Science helps disclose the composition of our universe that is being continually refashioned by God the Creator.
cine and health care, and agricultural practices. The ELCA social statement
The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image of the Antennae Galaxies.
bor by helping Christians express their faith through informed engage- ment with the sciences. College or university and seminary profes- sors can lead students to appreciate realms of discourse and inquiry out- side of theology. Ministerial groups are advised:
Be alert to the needs of your neigh- bor and ask how that neighbor may be helped. How might scientists or health-care professionals provide guidance? How about asking an oncologist to lead discussions with adults and youth about the ways evo- lution shapes the disease of cancer?
Engage and forge alliances Why should churches entertain—if not welcome—the work of scientists? In further response, we reflect
on a controversy that occurred in Dover, Pa., just over 10 years ago. Some clergy of various denomina- tions in the Dover area didn’t publicly support insights from evolutionary science throughout the travails that racked the community around the teaching of “intelligent design” in its public schools. They feared doing so would further upset their conflicted communities. But things changed after the pro-
”intelligent design” school board was voted out by Dover townspeople and evangelist Pat Robertson subse-
ESA/HUBBLE
quently announced, “I’d like to say to the good citizens of Dover: If there is a disaster in your area, don’t turn to God—you just rejected him from your city!” His suggestion didn’t go down well with these pastors. Why? We think it’s because they—like all good pastors—loved their flocks and would defend them from any disas- ter, including godforsakeness. Similarly, we suggest that when
bad science is promulgated, it can visit disaster upon the Christian com- munity in many ways—in the forms of bad medicine or bad environmen- tal science. Inviting the insights of scientists is part and parcel of good pastoral practice. Through our work thus far, we
have discovered it’s a privilege for seminaries and other pastoral edu- cators to foster alliances between faith and science. As we look for areas in which insights from science may serve the world, we are helping all Christians reflect more deeply upon God’s marvelous creation. We join with all who seek faithful and fruitful ways of liv- ing together on this planet we call home. Ar e as where we might join hands include environmen- tal concerns, genetic counseling, medi-
“Genetics, Faith, and Responsibil- ity” suggests that in order to face our futures we must have both “learned pastors and learned congregations. The Lutheran tradition has a long history of preparing leaders who are learned in the general education of sciences and the humanities. Our church urges leaders and encourages all members to seek a working knowl- edge of the natural world through the physical sciences, and to seek knowl- edge of the forces that shape society through the social sciences” (www.
elca.org/socialstatements). This is exactly what we hope to
accomplish through this joint part- nership between a seminary and university. Grateful that “the earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it” (Psalm 24:1), we seek to incorporate the best that science can offer with the best that theology proclaims.
Further reading
“Jesus on the brain” by Dawn Rudman explores how children’s exposure to church music may shape their neural connections (The Lutheran, November 2015).
“Do science and religion conflict? It’s all how you ‘see’ it” summarizes Pew Research Center findings that highly religious Americans are less likely than others to see conflict between faith and science (The Lutheran, December 2015).
Laudato Si, Pope Francis’ encyclical provides an ecumenical perspective (
https://laudatosi.com/watch).
Author bio: Hummel is professor of pastoral theology and care at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg (Pa.) and Pederson is professor of religion at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, S.D.
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