beloved Conversations. She also served congregations in Joliet, IL and Fond du Lac, WI. She lives in Minneapolis, MN with her partner, the Rev. Karen Hutt, and their two youngest children—Aspen, 9, and Eden, 4.
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Lena K. Gardner was born and raised in Minnesota and is the co-founder and Executive Director of the Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism (BLUU). She graduated from United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities with honors earning her Masters degree in Justice and Peace studies in 2015. She was a central leader in the Black Lives Matter Minneapolis chapter. She also currently teaches a class at Metro State University on approaches to political campaign management. But her most important job is being a parent to her awesome 6-year-old daughter who she lives with in Minneapolis.
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Rev. Dr. Jia Starr Brown is an African American pastor, educator, author, and activist with more than three decades of experience advocating for underrepresented communities. With a heart for community and access for all, she stands - and activates - as a truth-teller at the intersection of faith, education, and justice.
Her personal philosophy being “I give what I need”, Dr. Starr Brown’s work is fueled by her lived experience - and lack - at the convergence of three vulnerable populations. Equipped with a Master of Divinity from Luther Seminary, and a Doctorate of Ministry from United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities in the field of “Social Transformation”, Dr. Starr Brown is ordained in The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and is the pastor of The Stable, an online spiritual community focused on decolonization and liberation of all peoples. https://jiastarrbrown.com/
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Rev. Jake Morrill is the Executive Director of the UU Christian Fellowship, with a background in parish ministry, coaching, and consulting. A graduate of Harvard Divinity School, he is the author of 5 books including “The Christian Art of Forgiveness” and “5-Minute Couple's Devotional: 150 Days of Love, Reflection, and Prayer.” He is a proud husband and father, and lives in East Tennessee.
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Dr. Elías Ortega is an interdisciplinary scholar who received his M.Div. and Ph.D. (Religion and Society, Magna Cum Laude) from Princeton Theological Seminary (2005, 2011). He also holds a B.A. in Communications Arts & Sciences and Philosophy and Religion from Calvin College.
Prior to coming to Meadville Lombard Theological School, Dr. Ortega served as Associate Professor of Social Theory and Religious Ethics at Drew University Theological School. At Drew Theological, he served as Deans’ Council Chair, was a member of the Digital Humanities Advisory Committee, and the Title IX Committee. His primary teaching and research areas are Sociology of Religion, Religious Ethics, Cultural Sociology, Social Movements, Critical Theory, Africana Studies, Latinx Cultural Studies. In addition to teaching at Drew, he has also taught at Princeton University, Princeton Theological Seminary, New Brunswick Theological Seminary, Vanderbilt Divinity School, The College of New Jersey, and Mercer County Community College.
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Pamela Ayo Yetunde, J.D., M.A., Th.D., is a justice-oriented pastoral counselor and award-winning author. She is the founder of the Theology of Prince project at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, and the author of Dearly Beloved: Prince, Spirituality, & This Thing Called Life. The African American Literary Award show awarded Dearly Beloved with the Best Non-Fiction Book Award in 2025. Ayo is a Buddhist lay leader in the Insight Meditation tradition. To learn more about Ayo and her work, visit www.pamelaayoyetunde.com.