I received a very interesting letter recently - especially so given my interest in evolution, and my dismay at seeing ignorant people trashing it in this country (see here). This strikes me as being a very useful project, and one that could unite University folk and civilians and churches and schools, very effectively. Herewith Dr Michael Zimmerman:
Dear Colleague;
I am writing to you on behalf of The Clergy Letter Project, a collection of more than 10,700 Christian clergy members who have signed The Clergy Letter (www.evolutionsunday.org) asserting that Christianity and modern science can comfortably coexist and recognizing the centrality of evolution in modern science. In addition to collecting signatures on this open letter, The Clergy Letter Project has sponsored Evolution Sunday, an opportunity for religious congregations to come together to discuss the compatibility of religion and science. The second annual Evolution Sunday event, held on 11 February 2007, had an increase in participating congregations of more than 32 percent from the first year’s event.
Over the past several years, many clergy members have asked me if I can connect them with a local scientist who might be willing to help them with some aspect of a sermon on which they are working or with some question a parishioner has. They have also wondered if I know of some scientists who might be willing to run an adult education class for their congregation.
As The Clergy Letter Project matures, we are attempting to provide more and better resources to clergy members who understand the importance of science and who do not find science to be a threat to their faith. That’s where you come in.
The Clergy Letter Project has recently created an on-line data base of scientists who are willing to answer questions posed by clergy members and who are excited about the possibility of interacting with clergy members and their parishioners in an attempt to explain the beauty and power of science. In short, our purpose has been to create a data base of scientists who might be willing to provide technical support to clergy members in need of such support. You can view this list at http://www.butler.edu/clergyproject/rel_expert_data_base.htm.
If you are willing to be a part of this endeavor, please send me (mz@butler.edu) an e-mail note with the following information:
Name:
Title:
Address:
Areas of Expertise:
e-mail address:
Additionally, please forward this note to any other scientists who you think might want to be listed in our data base and circulate it widely via any list serve to which you might subscribe. Together we can build a vibrant and strong coalition of religious leaders and scientists who are willing to speak out for high quality science instruction.
Please understand that because we are looking for scientists willing to provide scientific expertise on topics in which they are knowledgeable, the religious backgrounds or inclinations of these scientists are absolutely irrelevant.
Thanks very much for your consideration of this request.
Michael
Michael Zimmerman
Professor of Biology and
Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Butler University
Indianapolis, Indiana 46228
and
Founder, The Clergy Letter Project
317.940.6644
Visit The Clergy Letter Project on the Web at www.evolutionsunday.org
