Northern universities are working in partnership with the Church of England to provide opportunities for people training for the priesthood to learn about cutting-edge science, as part of a £3.4 million project aimed at transforming the relationship between science and faith.
The Equipping Christian Leadership in an Age of Science (ECLAS) project is being run by the Universities of Durham and York in partnership with the Church of England to provide funds to help better introduce discussions of science into theological training.
Under the plans the project will run conferences for senior church leaders and clergy on areas of scientific interest.
There will be an expansion of the Scientists in Congregations scheme, awarding grants for local science and faith projects in churches and cathedrals including science festivals.
New research will explore attitudes to science and faith within the church and in wider society and public policy.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said: “I am delighted that this project is continuing to build on its considerable achievement in promoting the significance of healthy and informed engagement with science to church leaders of all levels, together with resourcing them in this increasingly demanding and important task.
“This new stage of the project with its combination of research and provision of resources will further deepen church-wide understanding of the challenges science and technology pose for society, and continue to contribute to the mission, ministry and theological reflection of senior church leaders as they respond.”
The planned work will be supported by both US and UK-based scientists and will be funded from a £3.4 million grant awarded by the Templeton Religion Trust.
The project will be led by Revd Professor David Wilkinson, Professor of Theology and Principal of St John’s College, Durham University, and Professor Tom McLeish, of the University of York, along with the Bishop of Kingston, Richard Cheetham and Revd Dr Kathryn Pritchard, Project Director, in the Church of England’s Mission and Public Affairs Division.
They will be supported by Dr Amanda Rees (York University) and Revd Dr Malcolm Brown (Head of Mission and Public Affairs, Church of England).
The Bishop of Kingston, Richard Cheetham, said: “This project has transformative potential.
“I can see it contributing to the shaping of a future generation of church leaders who enjoy science and are unafraid of complexity, fully prepared to engage in conversation with the pressing questions raised by cutting edge research.”
Professor Tom McLeish, Professor of Natural Philosophy at the University of York, said: “This major grant will assist in realising and deepening the re-discovery that the Church and science are natural partners, as has been the case throughout most of their history.
“Bringing theology, science and engagement with the community together is the powerful combination of ECLAS.”