Norwich, UK
Questions about creation, climate change, demonic possession, inter-faith dialogue and Christianity are just some of the topics being covered in an innovative global ecumenical community exploring links between science and faith.
Durham University’s ECLAS (Equipping Christian Leadership in an Age of Science) project has set up a series of partnerships involving St Paul’s University in Limuru, Kenya; Nicolaus Copernicus University, in Torun, Poland; Singapore Bible College; and, the United Theological College, Bangalore, India.
Professor David Wilkinson with Rev Dr Clement Chia, principal of the Singapore Bible College, and Rev Dr Samuel Law, Dean of Advanced Studies and ECLAS Hub Lead for the college. PICTURE: Courtesy of ECLAS
Rev Professor David Wilkinson, ECLAS project director at Durham University, is an astrophysicist and theologian. He has been involved in ECLAS since its formation 10 years ago.
“Most of the research on science and faith has been done in Anglo/American/Australian and South African contexts. We wanted to explore more non-Western contexts/religious pluralism/cultural contexts by partnering with higher education institutions that could bring something difference to our experience.”
Funding is being provided by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation. The grants will cover the research projects undertaken by the in-house research associates at the various partner institutions, awards for local churches and groups, some administrative expenses and also funding for agreed new projects.
Among the topics being explored are issues relating to why people distrust science, the creation of tools for people to use science in parish life and to equip pastors with knowledge to respond to the impact of science in society as well as equipping church leaders in an age of science.
The intention is not to export the UK ECLAS model which is based at Durham University in partnership with the University of York and the Church of England. Rather it is to provide resources and assistance in which all partners can benefit from different contexts and experiences.
Professor Wilkinson indicated that it will enable greater understanding of “both the opportunities and challenges that context gives to equipping Christian leadership in an age of science”.
“As we learn about different contexts, we’ll learn even more about the limitations and insights of our own context”.
Each ECLAS partner hub will act as a centre for theological and sociological research into church leaders’ perspectives on science, exploring the impact of cultural, historical, theological, denominational and national contexts relating to science and faith. Hubs will operate independently with their own programs, collaborating with ECLAS to deal with local challenges and instigate cultural change. Specific funds will be allocated within ‘Scientists in Congregations’ and ‘Science for Seminaries’ programs.
Explaining the reasons why the four locations have chosen, Professor Wilkinson said the initiative involved institutions”who could bring something different to the experience”.
“At St Paul’s University, we were talking to staff and students, including a cohort of nurses, about questions of creation, climate change with its effects on crops and communities and how clinicians and scientists could operate with questions of demonic possession,” he said.
“In Poland, there was a seminar on the dating of the Turin Shroud. The Singapore Bible College offers experience on how Christian leaders speak and relate to other faiths and communities, raising questions about pandemic healthcare and the commonality between religions. There are big questions being asked about how to deal with AI and the environment.”
Professor Wilkinson said the initiative was being run as a five year pilot scheme.
“[W]e wanted the number of institutions involved to be a manageable number. Our hope is that the institutions we are working with will reach out in their regions and elsewhere and become centres of projects and funding. We have been doing this for 10 years, and want to seed our partners in diversity for the next phase.”
Over the next four years, research will be shared on the ECLAS website and made widely available. The intention is that at the end of the five years, there will be a major conference enabling all viewpoints and knowledge to be discussed.
