Members of Anglican Communion Science Commission meet for joint action planning

[Anglican Communion News Service] A scientist who played a major role in the Human Genome Project and other guests from the international science community joined members of the Anglican Communion Science Commission as they met for a consultation event Oct. 29-31. The event took place at Virginia Theological Seminary and welcomed representatives from 25 provinces of the Anglican Communion around the world.

Combining  planning and discussion sessions, a number of speakers were invited, including Francis Collins (a physician-scientist who discovered the genes associated with a number of diseases and led the United States’ side of the Human Genome Project); Jennifer J. Wiseman (astrophysicist, author and speaker);  Norman Wirzba (professor of Christian theology and senior fellow at The Institute of Ethics at Duke University, North Carolina) and Ian Markham (dean of the Virginia Theological Seminary).

The Anglican Communion Science Commission exists to promote Anglican discussion on faith and science, equip churches to collaborate with the scientific community in response to human need, and bring the ethical voice of faith to scientific discovery.

It was established by Anglican bishops, scientists and theological educators and launched at the Lambeth Conference in 2022. Since then, the commission has been working to recruit representatives from each Province to progress the work. This will be the fourth of the Commission’s consultations. The first three were in Kenya for Africa, Australia for the Pacific region and Jamaica for the West Indies.

The aim of the consultation was to develop action plans to progress the work of the Science Commission in their settings.

Co-chair of the Science Commission, the Rt. Rev. Steven Croft, said before the start of the consultation: “Humankind is facing critical global challenges of disease; climate change; and the responsible use of technology. Responding effectively to these challenges demands deeper, more confident engagement by the Anglican Communion with questions of science. The Virginia conference is a vital next step in the work of the Science Commission in encouraging this confident engagement for the sake of God’s world. I’m looking forward very much to listening to such a wide range of bishops and scientists from across the world.”

The other co-chair, the Rev. Kwamena Sagoe, said:  “I am very excited about this consultation for provincial lead science bishops at the Virginia Theological Seminary in the USA. This is a big first step in bringing the issues of science and faith to the doorsteps of parishioners.”

The commission is promoting these priorities:

Thought leadership and training: inspiring courageous and confident thinking about issues involving science in church communities around the world.
Faith development: embracing science as a God-given resource that can enhance faith and appreciation of God’s amazing world.
Wisdom and Ethics: contributing the ethical voice and wisdom of faith to scientific debate.
People and Planet: growing collaboration between faith and science communities in response to the needs of people and planet.

The commission also has supported an online webinar about the Lambeth Call on Science and Faith and online bishops’ conversations relating to themes around science, which were facilitated by the Anglican Communion Office.

The Very Rev. Ian S. Markham, dean and president of Virginia Theological Seminary, said: “At Virginia Theological Seminary, we aspire to provide resources that can impact congregations, where the people of God faithfully gather week after week. The work of this commission is important: too many Christians fear that science has displaced faith and that the church is not taking science seriously, especially in respect to the environment. We pray that this commission will be an important step in connecting the church with our ability to address these important concerns.”

The Rev. Katherine Grieb, director of the Center for Anglican Communion Studies at Virginia Theological Seminary, said: “It is truly a delight to host the Anglican Communion Science Commission and its lead bishops from around the communion in this important work. Science and theology are natural allies, as we both explore the wonderful ways of God and seek to care for the most vulnerable members of God’s good creation.”