Thirty-five chosen for Templeton Oxford seminars

Thirty-five participants for the John Templeton Oxford Seminars on Science and Christianity were officially chosen during the week of January 13, 2003, and recently announced. Funded by the John Templeton Foundation, the seminars will be organized and hosted at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. The seminars, which span three consecutive summers beginning in 2003, particularly encourage young faculty members to engage in scholarly research in the field of science and religion, creating opportunity for them to have dialogue with each other to give breadth to their scholarship and to give a context for refining their ideas among other scholars. The daily seminars are accompanied by workshops, discussion groups and research counseling. Mentors are assigned to the participants based on the goals of their projects, serving as readers of the research and providing feedback to the participants. Participants are mentored in their writing by recognized scholars in science and religion.

The 35 participants selected represent a cross-section of nationalities and disciplines. Two are from Australia, one from New Zealand, two from Germany, two from the United Kingdom, one from Russia, one from India, one from Africa, one from Japan, two from Canada and the rest from the United States. Six of the 35 participants are women, and 18 come from institutions of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities.

The selection committee was comprised of the three seminar directors and the senior consultant and administrator. They are, respectively:

• Dr. Alister McGrath, biochemist and reformation historian and principal of Wycliffe Hall, Oxford University .
• Dr. Stanley Rosenberg, historian of early Christian thought and late-antique cosmology and culture. He is also an affiliate faculty member at Oxford University and is the director of Oxford Projects for the Council.
• Dr. Ronald Mahurin, vice president for professional development & research, Council for Christian Colleges & Universities.
• Dr. John Roche, physicist and historian of science who is a member of the faculty at Linacre College, Oxford University.

In reviewing the applications, the committee looked for interdisciplinary skills, leadership skills and greater international representation that the last round of seminars afforded. Three primary application requirements were: a commitment from his/her institution that appropriate release time would be provided; evidence of interdisciplinary skills; and proven activity, competence and leadership in the field of science and religion. Ninety-five completed applications were submitted. Of those, there was a greater than 50% increase in the number of female applicants from the first round. There were also 34 applicants from outside North America, a jump from six such applicants for the first round.

"The participants selected for the John Templeton Oxford Seminars on Science and Christianity represent a rich diversity of scholarly backgrounds as well as national, theological and church traditions," said Mahurin. "The CCCU and Wycliffe Hall look forward to bringing together these scholars over the next three years who will help advance the important work of engaging the Christian faith with the study of science. Particularly noteworthy is the fact that many of these scholars are also practicing physicians, pastors and lay leaders within their own church traditions. There will many great stories to follow. The story for today, however, is one of anticipation and expectation as the group begins preparations for the first seminar that will begin on July 21, 2003, in Oxford."

The Council for Christian Colleges & Universities is a higher education association of more than 150 intentionally Christ-centered institutions around the world. There are now 105 member campuses in North America and all are fully-accredited, comprehensive colleges and universities with curricula rooted in the arts and sciences. In addition, 63 affiliate campuses from 23 countries are part of the CCCU. The Council’s mission is to advance the cause of Christ-centered higher education and to help its institutions transform lives by faithfully relating scholarship and service to biblical truth.

Released: February 19, 2003