Adult Discussion Group
The Adult Discussion Group meets at 9 a.m. each Sunday, September through May. Topics presented and discussed include religious, theological and secular issues. Some of the topics addressed in 2009-2010 included: the moral implications of war, stem cell research, current politics, health care reform, and the church and immigration.   In September the group will discuss:

On September 12, Terry Jones will discuss the upcoming elections.  Terry has taught political science and public policy administration at UM-St. Louis since 1969, with  specialties of metropolitan politics, voting behavior, and public opinion. He has served as a consultant to more than fifty governmental and nonprofit organizations and to more than two hundred candidate and referenda campaigns. His two most recent books are The Metropolitan Chase: Politics and Policies in Urban America (2003) and Fragmented by Design: Why St. Louis Has So Many Governments (2000).

On September 19, Dr. Christi Griffin, founder of The Ethics Project will tell us about her organization.  Dr. Griffin is a 1977 graduate of Webster College and received her Juris Doctorate from St. Louis University School of Law in 1983.  Dr. Griffin began her private law practice as a ministry in 1984 and continued heading one of the largest consumer bankruptcy law firms in the State of Missouri until 2007.  The mission of The Ethics Project is to reduce the impact of crime, wrongful prosecutions and mass incarcerations by increasing collaboration of agencies and ministries that serve those most affected by crime and by raising the bar on ethical conduct within the system.  By convening consortiums of criminal justice professionals, agencies and faith-based ministries throughout the country, The Ethics Project provides opportunities for integration of services, effective use of resources, heightened awareness of national trends and best practices, and guidance toward joint problem solving and strategic execution.  The Ethics Project educates the public on laws regulating the behavior of prosecutors, judges and police; Brings together agencies and ministries to engage in purposeful collaboration; Provides links to Innocence Projects to address wrongful prosecutions; Partners with other concerned individuals and agencies to address incarcerations and their impact on the community.

On September 26, Ms. Sharon Lyons of NAMI will talk to us about the issues faced by individuals and families affected by mental illness.  Through the dedicated efforts of grassroots leaders, NAMI focuses on three cornerstones of activity that offer hope, reform and health: Support, Education and Advocacy.  NAMI’s support and public education efforts are focused on offering individuals and the community resources and information about mental illness through a variety of activities, including the NAMI National Information Help Line, which provides toll-free, direct support and referral addressing more than 4,000 requests each month and the NAMI Connection, a free recovery support group program for adults living with mental illness currently available in more than 300 communities throughout the country.  NAMI is recognized as the voice of reason on mental illness. NAMI has fought for public policy changes that raise the bar on mental illness care and promote treatment and research.

A highlight of the year is the group’s annual book study. On October 24, 31, NOvember 7 and 14 the class will study Phyllis Tickle's book "The Great Emergence: How Christianity is Changing and Why".  

The Great Emergence refers to a movement currently taking place across Christendom, increasingly known as the “Emerging Church.”  Phyllis Tickle became the founding editor of the Religion Department of Publishers Weekly in 1992.  The Great Emergence is her attempt to put the Emerging Church movement into a coherent context.  Tickle suggests that the church (i.e., Christianity) has gone through “hinge periods” about every five hundred years, during which its adherents sort through their church’s structures, beliefs and practices, trying to make them better fit the world in which they find themselves.  The last such hinge period was the Great Reformation; the Emerging Church, Tickle believes, is the result of a current hinge period.  The Great Emergence is short (under 200 pages), readable, and quite informative.  As appropriate, other resources on the Emerging Church will be identified or made available.  The book study will begin on October 24^thand continue for four weeks, led by Ron Scott.  Copies of the book should be available for individuals interesting in participating by mid-September.  Please let Ron Scott, Joe Morris, Annie Epling, or the church office know if you are interested in receiving a book.

Presbyterian Women
All women are invited to join this monthly study group on the last Wednesday of the month from September through April. For 2010-2011 they will study the book of Revelation.

Wednesday Food and Forum

This group meets approximately three times a year to study theological and biblical topics in greater depth.  Normally, the group meets around the seasons of Advent and Lent to discuss topics specifically related to those seasons of the church year.  This year the group also met in the spring to study the book "Enough: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity".