Sunday Adult Forum
Faith seeking understanding
Learning is never over, and "faith seeking understanding" (as St. Anselm said) is part and parcel of the Christian vocation. What do we have yet to learn, and how is the life of the spirit enriched by the discourse of the mind? As part of our commitment to formation - not just for children - St. Paul-Reformation presents a weekly Sunday Morning Adult Forum from 9:10 a.m. until 10:10 a.m. each Sunday during the academic year in Tidemann Hall. These presentations are free and open to the public, and all you need to do is bring an openness to learn and an inquiring mind. We seek to present on a variety of topics from the arts to current events to contemporary theological issues. You are welcome to ask questions...or just sit quietly and listen. And, wherever you are in these marvelous conversations...you are always welcome.
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September 17
Senator John Marty
Senator John Marty has served in the MN Legislature since 1986 representing Roseville, and is currently the Minority Lead on the Senate Finance Committee, and is former chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. Senator Marty will discuss gun safety reform in the State of Minnesota, what progress has been made and what challenges still remain. After a monumental legislative session in Minnesota, how can we move ahead on this issue?
September 24
Matthew Webster
Matthew Webster is a member of St. Paul-Reformation where he has served as Parish Council President. An attorney specializing in immigration law, Webster has recently been elected Chair of the Immigration Law Association of Minnesota. As we prepare to support our sanctuary family in their asylum hearing, Mathew will lead us through what that might look like, how the process works, and how we can be supportive.
October 1
Pr. Ron Letnes
Pr. Ron Letnes is a tireless advocate for gun safety in Minnesota, and is the founder of ENGAGE, a Lutheran organization that advocates for gun reform in the United States. Gun violence in the United States is a moral scandal, with over 20,000 people being victims of gun violence in 2022. What is the Christian response, and how do we move forward as a nation on this issue?
October 8
Memphis Trip Youths
This past summer, three youth from SPR traveled to Memphis on a service-learning trip that focused on the history of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. We will hear from these young people about what they learned, what inspired them, and how their learning was strengthened by their Christian faith.
Martin Case is the author of The Relentless Business of Treaties: How Indigenous Land Became US Property, an overview of how the United States government has entered into - and then not honored - treaties with Native communities. In further efforts to honor the land on which this parish sits, Martin will discuss his book, the history of broken treaties, and what can be done about it going forward.
October 15
Martin Case
November 5
Andy Gilats
Andy Gilats is the author of After Effects: A Memoir of Complicated Grief. As we observe All Saints’ Sunday, we recall griefs we have all experienced, and how we are called to process them in with both hope and realness. How does grief work, and…does it ever really go away?
November 12
Cathy Ricci
Cathy Ricci is the Executive Director of MORE, a Twin-Cities based organization that seeks to work with immigrants on their language and communication skills. Founded more than thirty years ago, MORE continues its mission to empower immigrants and prepare them for success.
November 19
Shannon Gibney
Shannon Gibney is the author of Dream Country, the story of five generations of African Americans in the United States and winner of multiple awards. Described as “gut wrenching and incredible,” Gibney will discuss this story and her other work. The through-line in all her work is stories that may have previously gone untold.
November 26
Ryan Berg
Ryan Berg serves Avenues for Homeless Youth, an organization that works with GLBTQIA+ youth in the Twin Cities. Homelessness among queer youth is an epidemic...what can be done, and how do welcoming faith communities support this work?
December 3
Tonya Brownlow
Emma Norton Services is a Twin-Cities based organization that serves women who have experienced homelessness as they transition to stable housing. As we prepare to again welcome guests to SPR’s warming shelter, what are some challenges...an opportunities? Tonya Brownlow will lead our discussion of needs, mistakes, and learnings in serving this community.