As part of our mission at Messiah we strive to be a Spirit filled and welcoming community to all people. If we are to truly live out this mission, while continually exploring our own beliefs and history we must also be able to understand our neighbors and thus seek to learn all we can about those with whom we share this world. Furthermore, as adults we also have a responsibility to educate ourselves so we are better able to educate both our own children and indeed all young people at Messiah.

Luckily, we are so fortunate to have great teachers among us! In order to give folks in the Rotterdam area a deeper understanding of people in our community, our nation and our world, for many years now we've offered quality adult education courses on Sundays during the program year at 8:45am we call Sunday Forum. Courses are taught by Dr. Merle Longwood, Professor of Religion Emeritus of Siena College, and will meet on zoom until our new fully accessible library space is complete.

Adult Education at Messiah also includes a wide variety of additional virtual and in-person gatherings that connect our faith with pressing issues of social concern. Prominent past speakers include Dr. Cynthia Moe-Lobeda of Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary on topics of race and climate change, Dr. Joseph Bruchac on American Indian culture and storytelling and Dr. Sarah Rogerson of Albany Law School on the immigration crisis.

Recordings of some of our adult education forums can be found below.