The Science Engagement for Congregational Flourishing (SECF) project will resource and equip Christian congregational leaders, both clergy and lay, to engage with critical issues at the intersection of science and society within their congregations and communities.

In the face of accelerating scientific discovery and technological advancement, faith communities are often nexus points for understanding and interpreting novel challenges and opportunities. From practical questions of how to engage with congregants using new technologies to spiritual questions of theodicy and what it means to be human, from ethical questions of just access to scientific advances to pastoral questions of difficult healthcare decisions, congregational leaders are called upon to guide their communities in engaging with science and technology.
DoSER’s “Science Engagement for Congregational Flourishing” project seeks to equip and empower these leaders to shepherd their communities in navigating these challenging questions.

Supported by a generous grant from the Lilly Endowment, the SECF project includes a grant program for continuing education / lifelong learning providers to develop educational offerings for congregational leaders to help them incorporate science engagement into their ministry context. In addition, DoSER will host several virtual and in-person workshops for congregational leaders to help them learn about emerging science topics, connect with one another, and have the opportunity to pilot science engagement activities within their own congregations.