Most classes are offered at 9:15 a.m. on Sundays during the school year, held in the chapel and via Zoom, with occasional exceptions.
To get on the e-mail list to get information about our Adult Education programming, e-mail office@westprespdx.org with your request.
Spring 2026
March 1
What’s up with Artificial Intelligence?
Ryan Roser, Head of AI & ML at FactSet
Artificial intelligence is suddenly at the center of public conversation – in business, education, healthcare, and everyday life. But what’s actually happening beneath the headlines? This session offers a clear, not too technical overview of how generative AI emerged, the key trends shaping its rapid development, and the practical implications for our community. It will also include some fun examples along the way. Whether you’re excited, skeptical, nervous, or just curious, come join the conversation.
Ryan Roser serves as Head of AI & ML at FactSet, a technology and data company. Throughout his career, Ryan has worked at the intersection of technology and finance. He has led the development of machine learning and artificial intelligence solutions across startups and major financial service organizations, with a focus on empowering users to derive insights from unstructured information.
March 8, 15, 22
The Theology of Karl Barth
Dr. Chauncey Diego Francisco Handy, Assistant Professor of Religion and Humanities, Reed College
As Presbyterians, much of our contemporary theology focuses on and orbits around recent trends in the Reformed theological tradition (theology in conversation with John Calvin). Specifically, Swiss Reformed theologian Karl Barth played a significant role in articulating the foundation from which we understand ourselves in the PC(USA). Come and explore the theology of one of the most impactful Protestant theologians of the 20th century.
March 29 and April 5
No classes
April 12
Aligned with Christ, not “Christianity”
The Reverend Junha Kim
“We’re not like those Christians.”
Join us on April 12th to hear from Junha Kim about his dissertation in Comparative Theology and Ethics. Writing about the history of Christianity and theology in the United States from the perspective of a 1.5 generation immigrant, Jun is creating a theological model – a framework for understanding individual faith and the “big picture” of Christianity – that might make clear what people mean when they say, “We’re not like those Christians.”
How can we build community with those who live out the life of Christ without worrying whether they call themselves Christian? How do we build bridges across seemingly impossible divides?
Inspired by the historical and contemporary co-conspiratorships between interreligious, intercultural communities, Jun’s theological model for Christianity reframes “Christian community,” offering an illustration of kin-dom community shaped by people whose lives reflect the life and ethic of Jesus Christ as opposed to by religious affiliation alone.
April 19
An Interview with Dick Rohrbaugh, A Favorite Professor and Fellow Sojourner
Join us for a conversation with Dick Rohrbaugh, who has taught more adult education classes at Westminster in Portland than possibly any other professor. Adult Education Committee members will consider questions of favorite classes they remember and ask Dick what he might change now as we look back. We will also be collecting questions from attendees ahead of time so we can prepare. If you’d like to submit a question for us to consider, email Lindsey at: lgroves@westprespdx.org by April 12th. Thank you, Dick, for continuing to share your knowledge and care with us!
April 26
Holy Befuddlement: What Do Books Have to Do With Your Faith Journey?
As Presbyterians, we have a long heritage of literacy, rooted in Scotland. And today? What do books mean for your faith journey today? Can reading and writing still be part of ministry to our communities? Do the ways we tell our life stories shape our brains and hearts? George Saunders, author of 13 books and winner of the National Book Foundation’s Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, says fiction can help us ask deeper, more moral questions as it creates “holy befuddlement.” Can writing and reading be part of our spiritual quest when (for example) a Duke Divinity School professor offers a book titled Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I’ve Loved or a public theologian publishes Church Camp: Bad Skits, Cry Night, and How White Evangelicalism Betrayed a Generation? Jane Kurtz and Caroline Kurtz will share insights and lead a discussion. Bring a favorite book if you like.
Jane Kurtz is an author of more than 40 books for young readers and is on the faculty of the Vermont College of Fine Arts, MFA in Children’s and YA Literature. Caroline Kurtz has written three memoirs, the latest about her pilgrimage on the Oregon Coast Trail.
May 3
Turning Divisions into Opportunities
Gary Scharff, a field leader from Braver Angels, will provide us with an introduction to Braver Angels, a civic organization whose mission is to facilitate opportunities for communities to come together to discuss our country’s division. In addition to working with citizens around the country, Braver Angels: facilitates workshops, debates, and forums teaching civil discourse in schools; utilizes the arts, through theater, photography, music, and film to strengthen communities and help bridge the political divide; and works with people of faith to engage in a respectful way about our divisions in a way that helps our communities flourish. Visit Braver Angels for more information.
May 10
Advocating to End Food Insecurity
Elizabeth Braatz, Oregon Food Bank
Hunger is not a personal choice or individual experience. It can happen because of things we can’t control, and it affects all of us. Speakers from the Oregon Food Bank will discuss the movement it is building to end hunger now and prevent it long-term by fighting for policies under which all of us can thrive. Food For All Oregonians is an incredible coalition of over 185 organizations working to make sure food is available to all Oregonians.
Previous Class Recordings
The Adult Education Committee is pleased to offer recordings of many recent classes.
The recordings of classes from 2025-2026 season are available here.
The recordings of classes from 2024-2025 season are available here.
“Exploring Membership” Classes
Whether or not you’re ready to become a Westminster member, in our “Exploring Membership” classes you are invited to learn what it means to be Presbyterian and consider opportunities for spiritual growth and meaningful mission. These classes are generally offered in spring and fall, either on Saturdays or Sundays. Childcare may be available on request. There is no charge to attend, but advance registration is requested so we can adequately prepare. For more information, please contact Alaina Smith in the church office.
Church Library
Westminster Presbyterian Church has a library with a wide variety of books. You don’t need to be a church member to use the library. The library is located on the ground floor of the church near the 16th Street entrance. You are welcome to browse through the bookcases and table displays.
We recently updated and remodeled the library. It’s both an organized resource area as well as a place to meet in a cozy, relaxed atmosphere.
If you have any question, please contact the church office during weekdays at 503-287-1289. Please note that our library is no longer taking book donations.
Additional Opportunities
We have more educational activities offered in small-group settings, including a variety of book groups. Please check out our Community Life page for more information.