Our Monthly Third Thursday Lunches bring in speakers to give new insights and perspectives on current events and social issues. Click here to contact the Planning Committee with feedback or suggestions.
Upcoming Third Thursday Lunches.
The Third Thursday Lunches continue at
Hotel Louisville
120 West Broadway (Second & Broadway)
September 17, 2026
Presentation at noon
Buffet begins at 11:30am
Christian Zionism 101: Undermining Justice and Peace in God’s Name with Dr. Don Wagner
By supporting the modern nation of Israel, Christian Zionists believe that they are following the injunctions of God as expressed in certain passages of the Old Testament such as the Book of Genesis 12:1-3 and the prophet Isaiah 60. Today, there are at least 10 million members of CUFI (Christians United for Israel). In addition to the preaching of their theology, CUFI raises millions of dollars for the state of Israel.
Illustrating his program with slides, Dr. Wagner will trace the path of Christian Zionism from the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century to the politics, wars and atrocities of today.
Dr. Wagner is an ordained Presbyterian pastor. He was among the first to challenge the theology of Christian Zionism and to stand for the cause of justice and liberation for the Palestinians, especially in the midst of Western and U.S. Christianity. He has served as the Director of Middle Eastern Studies at Chicago’s North Park University, as National Director of the Palestine Human Rights Campaign (1980-89), as Director of Middle East Programs for Mercy Corps International (1990-94) and was a co-founder of Evangelicals for Middle East Understanding.
Dr. Wagner is the author of six books about Palestinian history and human rights and Christian Zionism, most recently his memoir: No Place Left to Go: Why Palestine Matters (Interlink, 2026).
PLEASE NOTE: You are welcome to attend just (or only) the program, but for the lunch please make a reservation. If you later need to cancel, please do so by the Monday reservation deadline. Failing to do so means that Hotel Louisville prepares more food than we need and we are charged for the unused meal. We thank you and look forward to seeing you!
Hotel Louisville * 120 West Broadway (Corner of 2nd St. & Broadway) | Free Off-Street Parking
Full Buffet Lunch at 11:30 * Presentation at Noon * $10.00 at the Door *
Reservations for lunch required by Monday, September 14th for the Third Thursday Lunch on Thursday, September 17st.
RSVP to Cathy Ford: 502-458-1223, fordhoff@bellsouth.net *price includes tips for the servers
Previous Lunches
May 21, 2026 – The ICEmen Cometh featuring Kyle Ellison and Carla Wallace (listen on Solutions to Violence radio archives)
April 16, 2026 – Campaigning to Be Louisville’s Mayor featuring Shameka Parrish-Wright (listen on Solutions to Violence radio archives)
March 19, 2026 – Freedom Is a Constant Struggle featuring Barbara Boyd (listen on Solutions to Violence radio archives)
February 19, 2026 – Kentuckians for Single Payer Health Care featuring Kay Tillow (listen on Solutions to Violence radio archives)
January 15, 2026 – U.S. Labor and the Struggle for Palestine featuring Jeff Schuhrke (listen on Solutions to Violence radio archives)
November 20, 2025 – Meanwhile, Back on the West Bank featuring Rev. K.T. Ockels (listen on Solutions to Violence radio archives)
October 16, 2025 – Seeking Racial Justice in Louisville featuring Ed Harness, Inspector General, Louisville Metropolitan Police Department (listen on Solutions to Violence radio archives)
September 18, 2025 – Somos un Circulo (We are a Circle) featuring Karina Barillas of La Casita Center (listen on Solutions to Violence radio archives)
April 14, 2025 – A Fresh Progressive Voice on Metro Council with Metro Councilman J.P. Lyninger (listen on Solutions to Violence radio archives)
March 20, 2025 – The Journey of a Civil Rights Activist with Gracie Lewis (listen on Solutions to Violence radio archives)
January 16, 2025 – The Pro-Israel Lobby & the Opposing Role of the American Council for Judaism with Allan Brownfeld (watch VIDEO)
November 21, 2024 – Haiti and the Haitian Crisis: Finding a way forward with Lionel Derenoncourt
(listen on Solutions to Violence radio archives)
October 17, 2024 – Solidarity With the Suffering in the Middle East with the Revs. Phil & Tricia Lloyd-Sidle
September 19, 2024 – Trans/Gender Basics for the Future with Alden Jones, PhD (watch VIDEO)
April 18, 2024 – Women of Iran: A Feminist Perspective with Farah Mokhtareizadeh (watch VIDEO)
March 21, 2024 – Legacy across Generations: Anne Braden’s Spiritual Granddaughters with Cate Fosl (listen on Solutions to Violence radio archives)
February 15, 2024 – The Kentucky Center for African American Heritage with Aukram Burton (listen on Solutions to Violence radio archives)
January 18, 2024 – “Gaza: Ceasefire Now!” featuring Dr. Ibrahim Imam & Shachaf Polakow, moderated by FOR Louisville co-chair Pat Geier (watch VIDEO)
November 16, 2023 – “The American Civil Liberties Union: Action Plans for 2024” with Amber Duke (listen on Solutions to Violence radio archives)
September 21, 2023 – “Out of Sight – Out of Mind – Out of Money: Turning the Lights ON at Metro Jail” with Kyle Ellison (listen to AUDIO), Presentation transcript and additional resources, Links and articles
April 20, 2023 – “Ukraine and the Anti-War Movement” with Ariel Gold (watch VIDEO)
March 16, 2023 – “Who Are the Women and Men Behind Bars in Kentucky, Going Beyond the Statistics” with Gail Chandler (watch VIDEO)
February 16, 2023 – “On a Kentucky Riverbank, a Path to Remembrance” with Hannah Drake (watch VIDEO)
January 19, 2023 – “Gun Violence: Prevention and Protection” with Cathy Mekus and Kemal Wells (watch VIDEO)
November 17, 2022 – “Rescue and refuge in the desert: Voices from the Borderlands” with Bob Kee and Dora Rodriguez (watch VIDEO)
October 20, 2022 – “Voting Rights under Attack: The Current Situation, Locally and Nationally” with Dee Pregliasco (watch VIDEO)
September 15, 2022 – “Kentucky Resources Council, The Good Trouble Proposal” with Tom “Fitz” Fitzgerald (watch VIDEO)
April 21, 2022 – “Answering questions on Ukraine and Russia” with Andrew Bacevich (watch VIDEO)
March 17, 2022 – “Hurt to Hope and Ultimately, to Healing: How Gun Violence Changed My Life” with Rose Smith and Barbara Boyd (watch VIDEO)
February 17, 2022 – “Issues Before the 2022 Kentucky General Assembly” with Representative Pamela Stevenson (watch VIDEO)
January 20, 2022 – “The State of Homelessness in Louisville” with Natalie Harris (watch VIDEO)
November 18, 2021 – “The Teaching of African and Native American History” with Dr. Ricky Jones (watch VIDEO)
October 21, 2021 – “Palestine and Israel – Update and Analysis” with Dr. Ibrahim Imam (watch VIDEO)
September 16, 2021 – “Philanthropic Redlining” with Rev. Kelly Kirby (watch VIDEO)
April 15, 2021 – “Hood to the Holler” with Charles Booker (watch VIDEO)
March 18, 2021 – “Reparations” with Rev. Kevin Cosby (watch VIDEO)
February 18, 2021 – “Collective Courage: Black Co-ops in Louisville’s West End” (watch VIDEO)
January 21, 2021 – “Police, Power, and Privilege” with Sadiqa Reynolds (watch VIDEO)
January 16, 2020 – “More Than Just a Bed: Addressing the Needs of Louisville’s Homeless” with Nina Moseley, CEO of Wayside Christian Mission (watch VIDEO)
November 2019 – “Kentucky’s Renewable Energy Future” with David Brown Kinloch
September 19, 2019 – “Fork University” with Doug Lowry (watch VIDEO)
August 2019 – “Stories from the Border” with Cory Lockhart
June/July 2019 – “Stories from the Border” with Tricia Lloyd-Sidle
(watch VIDEO)
February 21, 2019 – “ASALH: Migration from Our Ignorance to the Truth” with Barbara Spencer Dunn (watch VIDEO)
October 2018 – “The Bail Project” with Shameka Parrish-Wright (watch VIDEO)
January 2018 – “Racial and Socio-Economic Equity Issues in Jefferson County Public Schools” with Chris Harmer (view NOTES from presentation)
Fellowship of Reconciliation | Louisville Chapter 