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.

November 2025

Nov. 2 – Steve Weinberg, Retired professor of Journalism, speaking on “Why I decided to devote the final four decades of my investigative journalism career to freeing innocent individuals from prison while seeking the actual murderers and rapists.” Steve has worked in newspapers and magazines and has published ten books. He was the executive director of Investigative Reporters and Editors, Inc., and founder of the Midwest Innocence Project.

Nov. 9 – Dennis Crouch, law professor at the University of Missouri and recent new member of UUCC, will speak on “Regulating Artificial Intelligence.” At MU, he is the director of the Center for Intellectual Property and Entrepreneurship. He was formerly a patent attorney in Chicago and a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ghana.

Nov. 16 – Cynthia Gardner, leader of the Braver Angels in Columbia, Missouri, will discuss Braver Angels and their mission. The goal of Braver Angels is not to change people’s views of issues but to change their views of each other.

Nov. 23 – Connie Johnmeyer will lead a discussion on Chapter 3 of Great Decisions, “Competition, Cold War, or Conflict? Navigating U.S.-China Relations in Tense Times.”

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.