A Workshop for Christian Leaders

Friday 7th January – 9:30am – 6pm & Saturday 8th January – 9am – 4pm
Booking is still available for online places. 

Join us for this interactive two-day workshop designed for Christian leaders – whether ordained, lay, or active and experienced members of a local church. Participants will be equipped to engage with scientific issues in the day-to-day life of their ministry context.

This workshop will cover contemporary topics in the dialogue between Science and the Christian Faith, including Artificial Intelligence, Bioethics, Creation Care, and Mental Health.

Worshipping God with Science (Introduction) – Dr Ruth Bancewicz

Ruth will share some data about how scientists engage with faith, and how people of faith engage with science. She will speak about what science is, and the theology of science, describing ways in which science can enhance faith and generate fruitful discussions about what we believe. Finally, she will share some ideas and examples of how churches can church interact well with science today, both in and outside of church-focused activities.

Being a Christian in Science – Prof. Paul Ewart

Life in this world produces an ever-increasing range of challenges, whether Covid-19, the climate emergency, medical ethics or finding meaning and purpose. Science and Faith both give us ways to understand and respond to these challenges, especially when they work together. This talk will hear from Faraday Director and physicist Paul Ewart as he shares insights into his life in science and religion.

Creation, Evolution and Human Nature –  Dr Matt Fell

Thinking Theologically About Mental Health: Bible, Church and Spirit – Prof. John Swinton

Issues and Challenges Faced by Children and Young People – Cara Parrett

The opinions and values of today’s young people are crucial to the present and future of our churches and society and many foundational aspects of their worldviews are formed at these early stages. In our rapidly changing world, with increasing influence from both science and religion, it is vital that young people are equipped to embrace and explore the big questions with which they must grapple, both individually and collectively in society.

Artificial Intelligence: Humanity in the Age of AI – Graham Budd

The past 10 years have seen massive advances in the capability of Artificial Intelligence, through ever-larger deep neural networks. AI already influences many aspects of our daily lives, often in invisible ways. As the deployment of AI accelerates, it raises ethical, philosophical and theological questions which are fundamental to who we are and how we live. In this talk Graham will explore some of the key questions raised by the rise of AI, including what it means to be human in an era of intelligent machines.

Bioethics and Genes: Are we playing God? – Prof. Keith Fox

The last 30 years have seen dramatic advances in our understanding of biology, with major discoveries in molecular and cellular biology. In this session, we will examine some of these discoveries and explore their ethical implications, considering the different responses that people adopt. These scientific advances raise questions about what it means to be human, what is “normal”, what is “healthy” and what it means to be made in the image of God. Some people even suggest that we in danger of “playing God”. The science and ethics of these complex issues will be discussed to help us to develop informed opinions.

Medical Dilemmas at the Beginning and End of Life – Dr Mark Attah

Curators of Creation – Tim Jenkins and Jasmine Kwong

Science has demonstrated that the way we live is damaging our planet, with serious implications for the earth’s ecosystem and human society.  From a Christian perspective, humans have a special responsibility to look after our planet, as stewards of creation. In this talk Tim and Jasmine will explore how churches can better engage on climate change, and consider how this can also be an opportunity for gospel engagement.

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Programme available here (subject to minor changes).

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Open to all church leaders – no scientific background required.

This course will be online and in person in Cambridge. In person bookings have now closed.

Cost:  £50 (standard) /£30 (students) for online

Cancellations will be accepted up until 1 December 2021 and will be refunded less an administrative charge of £10.

Please note that the Faraday Institute does not provide invitation letters for visa purposes.

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Any questions please contact: events@faraday.cam.ac.uk