Global non-profit organization ECLAS acquires £6 million in funding for international expansion efforts
The Equipping Christian Leadership in an Age of Science (ECLAS) project has been granted a significant boost with a five-year, £6.2 million grant from the John Templeton Foundation. This new phase of ECLAS, running from April 2023 to December 2027, aims to deepen the engagement between science and faith among senior Church leaders worldwide.
The new grant follows directly on from a previous grant from the Templeton Religion Trust and will fund international collaboration and support for science-theology engagement beyond the UK. The funding will also allow ECLAS to build on the expertise gained in the last decade.
The ECLAS steering group now includes notable figures such as Revd Dr Lucas Mix, an astrobiologist, and Revd Steve Muneza, Director of Formation and Mixed-Mode Training at Cranmer Hall. They join existing members Revd Dr Kathryn Pritchard, Revd Dr Malcolm Brown, Dr Amanda Rees, and The Rt Revd Dr Richard Cheetham.
The Church of England will continue to be a partner with ECLAS into the future. The Principal of St John's College, where ECLAS is based, Revd Prof David Wilkinson, stated that science is a gift from God to the Church. He expressed his excitement about the new phase, saying, "We look forward to equipping more senior Church leaders worldwide to engage with science and deepen their faith."
In line with the calls from the Lambeth Conference in 2022, this new phase of ECLAS will focus on supporting emerging hubs for science-religion research and engagement in parts of the world where this conversation hasn't yet been explored. Each partner institution will receive funds to distribute as awards for regional Scientists in Congregations and Science for Seminaries programmes.
Revd Prof Malcolm Brown, Director of the Church of England's Faith and Public Life team, expressed gratitude for the mutuality and dialogue narrative concerning science and religion. He emphasised the importance of this partnership, saying, "We are grateful for the opportunity to continue our work in fostering dialogue and understanding between science and faith."
This new grant marks a significant step forward for ECLAS, as it embarks on its mission to equip more Church leaders to engage with science and deepen their faith, fostering a global network of research and practice.
The new phase of ECLAS, funded by the John Templeton Foundation, will not only deepen the engagement between science and faith among senior Church leaders worldwide, but also extend this dialogue to emerging hubs for science-religion research and health-and-wellness discourse in under-explored regions. This global network aims to support Science-for-Seminaries and Scientists-in-Congregations programs, promoting a holistic understanding of science's role in health-and-wellness and faith development.
