Sunday Forums at Christ Church

At Christ Church Greenwich we seek to inspire a deeper dive into the mind and spirit of Christianity and the world around us. How do we, as Episcopalians, process current events and information, not only for our own good, but for the good of people in our lives and a global future?
All forums are at 11:15 am in the Parish Hall with free coffee and light bites

Winter/Spring 2026 Sunday Forums

  • “The Psychology of Christian Nationalism: Why People Are Drawn in and How to Talk across the Divide.”

    January 18

    Rev. Dr. Pamela Cooper-White is the Christiane Brooks Johnson Professor Emerita and Dean Emerita of Psychology and Religion at Union Theological Seminary in NYC. 

    How do we overcome polarization in American society? How do we advocate for justice when one side won’t listen to the other and cycles of outrage escalate? The emergence of a vocal, virulent Christian Nationalism has made it urgent that we find a way forward. The Rev. Dr. Cooper-White will discuss the troubling extent of Christian Nationalism, explore its deep psychological roots, and ways in which advocates for justice can heal the deep divides in our society. 

  • “A Dangerous Liaison: White Supremacy and Christian Nationalism - A Christian Heresy and American Identity.” 

    January 25

    The Rt. Rev. Allen K. Shin, Suffragan Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New York.

    White Christian Nationalism is a fusion of white supremacy and Christian Nationalism with historical roots in Christian supremacy. Bishop Shin will explore the historical development and the biblical hermeneutic of Christian Nationalism. 

    The Rt. Rev. Allen K. Shin has a rich background as a professional musician, parish priest, scholar, and leader shaped by his formation in both the United States and the United Kingdom. His work reflects a deep commitment to theological scholarship, cross-cultural ministry, and the global Anglican tradition. 

  • “Spiritual Fulfillment Through Caring for Others” 

    Sunday, February 8

    Are you feeling called to help make a difference? Finding spiritual fulfillment through helping those in need is one of the great traditions and privileges of Christian life. Scores of parishioners have generously given time, expertise and money to address food scarcity, homelessness, neglected children, addiction and other issues in our community as well as on a global level. Christ Church Outreach serves to identify areas where our parish can best channel our individual and shared resources to bettering the life of less advantaged. Come to the Forum to learn more about CCG Outreach and ways in which you can become involved

  • “Bread and the Bible” 

    Februsary 15

    The Very Rev. Dr. Andrew McGowan, former Dean of Berkely Divinity School at Yale. 

    Every week Episcopalians celebrate a ritual in memory of Jesus using bread and wine. But what meaning did bread have in the ancient Mediterranean setting where Jesus ate and shared food with his disciples and others? What can bread tell us about the nature of his ministry or about the character of Christian community? Andrew McGowan, a scholar of early Christian ritual and meals, shares insights, including recent archaeological discoveries, that help us understand what the bread of the earliest Eucharists may have been like and what it meant to the participants. 

    The Rev. Dr. Andrew McGowan is an Episcopal priest and recently retired as the Dean of Berkeley Divinity School at Yale, known for his scholarship on early Christianity, liturgy, and the history of Christian community and worship. He is a widely respected teacher, preacher, and author whose work connects ancient traditions with the life of the church today. 

  • "Beyond Blood: Enemies, Neighbors and the Peace of Jerusalem"

    March 8

    The Rev. Canon Nicholas T. Porter is the former International Chaplain to the Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem and the Founder of Jerusalem Peacebuilders. 

    Powerful forces of war, great power politics, and human suffering are reshaping the Holy Lands. Come learn about the future of Jerusalem and the pathways to peace offered by the life-changing ministries of Jerusalem Peacebuilders, St. George’s College, and St. John Eye Hospital Group.

  • “Matteo Ricci: The First to bring Christianity to China”

    March 15

    Deacon Robert Henry is an Oxford graduate and former head of Coopers & Lybrand’s International Tax Consulting Practice.

    The remarkable and inspiring story of how, after a twenty-year journey through China’s ancient heartland, Ricci became the first Westerner welcomed into the Forbidden City—and earned lasting admiration as a Confucian scholar.

    Greenwich resident Robert Henry and his wife have lived and traveled extensively throughout Asia, deepening his lifelong interests in linguistics, history, and comparative religion. Ordained a deacon more than forty years ago, he continues his ministry with Saint Catherine’s in Riverside while writing and lecturing, including his recent work Shen’s Unlikely Journey. 

  • “On the Front Lines of the U.S. – China Relationship”

    March 22

    Nicholas Burns served as U.S. Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China from 2021-2025.

    Ambassador Burns has had a long career in American diplomacy as a career Foreign Service Officer serving six Presidents and nine Secretaries of State from both parties. He will discuss the many challenges in our highly competitive relationship with Xi Jinping’s China. He will speak at the invitation of parishioner Dick Schulze, his wife’s cousin.

  • “America at 250: What will Our Post-Trump World Look Like?”

    April 12

    Susan Herbst, Professor of Political Science and President Emeritus at UCONN.

    Everyone can agree that President Trump has profoundly altered our norms and institutions. His time in office has revealed so much about the public we did not understand. What will America look like when he is gone? Is there a path to a shared way of working and repairing what needs mending?

    Professor Susan Herbst is a University Professor of Political Science and President Emeritus at the University of Connecticut. A noted scholar of public opinion, media, and American politics, she has authored multiple books and previously held senior academic leadership roles, including Executive Vice Chancellor of the University System of Georgia. 

  • “Recovering the Loss Origins of Biblical Words”

    April 19

    Professor Joel Baden of Yale Divinity School

    Professor Joel Baden offers a bold reexamination of well-known biblical passages, restoring their earliest and often overlooked meanings. His book challenges readers to encounter the Old Testament anew, with fresh insight into the text’s language, history, and intention.

    Professor Joel Baden is a leading scholar of the Hebrew Bible and Old Testament at Yale Divinity School. He is the author of numerous books and articles that illuminate how the Bible was written, edited, and interpreted.

  • “The Future of Faith: AI’s Promise and Peril for the Human Heart”

    April 26

    Bishop Nicholas Knisley, Episcopal Bishop of Rhode Island

    Explore the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence, with a clear and accessible overview of what today’s large language models—like chatbots—can and cannot do. Bishop Knisely will reflect on the spiritual and ethical risks posed by AI, especially its impact on human relationships and its potential dangers for those who are lonely or vulnerable.

    Bishop Nicholas Knisely is a respected voice at the intersection of faith, science, and technology and collaborates with the University of Rhode Island on courses and discussions exploring the ethical and human dimensions of emerging technologies. He draws on his unique background in physics, theology, and digital culture. and writes widely on how scientific advances shape Christian life, ethics, and community. 

  • “Ethics in Business and in Our Universities”

    May 3

    Karen Peetz, former President of the Bank of New York, and former Chair of the Board of Penn State University & Dominic Casserly, Senior Advisor, Warburg Pincus

    This timely conversation explores how ethical decision-making shapes both the corporate world and the culture of our universities, influencing everything from leadership to innovation. The talk invites us to consider how values, accountability, and moral responsibility can guide institutions toward integrity and the common good.

    Karen Peetz is the former President of BNY Mellon and past Chair of the Board of Penn State University, widely recognized for her leadership in corporate governance and institutional transformation.

    Dominic Casserly is Senior Advisor at Warburg Pincus. He previously spent three decades at McKinsey before serving as CEO of Willis, the global insurance broker. 

  • “Politics and the Power of Forgiveness”

    May 10

    Tyler G. Page, Associate Professor at the University of Connecticut 

    Our political culture is filled with fear and anger that tears apart families, friendships, and communities. Prof. Page will help us discuss how we can understand, respect, and even forgive the people in our lives who we are estranged from due to political differences.

    Professor Page is an award-winning scholar and Associate Professor at UConn with research interests in crisis communication, public relations history, and building a healthier political culture. 

  • “Off its Axis: Forecasting Flashpoints in an Unpredictable World” 

    May 17

    R.P. Eddy, CEO of Ergo

    We are living in the fastest year in history, and every year to come will be faster still. Stability is no longer the norm as technological, political, and environmental disruptions intensify. R.P. Eddy will break down the forces reshaping our world, from AI and U.S.–China competition to emerging conflicts and the trajectory of American democracy.

    R.P. Eddy is the CEO of Ergo, a geopolitical and economic intelligence firm known for forecasting critical world events. Previously, R.P. served as a Director at the White House National Security Council and as a senior U.S. and UN diplomat. He co-authored the award-winning bestseller Warnings: Finding Cassandras to Stop Catastrophes. 

Spring 2025 Forums

  • The Women in Jesus' Life

    Sunday, May 18

    This forum will explore Jesus' Jewishness and also discuss Mary, Mary Magdalene, and Mary and Martha, with attention to how portrayals of women vary in different Gospels. This forum will be led by the Rev. Dr. Julie Faith Parker, Visiting Scholar, Union Theological Seminary and Biblical Scholar in Residence, Marble Collegiate Church.

  • Sharing Our Vision, Hearing Your Dreams and Desires for Christ Church

    Sunday, February 2

    In the last six years, Christ Church has added over 400 new members and now has a membership of 1,800, including many young families with children and teens. How do we maintain what we have and position our church to serve all of our members and our community? Join us as our Wardens lead us in a discussion and seek your input.

  • Embracing Jesus' Scripture: an Overview of the Old Testament

    Sunday, March 2

    Rev. Dr. Julie Faith Parker, Visiting Scholar, Union Theological Seminary.
    This forum will answer basic questions about the Old Testament - who wrote it - when they wrote it - where they wrote it -- why they wrote it - and how they wrote it. Slides would help to convey this information. This forum will be led by the Rev. Dr. Julie Faith Parker,Visiting Scholar, Union Theological Seminary and Biblical Scholar in Residence, Marble Collegiate Church.

  • The Role of Psalms in Worship

    Sunday, March 9

    Composed millennia ago, the psalms have served an instrumental role in worship for Jews (and later Christians) since they were first set down. Joyful, plaintive, triumphant, desperate, hopeful, and occasionally violent--the psalms cover the vast range of human emotion. Learn about these glorious, spiritual poems and how they have formed the faith of countless generations in this forum with Rev. Tim.

  • The Face of Jesus through the Ages

    Sunday, March 23

    Professor Vasileios Marinis of Yale University will offer a visual presentation of Christianity in art and will start with the earlier representations of Jesus in catacombs and icons, then discuss how various Christian communities understood Christ through the visual arts.

  • The Gospel of Matthew: Forming Disciples in Tumultuous Times

    Sunday, March 30

    The Gospel of Matthew evokes emotion in dramatic ways to make its stories compelling for followers of Jesus seeking to learn about discipleship. This forum will be led bythe Rev. Dr. Carolyn Sharp, professor of homiletics at Yale Divinity School, who is interested in how preaching can shape Christian community via insights from biblical studies, feminist perspectives on power, and ecotheology.

  • The Triduum: Unpacking the Three Most Sacred Days in the Church Year

    Sunday, April 6

    The three most holy days of the year begin on Thursday night of Holy Week: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday (culminating in the great Vigil of Easter on Saturday evening) make up the Triduum. These three days have been marked with particular reverence by Christians from ancient times and their worship services are some of the most venerable liturgies in our tradition. Prepare for Holy Week as we walk with Christ from his last meal to his arrest and execution, and finally, to his glorious resurrection.

  • The Future of Church in America with former Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church Michael Curry

    Sunday, April 27

    Join us as Michael Curry, former Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, shares his experience as our Presiding Bishop, his engagement in the Anglican Communion, which is far more conservative than the Episcopal Church, his outlook on the future of the Episcopal Church and church in America, what he learned while facing serious health concerns while in office, and how he kept his faith strong in the midst of tense and challenging times. 

  • Then and Now: How Understanding Paul’s Letters Can Help Us Today

    Sunday, May 4

    Come experience a fresh approach to Paul’s letters that explores his 1st-century Roman world and its relational networks, and considers the intentional ways he chose his language to deal with the various problems he faced in his churches…many of which we still face today. The Reverend Canon Chuck Robertson, Ph.D. has served under three Presiding Bishops as an “ambassador” to the worldwide Anglican Communion and Ecumenical & Interreligious partners and author of dozens of publications.

Sunday Forums Library

Sunday forum with Prof. Page Knox Ph.D., Christ Church Greenwich, CT
‘LIVING IN AN AGE OF ANXIETY AND FINDING HOPE’ Sunday forum, Christ Church Greenwich, CT
Sunday forum with Lynn Twist, Christ Church Greenwich, CT
Sunday forum with Dr. Jewell Bickel, Christ Church Greenwich, CT

Sunday February 19, 2023
"Images of Christ through the Centuries: What Images of Jesus in Art Can Teach Us." Prof. Knox examines several important portraits of Jesus that speak profoundly about who he was.

WATCH THE VIDEO

Sunday February 26, 2023
A conversation about anxiety for all ages and walks of life. Anxiety was already a crisis pre-covid, but the pandemic has increased it exponentially, especially for students.

WATCH THE VIDEO

Sunday March 12, 2023
‘The Soul of Money’: Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Life.” Twist examines the harsh realities of a money culture that holds us back from achieving our highest potential and realizing our greatest aspirations.

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Sunday March 19, 2023
Dr. Bickel explores of why disagreement is so difficult, how we can disagree well with one another, and how Jesus can help.

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Sunday forum with Philip Moore, Christ Church Greenwich, CT
Sunday forum with Rick Hamlin, Christ Church Greenwich, CT
Sunday forum with Rev. Marek Zabriskie, Christ Church Greenwich, CT
Sunday forum with Prof. Greg Mobley, Christ Church Greenwich, CT

Sunday March 26, 2023
”Writing Music.” Our beloved Artist-in-Residence in Spring of 2023, Philip Moore, talks about his experience and career at Canterbury Cathedral and York Minster as Organist and Composer.

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Sunday April 16, 2023
 “Even Silence Is Praise” How do we listen to God in this noisy world? By getting silent, inside and out. This forum is on how to embrace contemplative prayer.

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Sunday April 23, 2023
“Walking in Jesus’ Footsteps: The Trip to the Holy Land” The Rev. Marek shares their experiences of what was most spiritually moving and why, and show pictures of key biblical holy sites.

WATCH VIDEO HERE

Sunday April 30, 2023
‘Environmental Stewardship is Not So New: It’s in the Bible.’ Prof. Mobley explores what the Old Testament has to say about sustainability and the interdependent web of existence.

WATCH VIDEO HERE
Sunday forum with Bill Harrison, Christ Church Greenwich, CT

Sunday May 21, 2023
“Ethics in the Workplace in an Evolving World” Whether you work from home or commute to work, workplace ethics can influence the way employees interact with people in an organization’s culture.

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