Each week, guest speakers from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines join the Reverend Peter Thompson and other St. Bart's clergy for deep and insightful conversations about topics that matter to our lives as responsible citizens and people of faith. Speakers in recent years have included winners of the Tony Award, the Emmy Award, the MacArthur Fellowship, and the Pulitzer Prize, professors from prominent universities like Yale, Harvard, Princeton, and Columbia, and journalists from New York, The New Yorker, and The Atlantic.
Dr. Daisy Khan, Founder and Executive Director of Women’s Islamic Initiative in Spirituality & Equality (WISE), discusses how Muslim women’s lives can be improved by connecting them to beliefs that affirm human dignity and gender equality at the core of the Islamic faith. Please post your questions in the comments section on Facebook or YouTube, or email the Reverend Meredith Ward at
The Forum is on hiatus for Labor Day weekend. In its place, join the clergy for an in person conversation about summer vacations and the fall season ahead.
The Reverend Buddy Stallings reflects on the decade since he retired as Rector of St. Bart’s and the state of the world today.
Watch or listen to The Forum from previous weeks below.
In an age of information overload and political polarization, how do we discern what truly serves the common good? CUNY Law professor and St. Bart’s parishioner Ally Coll explores the promises and pitfalls of both evidence-based and...
Matthew Moretz explored the variety of beautiful imagery in the Chapel, in stone, glass, painting, and fresco. Listen in as he discusses these works of art in close-up detail, and explores how they speak to us, as we reflect on the rich meaning...
Our Brains, Our Beliefs, and Our Well-beingToday we welcomed Dr. Mary Ragan and Dr. Ed Griffin of the Psychotherapy and Spirituality Institute. In their presentation and conversation, they integrated the wisdom of neuro-biology, spirituality, and...
Eve, Adam, and the Garden: The Creation Stories through a Feminist LensToday we welcomed teacher and retreat leader Helen Goodkin, whose presentation featured images from the history of art to demonstrate how our culture has understood these...
Matthew Moretz presented and led a discussion on how to incorporate Christian prayer practices into your household.
“The Treasures of St. Bart’s” Today, Matthew Moretz completed his narration of the spectacular sequence of sixteen capitals carved by the Piccirilli Brothers in our church -- each with their own dramatic sequence featuring vital...
“Listening to Our Young People: Nurturing a Socially Conscious Household.” Today we welcomed Lucy Bernardin, St. Bart’s Minister for Children, Youth, and Family Formation, who explore dsome of the best practices for supporting...
Today we welcomed Senator George J. Mitchell, a member of St. Bart’s who has led a distinguished career in public service and corporate leadership, serving as a United States Senator and Senate Majority Leader and working as Chairman of the...
Today we welcomed back Dr. Jamie Ferrara, professor of Pediatrics and Oncological Sciences at Mt. Sinai Hospital, and Dr. Peter deMenocal, Dean of Science at Columbia University, as they continue to explore the living link between the disciplines...
Today we welcomed back a dear friend of this parish, the Rev. Jay Sidebotham, our former Vicar. At the Forum he shared insights that he has drawn from his outstanding service as the Director of Renewal Works, which supports the growth and...
