About Science for the Church
Our Mission is to strengthen the church by engaging science
“Learning about science was the straw that broke the camel’s back. I knew from church I couldn’t believe in both science and God, so that was it. I didn’t believe in God anymore.”
“As a scientist and a Christian, I know firsthand how lonely and marginalized scientists can be within Christian congregations…”
Our Vision
Science for the Church exists to strengthen the church, pastors, and individual Christians as they engage with science and scientists.
Our vision is of a day when churches embrace science as a means for spiritual growth. We admit that some today posit science against faith, but we actually want churches to read both the Book of Scripture and the book of nature as sources to understand God and creation.
READ MORE OF OUR VISION
Put another way, we imagine a day when no one finds it surprising that a church is engaging with science and welcoming of scientists. Just as it is normal today for churches to engage current events, cultural trends, and even the arts, we work toward a day when it is commonplace for a church to engage science. In fact, it may be surprising to find churches that don’t engage with science. We will know such a day has come…
- When science is used to illuminate sermons and support the teaching of Scripture.
- When new understandings of God’s handiwork revealed by science inspire us to worship our Creator and supplement the wisdom of the church on a range of topics.
- When science improves our ministry praxis, such that we are better at feeding the hungry, caring for the sick in body, mind, and spirit, teaching Scripture effectively to all abilities and cultures, caring for creation, and cultivating practices like prayer and forgiveness as well as virtues like gratitude and hope.
- When people come to our churches because we wrestle with difficult questions, we engage with the science of the day, and we support the vocations of STEM professionals.
- When the proportion of Christians in the sciences mirrors that of the rest of the population.
- When science is no longer a barrier to faith – in fact, it is a means to enrich it.
Faith Statement
We believe God is revealed in Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit as revealed in the Christian Scripture of the Old and New Testament. We believe in that Scripture as God’s Holy Word. We also believe that God is the Author of the book of nature, as a complementary source of revelation that speaks of both the Potter and the clay (Is. 64:8). We believe “the heavens declare the glory of God, the earth proclaims his handiwork,” and that “the law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul” (Ps. 19). We affirm our faith with Christians throughout the ages and across the globe using the words of the Apostles Creed.
READ MORE OF OUR FAITH STATEMENT
We believe that all truth is God’s truth and that the truth that arises from the scientific method comes ultimately from God. We believe that scientists experience God in nature and when they discover the laws and theories that undergird it and that the practice of science is both a Christian vocation and means for worship. Therefore, we believe the church should not be threatened by mainstream science, but should engage it faithfully, even when its conclusions seem to challenge our beliefs and values. Ultimately, we trust that “all things hold together” in Christ (Col. 1:17).
We are concerned about the proclamation of the Gospel when churches dismiss, or fail to engage seriously with, mainstream science because our public witness to an increasingly secular culture is greatly diminished.
We fear, even more, that Christ is troubled by all that divides his body. We feel called to be ministers of the Gospel in one particular area that can divide rather than unite us – the connection between the church and science. We believe the conflict between the two can be vastly overplayed and that it is a space that requires openness and humility. We believe that where conflict is felt, it is usually over secondary theological issues – like the process of creation – rather than primary theological issues – that we are created in God’s image (Gen. 1:26-27). We remain confident that, while we may not eliminate every perceived tension between them, engaging with science will ultimately strengthen the church.
Meet The Team
Drew Rick-Miller
Project Co-director
About Drew
Drew is Project Co-director of Science for the Church and the lead editor of the weekly email. In addition to leading this project, he does freelance work on a range of projects including Science for Seminaries, Orbiter magazine, and programs at the Fuller Youth Institute and Biola University. Previously, he spent more than ten years with the John Templeton Foundation, most recently leading the Religious Engagement Department, where he developed programs helping religious leaders and media engage scientific content. Drew studied literature and physics at Northwestern University before attending Princeton Theological Seminary (M.Div.). Drew’s vocational passion is to help the church navigate the faith and science interface. Drew lives in Raleigh, North Carolina with his wife, a Presbyterian pastor, and their three daughters. He still proudly dons purple and cheers on his Northwestern Wildcats.
Greg Cootsona
Project Co-director
About Greg
Ed Rosado
Engagement Coordinator
About Ed
Ed is Engagement Coordinator of Science for the Church and Adjunct Professor in Theology at Nazarene Bible College and European Nazarene College. He has served as Lead Pastor for over 20 years in multicultural congregations in Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, and Washington D.C. Ed studied Biblical Studies and Theology at Nazarene Bible College, Pastoral Leadership at Olivet Nazarene University (M.A.P.L), and received a Doctor of Philosophy in Theology degree at the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico. Ed led the Ciencia, Fe y Esperanza project, an initiative funded by the John Templeton Foundation aimed at engaging Latinx clergy, congregations, and students interested in STEM to foster a transformative dialogue around the confluence of faith and scientific principles. Ed is passionate about connecting faith and science as a tool for social improvement and advancement within the Latinx community. Ed lives in Philadelphia with his wife and their dog. He enjoys playing the bass, drinking good coffee, and the city’s hustle and bustle.
Dave Navarra
Church Strategist
About Dave
Dave is the Church Strategist at Science for the Church, working to integrate faith and scientific understanding. He also supports the mission of World Vision, a global humanitarian organization. Dave’s passion for ministry has been honed over two decades at thriving churches, and he holds a Masters in Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary. He believes in the power of the gospel to transform lives and therefore communities, particularly in areas of perceived weakness. Dave has been involved in Scientists in Congregations and the Science and Theology for Emerging Adult Ministries (STEAM) for over a decade, serving in both support and leadership roles. When he’s not working, Dave enjoys traveling to preach at various churches. He resides outside of Sacramento, California.
Heather Micklewright
Project Coordinator
About Heather
Endorsements
Darrell Falk
“Greg and Drew are eminently qualified to lead this effort. They each know the church well from a pastoral perspective, but they also are exceptionally attuned to the world of science.”
– Darrel Falk, Point Loma Nazarene University;
Former President, BioLogos
Will Rose
“Through this work we have seen a … breakdown of the stereotype and narrative that faith and science are infinitely opposed to one another. We have entered into the pastoral work of helping disciples of all ages wrestle with and navigate the big questions we all ask in the journey of life and faith. Our partnership with Science for the Church, has equipped us with the tools we need in this ongoing process.”
– Will Rose, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
David C. Wang
“With religious communities growing more and more sectarian and isolationist in recent years, there is great need for thought leaders such as [Science for the Church] to help cultivate networks that stimulate greater cross-pollination between the faith leaders and scientists.”
– David C. Wang, Rosemead School of Psychology
Paul Metzger
“Science for the Church has its finger on the pulse in addressing various pressing issues in ministry that require scientific insight and expertise.”
– Paul Louis Metzger, The Institute for Cultural Engagement: New Wine, New Wineskins at Multnomah University
Ken Keathley
Science for the Church has the capability to make a difference in how the church views science as a discipline and in how the church relates to the scientific community.”
– Ken Keathley, Director of the L Russ Bush Center for Faith and Culture
Ashley Byrd
“Science for the Church is a rare and valuable gift to churches. They provide academically credible and spiritually relevant content for churches. I have appreciated that they consistently lead with a refreshing balance of intellectual humility and a commitment to relationships.”
– Ashley Byrd, Director of Forums, North America, The Veritas Forum
Chris Dolson
“It is not uncommon to see yard signs that read, “We believe Science is Real,” or signs that read “Jesus is Lord.” But we never see yard signs that say both. That’s tragic. Science for the Church presents a refreshing alternative. Not only do they believe that science is real; they also believe that Jesus is Lord. Science for the Church is committed to removing the wedge between science and religion by equipping congregations to think about how God’s world and God’s word go together in perfect harmony.”
– Chris Dolson, Blackhawk Church
Kara Powell
“As a parent, leader, and researcher, I’m grateful for every resource I receive from Science for the Church. The questions that faith bring to science, and science brings to faith, deserve the savvy reflection and supportive relationships that Science for the Church offers us all.”
– Kara Powell, Fuller Youth Institute
Jeff Smith
“[Through our time with Science for the Church], our [congregation] is now a community that understands itself to be, as our website states, a church that takes God and science seriously.”
– Jeff Smith, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church
Elaine Howard Ecklund
“I have been so thoroughly impressed by the ability of Science For the Church to help leaders and churches from a wide variety of Christian theological perspectives understand and engage thoughtfully with the full spectrum of science issues facing churches today. I have used their resources in my own congregation.”
– Elaine Howard Ecklund, Rice University,
The Religion and Public Life Program
Rev. John Van Sloten
“Because of Science for the Church, I have preached over 30 science-based sermons… Over the past year I have saved every one of their Science for the Church newsletters in my “Future Science Sermons” file and have frequently passed this newsletter on to my peers.”
– Rev. John Van Sloten, Author & Pastor, Marda Loop Church
Founding Partners
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The Standard Model eBook:
Six Steps to Engage Science in Church
Tested in nearly 100 Christian ministries, The Standard Model is a six-step guide to help churches engage science for the benefit of congregations.
