Our Forums are open to everyone: occasional visitors, curious newcomers, or long-timers. Anyone who wants to connect with others, explore Christian thought and practice and their intersection with our lives in the world is welcome. We explore topics from Scripture and theology to faith’s intersection with issues of social justice, the faith-science dialogue, and religious expression in service to others.
Meet in the Conference Room from 9 to 10 AM, or attend via Zoom at this link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81639569478?pwd=yEs41h1sx0PQbwtHjkzVfjhqzi6og1.1
Meeting ID: 816 3956 9478 and Passcode: 752135
APR. 19: Lost Gods of the Bible: Eight Encounters with the Divine (Augsburg, Broadleaf Books; 2026)
Pastor Dan
Join us for a discussion of Pastor Dan's forthcoming book based on the lectionary readings on which he has preached since he began his call at QALC! Lost Gods takes its cue from the Lutheran pastor and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer (d. 1945) who wrote that living in a secular age gives us the chance to go back and rediscover what the Bible actually says about God now that the God we call upon only in emergencies has finally "died." Pre-orders for the book will be available.
SERVING THE MARGINALIZED
A three-part series
APR. 26: Faith in Action: Addressing Homelessness Together
Sam Townsend
Compass Housing Alliance, rooted in the Lutheran tradition and now serving people of all faiths and backgrounds, has been a trusted presence in Seattle since 1920.
Join us for a conversation on the realities of homelessness in our community and how Compass Housing Alliance is working to provide shelter, affordable housing, and hope to our neighbors in need. We’ll explore the challenges people face, the faith-rooted history of Compass, and the practical ways lives are being transformed today. You’ll also hear about exciting volunteer opportunities where our church community can get directly involved in serving and walking alongside those experiencing homelessness.
Sam Townsend serves as the Community Engagement Manager at Compass Housing Alliance, where he has worked for more than three years with a deep passion for meeting the needs of the community. He holds an M.A. in Theology and Leadership from Seattle Pacific University and is an ordained pastor. Sam and his wife of 15 years recently planted a church in Lynnwood, WA, where he leads in a bi-vocational ministry role. His work with Compass is especially meaningful as it allows him to bring together the Church and the broader community to better serve neighbors in need. Outside of his ministry and nonprofit work, Sam is an avid golfer and fisherman—though, fun fact, he doesn’t eat seafood!
MAY 10: Lutheran Community Services NW:
Update on Immigrant Needs
Justin Estep
The Forum will include a brief Immigration 101 in order to provide basic legal information and current federal policies affecting immigrants and refugees. Justin will also discuss the funding cuts under the current administration to refugee and immigrant support, how it affected LCSNW, and what the congregation can do to help.
Justin Estep was born and raised in Houston, TX and lived in Austin, TX for 16 years before joining LCSNW and becoming a resident of Seattle in June 2025. He is an alumnus of The George Washington University (BBA '05) and University of Miami School of Law (JD '08). Before joining LCSNW Justin served as the Senior Director of Immigration and Refugee Services at Catholic Charities of Central Texas for 10+ years and began his career as an Associate Attorney at the immigration law firm Foster, LLP.
MAY 17: Immigration and the Church
Bishop Shelley Bryan Wee
Join Bishop Shelley Bryan Wee for a discussion on immigration, what it means to be a sanctuary church, and what we—in collaboration with our Synod—can do to address what has become a national crisis.
The Reverend Shelley M. Bryan Wee has served as a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America since 1993. She has served as Bishop of the Northwest Washington Synod of the ELCA since August 2019. She delights in working with congregations, ministry sites, Rostered Ministers, and others in this day and time.
MAY 31: Suggestions for 2026/27 Forum Topics
Attendees
Join us for an open discussion in the Conference Room. Here is your opportunity to offer suggestions for our next year's schedule. Whether it is a request for digging deeper into what we studied this year, or suggestions for new topics or speakers, this is your chance to shape our curriculum.
Full Forum Calendar 2025-26
9/14: Forum Fellowship - Coffee in the Conference Room
9/21: Programming at Queen Anne Lutheran:
Building and Engaging Community
Lynn Hofstad
9/28: The Mysterious Identity of the Beloved Disciple
Dave Nienhaus
10/5: Forum Fellowship
Series: Lutheranism 101
10/12: Lutheranism 101: Music and Worship
Cantor Kyle
10/19: Lutheranism 101: 3 Lutheran Teachings
Pastor Dan
10/26: Lutheranism 101: 3 Lutheran Teachings
Pastor Dan
11/2: Forum Fellowship
11/9: Lutherans and Evangelical Christianity
Pastor Dan
11/16: Lutheranism and Buddhism
Michael Zbarschuk
11/23: Lutheran Summer Music Camp: My Take
Jenna Del Vento
12/07: Forum Fellowship - Coffee in the Conference Room
12/14: Update on My Book: Lost Gods of the Bible: Eight Encounters with the Sacred
Pastor Dan
No forums 12/21/2025 through 1/11/2026
1/18: The Queer History of Seattle
Magdalena Phillips
You may know Seattle as the land of rainbow sidewalks and giant Pride festivities. But how did Seattle become one of the most queer-accepting cities in the country? Who were some of our pioneering activists? And most importantly, what was the gay neighborhood before Capitol Hill? Come to Magdalena's forum to find out!
1/25: Q&A Before the Annual Congregational Meeting
(Finance Committee)
2/01: Forum Fellowship
Series: Love, Loneliness, & Isolation
2/08: Biblical Models of Marriage
Beatrice Lawrence
2/15: Loneliness and Isolation Mark Cohan
2/22: The Song of Songs for Single People
Pastor Dan
3/1: Forum Fellowship
Series: Life Is a Gift—But a Fleeting One
3/8: Planning Your Memorial
Pastor Dan and Cantor Kyle
3/15: Things to Know Before a Funeral
Nikole Mitchell
3/22: Life after Death: What are my options?
Dr. Thomas Oord
3/29: Dying on Your Own Terms:
The Death with Dignity Act & Other End-of-Life Options
Michelle Molan
4/05: Easter Breakfast
4/12: Forum Fellowship
4/19: Lost Gods of the Bible: Eight Encounters with the Divine (Augsburg, Broadleaf Books; 2026)
Pastor Dan Peterson
Series: Serving the Marginalized
4/26 Faith in Action: Addressing Homelessness Together
Sam Townsend
5/10 Lutheran Community Services NW: Update on Immigrant Needs
Justin Estep
5/17 Immigration and the Church
Bishop Shelley Bryan Wee
5/31: Forum Ideas for the Coming Year
Attendees