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
Our Fall 2026 Calendar is in the works—
watch this space.
We are in the planning stages; below is a tentative schedule of topics and presenters. Those in blue are confirmed; others have details to come!
September 13 –The Society We Deserve: Rebuilding Trust, Belonging, and Our Life Together (Pastor Terry Kyllo)
WHAT DO CATHOLICS AND LUTHERANS BELIEVE?
October 18—Papal Infallibility: Unlock the History Behind One of Catholicism’s Most Debated Doctrines!
Dr. Brian Taberski (SU)
Join us for an engaging presentation exploring the origins, political drama, and modern reality of papal infallibility in the Roman Catholic Church. Discover how the dramatic loss of the Papal States shaped the First Vatican Council, unpack the strict conditions required for an ex cathedra statement, and examine famous cases; from the Dogma of the Assumption to the controversial non-use in Humanae Vitae. Whether you are curious about church history, ecumenical dialogue, or modern theology, the morning promises to transform your understanding of papal authority today!
October 25 Vatican II Reforms • Dr. Brian Taberski (SU)
What Really Happened at Vatican II?
Explore how the Second Vatican Council fundamentally reshaped the Catholic Church not just through its official decrees, but through a radical transformation in style, language, and posture. Drawing from the acclaimed historical analysis of John W. O’Malley, S.J., this presentation moves beyond polarities to unpack the procedural drama, key turning points, and linguistic shifts that moved the Catholic Church from an era of condemnation and isolation to one of dialogue, religious freedom, and global engagement. Discover how three central concepts—ressourcement, aggiornamento, and development—unlocked a revolutionary new way for the Catholic Church to understand itself and its mission in the modern world.
Brian Robert Taberski, Ed.D. is the Associate Director for University Liturgy, Worship and Faith Formation as well as an Assistant Clinical Professor in Theology and Religious Studies. He holds a BA in Religious Studies from Canisius College (now University) in his hometown of Buffalo, NY, an MDiv from Boston College, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Seattle University.
As an interdisciplinary scholar-practitioner, Taberski integrates theology, church history, organizational theory, and leadership studies to help mission-based organizations flourish and realize their purpose. At the core of his work is an inductive, ground-up approach to reading and interpreting organizational culture. By examining the subtle, often unspoken dynamics, shared meanings, and contextual realities that shape day-to-day life within an institution, Taberski uncovers the underlying cultural drivers that directly impact organizational wellness, strategic alignment, and sustainable forward movement.
November 8— Luther’s 95 Theses • Dr. Marit Trelstad (PLU)
GOD AND HUMAN SUFFERING
November 1— Perspectives on Suffering from the Hebrew Bbible • Dr. Beatrice Lawrence (SU)
People often cite hopeful verses from scripture to help them when times are difficult and they are feeling pain. But the same scripture also depicts human suffering in a way that is profound, honest, and deeply human. Please join me as we examine some of these texts from the Hebrew Bible.
Beatrice Lawrence is Associate Professor and Chair at Seattle University, where she teaches Hebrew Bible and Jewish studies in the department of Theology and Religious Studies. She has two awesome daughters and a high-maintenance German Shepherd. She loves William Shatner and thinks the greatest movie he ever made was “Kingdom of the Spiders.”
November 15 —Human Suffering and Process Theology • Dr. Michael Zbaraschuk (PLU)
November 22—Human Suffering and Liberation Theology • Dr. Michael Zbaraschuk (PLU)
Dr. Michael Zbaraschuk is Associate Professor of Religion at Pacific Lutheran University and editor of The Emerging Church, Millennials and Religion (2018) and Resurrecting the Death of God: The Past, Present, and Future of Radical Theology (co-edited with Pastor Dan Peterson)
SPECIAL FORUM PRESENTATIONS
December 13 – Mary Magdalene (Cindi Carlisle)
January 10 – Space Exploration: The Moon and Beyond (Matt Boysen)
January 17 – Queer History of Seattle, Part II (Magdalena Phillips)
January 24 – Annual Budget Q&A (Finance Committee)
FAITH AND AI
February 7 – Where We Are
February 14 – Pope Leo’s Encyclical
February 21 – The Singularity
February 28 – Faith and AI
March 14 Noordbroek Organ Academy, Netherlands trip (Cantor Kyle)
April 11 –Lost Gods of the Bible: Eight Encounters with the Sacred (Pastor Dan Peterson)
April 18 – Sustainable NW/Ridwell
LOCAL HISTORY/ FAITH IN ACTION
May 2 – Japanese Internment Speaker TBD
May 9 – AIDNW Speaker TBD
May16 – Synod Today (Bishop Shelley Bryan Wee)
May 23 – Forum Suggestions for Next Year