2012 Evolution Weekend

This year marks the seventh annual Evolution Weekend. While all participating congregations will address the relationship between religion and science, many will focus their attention on the theme selected for this year: an interfaith discussion of religion and science. 

10 - 12 February 2012 -- Evolution Weekend

Evolution Weekend is an opportunity for serious discussion and reflection on the relationship between religion and science. An ongoing goal has been to elevate the quality of the discussion on this critical topic, and to show that religion and science are not adversaries. Rather, they look at the natural world from quite different perspectives and ask, and answer, different questions.

Religious people from many diverse faith traditions and locations around the world understand that evolution is quite simply sound science; and for them, it does not in any way threaten, demean, or diminish their faith in God. In fact, for many, the wonders of science often enhance and deepen their awe and gratitude towards God.

Indeed, the world's various faith traditions routinely find themselves in harmony with the tenets of modern science, including evolution. Many participants in Evolution Weekend 2012 have opted to discuss the ways in which these various faith traditions have similarly embraced evolution. One important facet of Evolution Weekend 2012, therefore, is to explore how science in general and evolution in particular can help draw diverse religions together. Finding a shared purpose while respecting difference will help promote broader understanding among religions.

Through sermons, discussion groups, meaningful conversations and seminars, the leaders listed below show that religion and science are not adversaries. 

To examine some of the sermons members of The Clergy Letter Project have delivered on this topic, to find scientific consultants willing to help answer questions or to read media reports about our activities, please explore our web pages. Similarly, if you want to examine some liturgical resources created and recommended by Clergy Letter Project members for Evolution Weekend, click here.

Whatever way participants choose to celebrate Evolution Weekend, their activities demonstrate, as do The Clergy Letters themselves, which have now been signed by more than 13,000 members of the clergy in the United States, that those claiming that people must choose between religion and science are creating a false dichotomy.


149 Congregations
from 35 States, and representing
8 Countries are scheduled to participate in
Evolution Weekend 2012

Select a state to see its participants or simply scroll down.

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

St. Thomas Episcopal Church
Clarkdale, AZ
The Rev. Dr. Richard Mallory

Unitarian Universalist Church of Southeast Arizona
Sierra Vista, AZ
The Rev. Rod Richards

Community Christian Church
Tempe, AZ
The Rev. Doug Bland

St. Philips in the Hills Episcopal Church
Tucson, AZ
The Rev. Thomas J. Lindell

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Northwest Tucson
Tucson, AZ
The Rev. Joy Atkinson, Minister

Arkansas

St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Fayetteville, AR
The Rev. Lowell Grisham, Rector

California

Congregational Church of Belmont
Belmont, CA
The Rev. Kristi Denham

University Lutheran Chapel (ELCA)
Berkeley, CA
The Rev. Jeff R. Johnson

Temple Ner Ami
Camarillo, CA
Rabbi Mike Lotker

St. Matthew's Church
Glendale, CA
The Rev. Pr. K. G. Banwart, Jr.

Shepherd of the Hills Church UCC / DOC
Laguna Niguel, CA
The Rev. Donna Lindsey

Congregation Shir Chadash
Lakewood, CA
Rabbi Howard O. Laibson

Companions of the Abbey of Merton St. Ambrose
Martinez, CA
The Rev. Richard Mapplebeckpalmer

The Church of Gnosis (Ecclesia Gnostica Mysteriorum)
Mountain View, CA
The Most Rev. Rosamonde Miller, Presiding Bishop

Church of Our Saviour
Placerville, CA
The Rev. Craig Kuehn

Congregation Emanu El
Redlands, CA
Rabbi Douglas Kohn

All Saints Episcopal Church
Sacramento, CA
The Rev. Betsey Monnot

Metropolitan Community Church of San Francisco
San Francisco, CA
The Rev. David Mundy

United Church of Christ
San Luis Obispo, CA
The Rev. Dr. Curt Miner

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Visalia
Visalia, CA
Harold Wood

Colorado

Living Water Spiritual Community
Arvada, CO
The Rev. David Ridge

Capitol Heights Presbyterian Church
Denver, CO
Mark Meeks, Minister

Messiah Community Church ELCA
Denver, CO
The Rev. Wolfgang Stahlberg

Our Savior's Lutheran Church
Denver, CO
The Rev. Paul Carlson

Wesley United Methodist Church
Pueblo, CO
The Rev. Kim James

Connecticut

Gishrei Shalom Jewish Congregation
Southington, CT
Rabbi Shelley Kovar Becker

Delaware

Florida

St. Andrews Presbyterian Church
Apopka, FL
The Rev. Omar Gonzalez

Unity Church
Clearwater, FL
The Rev. Leddy Hammock

Trinity United Methodist Church
Deland, FL
The Rev. H. T. Heitzenrater

The Unitarian Universalist Society of West Volusia
Deland, FL
The Rev. John M. Higgins

Fort Myers Congregational United Church of Christ
Fort Myers, FL
The Rev. Philip O. White, Senior Minister

Lamb of God Church (A Federated Lutheran and Episcopal Congregation)
Fort Meyers, FL
The Rev. Walter Fohs, Senior Pastor

Friendship Fellowship (Unitarian Universalist)
Rockledge, FL
The Rev. John M. Higgins

Covenant Mennonite Fellowship
Sarasota, FL
Pastor Randy Spaulding

Unitarian Universalist Church Of Brevard
West Melbourne, FL
The Rev. John M. Higgins

Georgia

Church of the Green Wood
Dahlonega, GA
The Rev. Ashley Carter

St. Francis of the Islands Episcopal Church
Savannah, GA
The Rev. Canon Richard P. McDonnell

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Church of the Incarnation
Arlington Heights, IL
The Rev. Betty Jo "B.J." Birkhahn-Rommelfanger

St. John's Episcopal Church
Chicago, IL
The Rev. Kara Wagner Sherer, Rector

First Presbyterian Church
Decatur, IL
The Rev. Jim Montgomery

The New Reform Congregation Kadima
Deerfield, IL
Rabbi David Oler

Prairie Circle Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Grayslake, IL
The Rev. Jacqueline Ziegler

Peace Lutheran Church, ELCA
Steeleville, IL
The Rev. S. Blake Duncan

Indiana

First United Church Bloomington (ABC/UCC)
Bloomington, IN
The Rev. Dr. Jack E. Skiles

Kingston Presbyterian Church
Greensburg, IN
David J. Crowley, Pastor

Springhill Presbyterian Church
Greensburg, IN
David J. Crowley, Pastor

Congress Street United Methodist Church
Lafayette, IN
The Rev. Clarinda E. Crawford

Iowa

Westminster Presbyterian Church
Clarinda, IA
The Rev. Robert A. Keefer

Clarke University Campus Ministry
Dubuque, IA
Andrea Bixler

Kansas

Metropolitan Community Church of Topeka
Topeka, KS
The Rev. Tyrone P. Sweeting, Senior Pastor

Unity Church of Christianity
Topeka, KS
The Rev. Michael Jamison

Westwood Christian Church, Disciples of Christ
Westwood, KS
Dr. Gerald E. Brown

University United Methodist Church
Wichita, KS
The Rev. Phillip Shull

Kentucky

Church of Christ Union
Berea, KY
The Rev. Carla Gilbert
The Rev. Kent Gilbert

Louisiana

Maine

Hammond St. Congregational Church, UCC
Bangor, ME
The Rev. Maury Landry, Executive Director
Bangor Pastoral Counseling Service

The Caribou UU Congregation
Caribou, ME
The Rev. Maury Landry

First Universalist Church (Unitarian Universalist)
Rockland, ME
Frank Mundo

Maryland

Heritage Baptist Church
Annapolis, MD
The Rev. Henry Green, Pastor

Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis
Annapolis, MD
The Rev. Fred Muir, Senior Minister

Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation
Bethesda, MD
Rabbi Fred Scherlinder Dobb
Rabbi George B. Driesen

Grace United Church of Christ
Frederick, MD
The Rev. Dr. Douglas L. Griffin

First Baptist Church
Gaithersburg, MD
Dr. Larry Hudson

Massachusetts

St. John's Episcopal Church
Ashfield, MA
The Rev. J. Eliot B. Moss, Vicar

Grace Episcopal Church
Everett, MA
The Rev. Barbara Smith-Moran

St. James Episcopal Church
Groveland, MA
The Rev. Marya DeCarlen

Second Parish in Hingham
Hingham, MA
The Rev. Paul Sprecher, Minister

St. Michael's Episcopal Church
Holliston, MA
The Rev. Christine R. Whittaker, Rector

Hopedale Unitarian Parish
Hopedale, MA
The Rev. Dr. Paul Hull

Unitarian Universalist Church of Weymouth
Weymouth, MA
The Rev. Richard Trudeau, Minister

Park Congregational Church
Worcester, MA
The Rev. Dr. Gary Shahinian

Michigan

Nardin Park United Methodist Church
Farmington Hills, MI
Beverly Brun
Church & Society Committee

St. Luke's Lutheran Church
Stevensville, MI
The Rev. Krehl Stringer

Minnesota

Shalom Lutheran Church
Alexandria, MN
The Rev. Rollen Halvorson

Our Savior's Lutheran Church
Bird Island, MN
The Rev. Cynthia M. Hopp

Catholic Community of St. Edward
Bloomington, MN
The Rev. Michael Tegeder

Crosby-Ironton Presbyterian Church
Crosby, MN
The Rev. Norma Spurgin

St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Duluth, MN
The Rev. William Van Oss

Mississippi

Missouri

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
Jefferson City, MO
Bob Boldt

All Souls UU Church
Kansas City, MO
The Rev. Jennifer Brooks

Christ Episcopal Church
St. Joseph, MO
The Rev. Charles C. Caskey

Montana

Red Lodge Community United Church of Christ
Red Lodge, MT
The Rev. David W. Munson

Nebraska

St. Mark's Episcopal Church
Gordon, NE
The Rev. William J. Graham

St. Mary's Episcopal Church
Rushville, NE
The Rev. William J. Graham

Nevada

New Hampshire

Weare Monthly Meeting of Friends
Henniker, NH
Brian Drayton

Lancaster Congregational United Church of Christ
Lancaster, NH
The Rev. Sharon van der Laan

New Jersey

Holmdel Community United Church of Christ
Holmdel, NJ
The Rev. Rusty Eidmann-Hicks, Pastor

New Mexico

New York

Old Steeple Community Church
United Church of Christ
Aquebogue, NY
The Rev. Dr. Ledyard S. Baxter

Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester
Chappaqua, NY
Rabbi Geoffrey A. Mitelman

Congregation Shomray Hadath
Elmira, NY
Paul Solyn

Henrietta United Church of Christ
Henrietta, NY
The Rev. David R. Inglis

St. Matthew's Episcopal Church
Horseheads, NY
The Rev. Kit Tobin

Christ Episcopal Church
Marlboro, NY
Fr. Jerry Brooks, Vicar

Temple Israel
New York, NY
Rabbi David Gelfand

Newark Valley United Church of Christ
Newark Valley, NY
The Rev. James K. Boodley

The First Baptist Church of Painted Post
Painted Post, NY
Gary A. McCaslin, Pastor

Lutheran Care Center
Poughkeepsie, NY
Pastor John Heller

North Carolina

Eutaw United Church of Christ
Fayetteville, NC
The Rev. Dr. David Nikkel

Lutheran Church of the Resurrection
Greensboro, NC
The Rev. Raymond A. Petrea

Shallotte Presbyterian Church PC(USA)
Shallotte, NC
The Rev. John N. Causey

North Dakota

Ohio

Rockdale Temple
Cincinnati, OH
Rabbi Sigma Faye Coran

Columbia United Methodist Church
Columbia Station, OH
The Rev. David J. Ross

Magyar United Church of Christ
Elyria, OH
The Rev. Alana Kelley

Morgan 3 in 1 Charge
The United Methodist Church
McConnelsville, OH
The Rev. Walter A. Jones

United Church of Christ Sheffield Lake
Sheffield Lake, OH
The Rev. Robert D. Smith, Pastor

St. John's United Church of Christ
Tiffin, OH
The Rev. Pam Easterday

Oklahoma

Unity Church of Christianity
Tulsa, OK
The Rev. Mary Anne Harris

Oregon

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Grants Pass
Grants Pass, OR
The Rev. Margaret Keip

St. John's Episcopal Church
Milwaukie, OR
The Rev. Anthony Thurston, Priest-in-Charge

Oak Grove United Methodist Church
Oak Grove, OR
The Rev. Jim Frisbie

Hillsdale Community Church UCC
Portland, OR
The Rev. Jennifer Brownell

West Hills Friends
Portland, OR
Mike Huber

Pennsylvania

St. Luke United Methodist Church
Bryn Mawr, PA
The Rev. David Tatgenhorst

Buffalo Valley Lutheran Village
Lewisburg, PA
The Rev. Theodore L. Cockley

St. Peter's Lutheran Church
Pen Argyl, PA
The Rev. C. Frank Terhune

Trinity Lutheran Church
Pottsville, PA
The Rev. Harold Hand

St. Paul's United Methodist Church
Scranton, PA
The Rev. Bette Poe

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Holston Valley Unitarian Universalist Church
Gray, TN
The Rev. Jacqueline Luck

Greater Nashville Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Nashville, TN
The Rev. Michael Dowd

Messiah Lutheran Church
Knoxville, TN
Dr. Gordon Burghardt

Grace Covenant Church
Oak Ridge, TN
Dr. Carolyn Dipboye, Pastor
Dr. Larry Dipboye, Pastor

Texas

Beth-El Congregation
Fort Worth, TX
Rabbi Ralph Mecklenburger

Whaley UMC
Gainesville, TX
The Rev. Charles Aaron, Pastor

Utah

Vermont

Universalist Unitarian Church
St. Johnsbury, VT
The Rev. Brendan Hadash

Waterbury Congregational Church
United Church of Christ
Waterbury, VT
The Rev. Peter Plagge

Virginia

St. James United Church of Christ
Lovettsville, VA
The Rev. R. Don Prange, Pastor

Hilton Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ)
Newport News, VA
The Rev. Terrye Williams

Masjid (Mosque) William Salaam
Norfolk, VA
Imam Vernon M. Fareed

St. James Episcopal Church
Roanoke, VA
The Rev. Susan E. Bentley

Bruton Parish Episcopal Church
Williamsburg, VA
The Rev. Dr. John Maxwell Kerr

Wren Chapel
College of William and Mary
Williamsburg, VA
The Rev. Dr. John Maxwell Kerr

Washington

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Whidbey Island
Freeland, WA
The Rev. Elizabeth "Kit" Ketcham

Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Olympia, WA
The Rev. Arthur Vaeni

Unity Church
Spokane, WA
Clare Austen, Minister

Washington, DC

West Virginia

Temple Israel
Charleston, WV
Rabbi James Cohen

B'Nai Jacob Synagogue
Charleston, WV
Rabbi Victor Urecki

Spencer Presbyterian Church
Spencer, WV
The Rev. Ron Buckalew

Wisconsin

Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Eau Claire, WI
Wil Taylor

First Congregational Church, UCC
Sheboygan, WI
The Rev. James Hollister, Senior Minister

Grace Lutheran Church
Wisconsin Rapids, WI
The Rev. Kent Raddatz

Wyoming

International Partners


Australia

Canada

First Unitarian Fellowship of Nanaimo
Nanaimo, BC, Canada
The Rev. Karen Fraser Gitlitz, Consulting Minister

First Unitarian Universalist Church of Winnipeg
Winnipeg, MB, Canada
The Rev. Millie Rochester

St. James Anglican Church
Tweed, ON, Canada
The Rev. Geoffrey Howson

Chile

England

Bury St Edmunds Unitarian Congregation
Cambridge, England
Martin A. Gienke, Lay Leader

Church of St Aidan
Skelmanthorpe, England
The Rev. Philip D. Reynolds

Israel

Yedid-Nefesh
Modi'in, Israel
Dr. Naomi Dar

Italy

Church of the Resurrection
(Anglican-Episcopal)
Orvieto, Italy
The Rev. Russell G. Ruffino, Vicar

New Zealand

Nigeria

Philippines

Ateneo de Davao
Davao City, Philippines
Daniel McNamara, S.J., Rector

Portugal

Holy Trinity Church
Funchal, Madeira, Portugal
The Rev. Neil Dawson

Scotland

United Reformed Church
Greenock West, Scotland
The Rev. David Coleman
The Rev. Zam Walker

Wales


Due to scheduling difficulties, some participating congregations will be holding
their events close to the weekend of 10-12 February 2012 but not on that weekend.