BuddyPress.org

The only way I know of is by using the Global Forum plugin from BuddyDev http://buddydev.com/plugins/global-forums/

There is a fee and I don’t know if it works with 1.2.6 or if it will work with the upcoming 1.2.7 release.

I loath the forum via groups set up. Our site is made up of mostly non-tech people(heck I’m not all savvy) and way too much stuff ends up getting posted as group updates by mistake.

I’m hoping that with the new bbPress/BuddyPress separate but integrated system this problem will be resolved.

All of that being said I still love BuddyPress and can imagine trying to do what we do without it.