Speakers and Topics 2007 – 2020
| Oct, Nov 2020 | 2020: All This Joy, All This Sorrow | A Zoom speaker series reflecting on the deep grief of 2020 and transformative joy that comes out of such sorrow. Where can we find hope now? Michael Ramos, Church Council of Greater Seattle; Dr. John J. Thatamanil, Union Theological Seminary; Rev. Yolanda Norton, Graduate Theological Seminary |
| Feb 2019 | Rev. Dr. Jim Antal | Denominational leader, climate activist, author and public theologian Climate Church, Climate World: How people of faith must work for change |
| Oct 2018 | Dr. Sharon Jacob and Dr. Sharon Fennema | Pacific School of Religion Prophets and Passions: Race, Resistance and Prophetic Imagination |
| June 2018 | Paul-Gordon Chandler | Middle East activist, author and Episcopal Canon | In Search of a Prophet: A Spiritual Journey with Kahlil Gibran |
| March 2018 | David Vasquez-Levy | President, Pacific School of Religion | Faith on the Move: Changing the National Conversation on Immigration | with Bob Ferguson, WA State Attorney General (Friday) |
| Nov 2017 | Bernard Brandon Scott | Darbeth Distinguished Professor Emeritus of New Testament, Phillips Theological Seminary Jarmo Tarkki | Senior Pastor of Finnish Lutheran Church of California and Texas, and Adjunct Professor of Theology at California Lutheran University The Legacy of the Reformation (A Westar Institute JSOR event) |
| March 2017 | John Dominic Crossan | Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies, DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois | How to Read the Bible and Still be a Christian | Celebrating 10 years of The Lecture Series |
| Oct 2016 | Stephen J. Patterson | George H. Atkinson Professor of Religious and Ethical Studies at Willamette University, and Author of several books | The Lost Way: How Two Forgotten Gospels Are Rewriting the Story of Christian Origins |
| Feb 2016 | Alastair McIntosh | Scottish writer, broadcaster and activist on social, environmental and spiritual issues, and author of several books | Spiritual Activism, Climate Change and Liberation Theology for our Time |
| Oct 2015 | Diana Butler Bass | Author, speaker, independent scholar | Grounded: The Spiritual Revolution All Around Us |
| July 2015 | Jessica Jackley | Co-Founder, Kiva / Author, Clay Water Brick Author reading, co-presented with Mwanzo Proud Farmers |
| March 2015 | Lauren Winner | Episcopal priest, author, professor, Duke University | Wearing God: Clothing, Fire, Laughter and Other Overlooked Ways of Meeting God |
| Feb 2015 | Robin Meyers | Senior minister of Mayflower UCC church Oklahoma City | Beloved Community of Spiritual Resistance |
| Oct 2014 | Pamela Eisenbaum |Associate Professor of Biblical Studies and Christian Origins, Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Colorado, and affiliate faculty member of the Center for Judaic Studies, University of Denver Stephen J. Patterson | Geo. H. Atkinson Professor of Religious and Ethical Studies at Willamette University Prostitutes, Virgins, and Androgynes: Sex and Gender in Early Christianity (A Westar Institute JSOR) |
| June 2014 | Marcus Borg | Canon Theologian at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Portland, Oregon John Dominic Crossan | Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies, DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois Sister Joan Chittister | Member, Benedictine Sisters of Erie, Pennsylvania A Panel Discussion and Lecture | The Dream of God: A World of Justice and Non-Violence |
| Feb 2014 | Lauren Winner | Episcopal priest, author, professor, Duke University | Mudhouse Sabbath |
| Oct 2013 | Gretta Vosper | Pastor, West Hill United in Scarborough, Ontario | Amen: What Prayer Can Mean in a World Beyond Belief |
| July 2013 | Reza Aslan | Author, speaker, Middle-East expert, founder of Aslan Media | Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth |
| May 2013 | Thomas Reynolds | Associate Professor of Theology, Emmanuel College in Victoria College of Toronto University, Toronto Canada | Outside Inclusion: A Case for Care-Full Hospitality in the Church |
| Feb 2013 | Miroslav Volf | Henry B. Wright Professor of Systematic Theology / Founding Director, Yale Center for Faith & Culture | Allah: A Christian Response |
| Oct 2012 | John Bell | Preacher, teacher, liturgical composer, Scotland Spirituality and Music |
| Feb 2012 | Marcus Borg | Speaking Christian |
| Oct 2011 | Robin Meyers | Senior minister of Mayflower UCC church Oklahoma City | How I Became a Heretic With Help from Jesus |
| Oct 2011 | Diana Butler Bass | Chabraja Fellow Seabury Western Theological Seminary | Christianity After Religion |
| May 2011 | John J Thatamanil | Associate Professor of Theology and World Religions, Union Theological Society | Eucharist Upstairs, Yoga Downstairs |
| Feb 2011 | J. Phillip Newell | Formerly Warden of Iona Abbey in the Western Isles of Scotland |A New Harmony |
| Oct 2010 | John Shelby Spong | American Bishop of the Episcopal Church, Ret. |Eternal Life: A New Vision |
| April 2010 | Walter Brueggemann | William Marcellus McPheeters Professor of Old Testament Emeritus at Columbia Theological Seminary |The Drama of Rehabilitation |
| Feb 2010 | Amy Jill Levine | Vanderbilt University Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies Jesus | Judaism and Jewish Christian Relations |
| Oct 2009 | John Dominic Crossan | Paul: An Appealing or Appalling Apostle? |
| Feb 2009 | Marcus Borg | Mysticism and the Christian Path |
| Feb 2008 | John Dominic Crossan | Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies, DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois | God and Empire, Celtic Christianity |
| Feb 2007 | Marcus Borg | Canon Theologian at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Portland, Oregon A Tale of Two Christianities |
