Churches invited to apply for science-faith funding 

Churches across the UK and Republic of Ireland can now apply for a grant of up to £10,000 to explore science and faith as a congregation

Scientists in Congregations is an ecumenical grant programme run by Equipping Christian Leadership in an Age of Science (ECLAS) which aims to deepen the conversation around science and faith.

The current round of applications opens on 4 March until 30 April and invites churches to submit an idea for a project which creatively brings together their faith and a scientific topic.

The programme has been running since 2016 and has supported more than 70 churches so far. There have been several Baptist recipients. 

Last year saw the release of God Saw That It Was Good, a four-part film series presented by former Baptist Union president and BUEN convenor Dave Gregory that aims to reconnect people with the wonder of the natural world and a sense of the divine within it. 

In 2022 Faith in Science C.I.C., based at New Hope Baptist Church in Coseley, was awarded £16,700 for The Faith Experiment project, a series of workshops exploring questions on the interface of science and faith.

There were also successful applications from Croxley Green Baptist Church in Hertfordshire and Amberley Road Baptist Church in Bristol in 2019. Dave also edited Messy Church Does Science, which was developed with Scientists in Congregations funding. 

Regent's Park College and Cardiff Baptist College have also secured ECLAS funding (through its Science for Seminaries programme) to develop teaching resources incorporating science, ethics, and theology.

Other successful projects include a touring theatre production centred on AI and ethics; an Egyptian Coptic youth project on cosmology and history; a Pentecostal church project on mental wellbeing informed by biblical principles; and cathedral installations and science festivals exploring astronomy, creation care, and more.

The Project Director of ECLAS, Revd Prof David Wilkinson, said, 'Our present reality of climate breakdown, rapid developments in AI, and global health challenges demands a Church which is competent and confident to engage with science and scientists.

'Through our Scientists in Congregations programme we want to affirm and celebrate science as a vocation and a gift to the Christian faith. These grants will enable churches to create spaces to ask questions, engage with exciting or emerging scientific issues, and benefit from the knowledge and experience of scientists in their communities.

'We are looking forward to seeing a range of creative submissions from all denominations that seek to deepen this conversation.'

Successful congregations will have until the end of 2026 to spend the funds on events, activities, or resources.

 

Applications are open from 4 March to 30 April 2025, with up to eight grants of up to £10,000 each available. More information and examples from previous participants can be found at www.eclasproject.org/congregations.

ECLAS is based at St John’s College, Durham, in partnership with the University of York and the Church of England. ECLAS and the Scientists in Congregations awards are funded by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation.