Baptist Perspectives on Science and Religion - Two Day Conference - 24 & 25 September 2025
Thanks to a grant from the ECLAS Science for Seminaries project we were able to offer this conference free of charge to attendees (including accommodation and meals).
The event will run from midday on Wednesday 24th September to 3pm on Thursday 25th September.
The timetable is shown below, or download a PDF programme here which includes abstracts and speaker bios. Click the hyperlinks for YouTube recordings of the talks.
Wednesday 24 September
- 11.00 Check in opens
- 12.00 Lunch
- 12.45 Introduction & Welcome
History: The Scientific Lives of Key Baptist Figures
- 13.00 John Weaver: An Overview of Baptist Contributions to Science
- 13.30 Saptarshi Mallick: William Carey and Botany
- 14.00 Karen Smith: Ellen Farrer and Medicine
- 14.30 Tea & Coffee
- 15.00 Andrew Kaiser: Timothy Richard’s Use of Science During His Early Years in China
- 15.30 Sarah Qidwai: Baptist Missionaries, Empire, and Science
- 16.00 Bethany Sollereder: Response
- 16.15 Q&A Panel on History
- 16.45 Tea & Coffee
Issues: Baptist Perspectives on the Sciences
- 17.15 Denis Alexander: Biological Science: A Baptist Perspective
- 17.45 Hannah Gray: Environmental Science: A Baptist Perspective
- 18.15 Andrew Steane: Physical Science: A Baptist Perspective
- 19.15 Conference Dinner
Thursday 25 September
- 9.00 Sally Nelson: Artificial Intelligence: A Baptist Perspective
- 9.30 Alistair Ross: Psychological Science: A Baptist Perspective
- 10.00 Mark Harris: Response
- 10.15 Q&A Panel on Issues
- 10.45 Tea & Coffee
Theology: Baptist Theology and the Sciences
- 11.15 Ernest Lucas: Biblical Studies and Science
- 11.45 Ed Kaneen & Rosa Hunt: Baptist Ecclesiology and Science
- 12.15 Dave Gregory: Covenant Theology and Science
- 12.45 Lunch
- 13.45 Richard Weaver: Contemporary Mission and Science
- 14.15 Paul Fiddes: Response
- 14.30 Q&A Panel on Theology
- 15.00 Conclusion & Depart
Acknowledgement:
This project / conference was made possible through the support of Grant 62750 from the John Templeton Foundation. The opinions expressed in this event are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the John Templeton Foundation.
ECLAS is led from St John’s College, Durham University in partnership with the University of York and the Church of England.