The topic, “Bridging the Divide” addressed overcoming polarizing differences, many of which have come to light since the election.
The forum was held at Unity Spiritual Center, 2900 S. Bernard at 10 a.m.. The church has a coffee shop with volunteer baristas ready to serve Coffee Talk attendees.
Panelists were:
- Pastor Rob Bryceson of Gathering House Church
- Admir Rasic, author of the FāVS Ask A Muslim feature
- Morgan Schmidt, youth pastor at Mosaic Church
- Kate Burke, legislative aide for state Sen. Andy Billig and City Council candidate. For Coffee Talk she wrote, “Inclusivity is the foundation of a strong community.“
If your church has a coffee shop and you’re willing to host a FāVS Coffee Talk in 2017, email tracysimmons@spokanefavs.com.

Tracy Simmons is an award winning journalist specializing in religion reporting, digital entrepreneurship and social journalism. In her 15 years on the religion beat, Simmons has tucked a notepad in her pocket and found some of her favorite stories aboard cargo ships in New Jersey, on a police chase in Albuquerque, in dusty Texas church bell towers, on the streets of New York and in tent cities in Haiti.
Simmons has worked as a multimedia journalist for newspapers across New Mexico, Texas and Connecticut. Currently she serves as the executive director of SpokaneFAVS.com, a digital journalism start-up covering religion news and commentary in Spokane, Wash. She is also a Scholarly Assistant Professor at Washington State University.