Tribune faith forum on tap

“Keeping faith in Healdsburg” is the topic of The Healdsburg
Tribune’s second community forum in its Off the Page series to be
held May 12.
The series includes a bi-monthly forum about a variety of topics
that impact Healdsburg’s community — taking the news “off the page”
and into the community for an engaging and informative
discussion.
The next discussion will be held Thursday, May 12 at 6:30 p.m.
at the Healdsburg library, which is co-sponsoring the forum.
A panel with local religious leaders, lay leaders and educators
will discuss how Healdsburg’s shared religions inform its sense of
community.
“The forum will focus on Healdsburg and the impact faith and
religion has had on the Healdsburg community,” said Tribune’s
online editor and forum moderator Matthew Hall.
Panelists will include retired clergyman Marvin Bowers, who was
instrumental in the creation of Healdsburg Shared Ministries and
served as the rector of St. Paul’s Church for more than 30 years.
Bowers contributes regularly to the Opinions & Editorial page
of The Healdsburg Tribune.
“My faith in Christ has two (as least) aspects,” Bowers said.
“One is a personal relationship with God through Christ’s redeeming
love. The other is passing on Christ’s love to my neighbor through
community service — obeying Christ’s call to cloth the naked, feed
the hungry, shelter the homeless. The churches and inter-church
programs like Healdsburg Shared Ministries and North County
Community Services have helped me be faithful in both of these
aspects of my life.”
Yvonne Milligan and Lew Sbrana will also be panelists at next
week’s forum.
Milligan has worked on numerous programs to serve the homeless
and less fortunate in Healdsburg through her work with North County
Community Services and the Victory Apartments. She is a member of
St. John’s Catholic Church.
Sbrana, a member of Healdsburg Community Church, is well known
throughout the community as a band conductor, but is also a
congregation leader and has completed training in the Stephen
Ministry Program.
Additional panelists representing Healdsburg’s faith community
will be included.
Tribune Publisher Rollie Atkinson said he is looking forward to
an informative session.
“With the help of a great group of panelists, we expect a lively
discussion about the significant impacts all of our religions have
had on Healdsburg and what we can expect looking forward to the
community’s future,” he said.
Future forums include a discussion of Healdsburg’s next
generation (to be held July 21), an examination of our healthcare
(Sept. 22) and a look at Healdsburg’s governmental leaders (Nov.
17). All forums begin at 6:30 p.m.
For more information about the series, call Tribune Editor
Kerrie Lindecker at 433-4451.