Rev. angel Kyodo Williams is an esteemed Zen Buddhist priest and the second woman of African descent recognized as a teacher in the Japanese Zen lineage in the world. Krista Tippett of "On Being," says, "She is one of our wisest voices on social evolution and the spiritual aspect of social healing." Rev. angel and Ed Bacon have been friends for almost a decade. They co-led an interfaith pilgrimage to Pando, the one-tree forest. She's the author of Being Black: Zen and the Art of Living with Fearlessness and Grace and Radical Dharma: Talking Race, Love, and Liberation. In 2020, she created the first annual Great Radical Race Read.

In this Sunday Forum, Ed Bacon continues a series of conversations with national leaders during which he poses two questions, "Where Are We Now?" and "Where Do We Go From Here?" This week's guest, the Rev Kim Jackson is both Episcopal priest and State of Georgia Senator. As the vicar of The Church of the Common Ground, Rev. Jackson serves a parish of those who are experiencing homelessness or who have had that experience. She also is the first out lesbian elected to the state Senate. She tells her story of experiencing a call to ordination as well as a call to elected public service. Her witness to the Heritage of prophetic leadership is transformational.

We continue a series of conversations about "Where Are We Now?" And "Where do we go from here? Dr. Catherine Meeks directs the Absalom Jones Center for Racial Healing. A keen prophetic voice about Church, Culture, and the Human Heart, Dr. Meeks explains the inspiring leadership of Absalom Jones as well as God's call for healing to each of us after 500,000 COVID-19 deaths and a post-insurrection America.

"Where are we now?" "Where do we go from here?" These are two questions all of us are considering in the context of transitions the new year has brought us. Ed Bacon continues a series of Forums with thought leaders who are grappling with these questions and whose leadership is impacting lives. Paige Alexander, CEO of the Carter Center, is explicitly charged with "building peace, health, and hope for the world's poorest and most vulnerable people." Ed met Paige during the series of Mourning Into Unity prayer vigils St. Luke's hosted. She has much to say about moving forward with hope in unsettling times.

Ed welcomes author and scholar Diana Butler Bass to the St. Luke's Forum this Sunday, January 24 immediately following the 10am service. Dr. Butler Bass has written extensively on the history of Christianity, the church in America, and spirituality. She will bring her knowledge of the terrain of religious America to help us understand the religious expressions and dynamics feeding so many who took part in the siege of our Capitol.

Interim Rector Ed Bacon continues his exploration of Kingian principles this Sunday welcoming Dr. John Vaughn, Executive Pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church, and Dr. Gwendolyn Middlebrooks, longtime member of Ebenezer and veteran of the Civil Rights Movement. Dr. Middlebrooks also is a personal friend of the King family - she was a babysitter for the King children. They will discuss which values are core, which ones are most frequently invoked at Ebenezer, and how those values look in daily practice.

"Wonder" is a powerful word in life and in Christianity. "Star of wonder!" brings to heart the impact of the Christmas message. Christmas may be the most wonder-filled liturgical season of them all. Join Ed as he continues his exploration of wonder with Barbara Brown Taylor, whose most recent book is Always a Guest.

"Wonder" is a powerful word in life and in Christianity. "Star of wonder!" brings to heart the impact of the Christmas message. Christmas may be the most wonder-filled liturgical season of them all. This Sunday, Ed welcomes Lois Reitzes of WABE's, "City Lights" to talk about the wonder of the Arts in Atlanta during COVID.

"Wonder" is a powerful word in life and in Christianity. "Star of wonder!" brings to heart the impact of the Christmas message. Christmas may be the most wonder-filled liturgical season of them all. This Sunday, Ed welcomes Dr. Gregory Ellison to discuss the poetic mysticism of Howard Thurman.

The Rev. Ed Bacon speaks with psychologist Dr. Paula Green about her Hands Across the Hills project and the dangers of polarization. Hands Across the Hills formed in response to the 2016 election with the goal of meeting face to face with others who voted differently, eliminating the voices of politicians and the media, who seek to divide us, to see us as enemies, red versus blue. Two small groups, progressives in rural Western Massachusetts and conservative voters in Eastern Kentucky coal country, met for three immersive weekends of dialogue and cultural exchange.https://www.handsacrossthehills.org/