Forum Discussion Group

The Forum Discussion Group meets at 9 a.m. most Sundays from
September through May in the Lower Level-Forum Room/Library.

September 2025

Sept. 7 – The Forum Discussion Group will resume meetings on Sept. 7 after a summer hiatus. MU Prof. Emeritus Ted Koditschek will speak on “Is Israel an Apartheid State?” He is a historian of Britain and the British Empire and especially interested in the development of liberalism, capitalism, class and race during the nineteenth century.

Note: Great Decisions booklets will be available at the Sept. 7 Forum meeting.

Sept. 14 – Rita Yencarelli and Lisa Valentine will speak about the world of court reporting and legal video. Lisa Valentine is a certified court reporter.

Sept. 21 – Beth Koster will present a “Keep Your Keys’“ program.

Sept. 28 – Connie Johnmeyer will lead a Great Decisions program on Chapter 1, “America at a Crossroads.”

The Forum Discussion Group is an adult issues-and-answers discussion program that meets from September through May from 9 to 10 a.m. each Sunday. Forum meets in the Forum Room/Library at the southeast corner of the lower level of our church.

The lower level is wheelchair-accessible by elevator.

Forum began in 1980 shortly after our church transitioned from a lay-led fellowship to a community with a full-time minister in October 1980. Forum did not meet starting in March 2020 because of the Covid pandemic but resumed meeting on Sept. 11, 2022.

bill_clark — **Bill Clark was the long-time programmer for Forum**

Among Forum leaders in its nearly four decades of existence have been David Leuthold, George and Lois Parker, Arthur McArthur, Bob Breitenbach, Dan Spies, Charlie Atkins, and Carla and Wayne Anderson, Bill and Delores Clark, and Gregg Suhler.

Forum looks into community, state, national and international issues, including issues in society, the arts, history, the sciences, and the environment, and occasionally issues within the church. Guests have included musical performers, educational and political leaders, political candidates, representatives of other religions, and leaders in the arts, music, theater, and city and county government.

A typical program format consists of remarks by a guest speaker followed by a question-and-answer period.

Forum is not intended to be a spiritual experience, though spiritual matters such as the soul of dogs occasionally appear on the schedule. The entire community is invited to attend Forum. Church membership or an enrollment is not a requirement – all that is needed is an interest in contemporary issues. A dollar in the coffee can on occasion is appreciated, however. Just show up – you’ll be an immediate Forum participant.

Child care is available during the Forum sessions from September through May; however, it is seldom needed because most Forum attendees are older adults. Forum leaders hope to remedy this situation by attracting younger adults, whom the group cordially invites to stretch their horizons and expand their UU experiences. In addition to the listing at the top of this page, scheduled Forum topics are included on the Coming Up Sunday page.