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.
Sunday, June 21, 2026 For Freedom: Juneteenth and the Gospel
The Very Reverend Marcus George Halley, D.Min., College Chaplain and Dean of Spiritual and Religious Life, Trinity College, Hartford, CT, explores the intersection of two significant June observances — Juneteenth and Pride Month — through the lens of the Gospel and its expansive vision of human freedom and flourishing.
Upcoming at The Forum
Sunday, June 28: A Wider Welcome: Sports, Pride, and the Church
Join in conversation with the Reverend Kelsey Davis—Episcopal priest, former professional soccer player, coach, and Co-Founder of Christian Athlete Circles, the first LGBTQ+ affirming organization for Christian athletes nationwide. Together we’ll explore hospitality at the intersection of sports, Pride, and church, and what it means to build communities where all identities, gifts, and bodies are fully welcomed.
Watch or listen to The Forum from previous weeks below.
“What Contributes to Spiritual Growth? What Gets in the Way?: Learnings from Episcopal (and Other) Churches.” A Forum with Jay Sidebotham, Director of RenewalWorks, a Ministry of Forward Movement
Jay’s work with Forward...
Do family interactions sometimes leave you wondering, “What just happened here?” Are you hoping to find a different, more satisfying way of relating for 2016? The Rev. Lynn Sanders presented a timely review of Bowen family systems...
Who Was Expected: What Did We Get?
Our Interim Rector, the Rev. Dr. Bob Dannals, explored the three major themes of messianic expectation in first-century Israel, and then what happened in Bethlehem and beyond.
Download the handout from...
Advent: ‘Tis the Season, Part 1 of 4. The Advent season is multifaceted, each offering its own gift to help us prepare our hearts and our hopes. During each Sunday Forum in Advent, we’ll explore a different, rich dimension of Advent...
The Rev. Dr. Daniel P. Matthews, Sr., Rector Emeritus of Trinity Church Wall Street, is a nationally renowned preacher and teacher, a leader, visionary and vigorous proclaimer of a relevant gospel to the world. Dr. Matthews' inspirational message...
The Very Rev. Michael Battle, Ph.D. spoke to us on "A Christian Spirituality of Restorative Justice.” Dr. Battle is the recently appointed Herbert Thompson Professor of Church and Society and Director of the Desmond Tutu Center at General...
The Rev. Lynn Sanders draws on the latest thinking and teaching of visionary Episcopal Church leaders to explore the birth and continual rebirth of The Episcopal Church. How did we get here? Where are we going? Why might this be true: “The...
The Rev. Lynn Sanders interviews Dr. Patrick Hornbeck. Photo by Tim Collins.
Patrick Hornbeck served as Al Jazeera’s “Reporter's Friend” during the Pope’s recent visit to the US. He gave us a firsthand report and...
Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Martin Luther King continue to bring a compelling ethic of non-violent resistance, tough love, and possibilities of forgiveness and reconciliation. Led by Bob Dannals, who wrote his doctoral dissertation on the topic...
Today’s Forum was not recorded. We invite you to view the handout that accompanied Bob Dannal’s talk.
Click here or on the icon above for the Forum handout