Religion and Science Weekend 2024

This year marks the 19th time that clergy members from a wide array of religions and from all portions of the globe are addressing the relationship between religion and science with their congregations. Over the past 18 years, well over 1 million individuals have participated in Religion and Science Weekend events.  Keep reading to learn more about our 2024 Religion and Science Weekend.  We hope to see you at one of our participating venues.

The theme selected for this year’s celebration is:

Religion, Science and the Common Good

9 - 11 February 2024 -- Religion and Science Weekend

Religion and Science Weekend is an opportunity for serious discussion and reflection on the relationship between religion and science. The 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 different perspectives and ask, and answer, different questions. At a time when religion is all-too-often being equated with fundamentalism and when we are in a deep and troubling period of science-denialism, it is of critical importance to engage this topic directly and substantively.

Religious people from many diverse faith traditions and locations around the world understand that the findings of science do 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.

By taking this perspective, Clergy Letter Project participants demonstrate that when some define religion so narrowly that it is categorically opposed to any of the findings of science, it both demeans and diminishes religion. As members of The Clergy Letter Project have stated so often and so clearly, this narrow perspective is at odds with the broader conception of religion held by thousands upon thousands of religious leaders.

Our 2024 theme, Religion, Science and the Common Good, raises some particularly pressing issues. We are living in an age of conflict and extremism. Cooperation and collaboration in pursuit of the common good is increasingly coopted by personal interest, greed, and power politics. Many routinely challenge scientific evidence while asserting the supremacy of opinion and personal rights; hence, they boldly proclaim climate change and global warming to be a hoax while vaccination is a government plot. How can religion and science collaboratively rediscover and promote a vision of the common good?

Both religion and science entail a journey – a journey joyfully taken by the congregations listed below. Please join us on this voyage.

 

151 Congregations
representing 35 States and the District of Columbia
as well as 6 Countries are participated in
Religion and Science Weekend 2024


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

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Spirit of Joy Lutheran Church
Clarkdale, AZ
The Rev. Sharon Brown

The Fountains, a United Methodist Church
Fountain Hills, AZ
The Rev. David M. Felten, Pastor

Grace St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Tucson, AZ
The Rev. Steve Keplinger, Rector

Arkansas

California

Arbuckle United Methodist Church
Arbuckle, CA
The Rev. Rod Brayfindley

Unitarian Universalists of Tuolumne County
Douglas Flat Group
Douglas Flat, CA
John Kramer

Trinity Episcopal Church
Fillmore, CA
The Rev. Lawrence M. Brown, Rector

Unity in the Gold Country
Grass Valley, CA
The Rev. Jere Farrell

Irvine United Congregational Church
Irvine, CA
The Rev. Sarah Halverson-Cano

Congregation B'nai Horin-Children of Freedom
Los Angeles, CA
Rabbi Stan Levy
Rabbi Laura Owens

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

Parkside United Methodist Church
Parkside, CA
The Rev. Rod Brayfindley

Temple Emanu-EL of San Diego
San Diego, CA
Rabbi Devorah Marcus

Unitarian Universalists San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA
The Rev. Rod Richards

St. Peter's Episcopal Church
San Pedro, CA
The Very Rev. Jeanette Repp

United Church of Christ
Simi Valley, CA
John Paton

First Congregational Church of Stockton
United Church of Christ Stockton, CA
The Rev. William Pifer-Foote

Public Theology
Tiburon, CA
Pastor Ted Peters

Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church
Tiburon, CA
Pastor Ted Peters

First Presbyterian Church of Upland
Upland, CA
The Rev. Noel Anderson, Pastor

Upland Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Upland, CA
The Rev. Clifford L. "Skip" Lindeman

Colorado

Capitol Heights Presbyterian Church
Denver, CO
Mark Meeks, Minister

First Congregatinal Church UCC
Grand Junction, CO
The Rev. Dr. Paul Ashby

Connecticut

Congregational Church of Salisbury
Salisbury, CT
The Rev. Dr. John A. Nelson, Pastor

Delaware

Salem United Methodist Church
Newark, DE
The Rev. Robert P. Hall, Pastor

Silverside Church
Wilmington, DE
The Rev. Dr. David Albert Farmer, Pastor

Florida

Peace Presbyterian Church
Bradenton, FL
The Rev. William R. Clough

One Island Family
Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Key West, FL
The Rev. Robert F. Murphy

Living Faith Fellowship
Miami, FL
The Rev. Priscilla Felisky Whitehead

Spirit of Life Unitarian Universalists
Odessa, FL
The Rev. Robert F. Murphy

Congregation of Reform Judaism
Orlando, FL
Rabbi Rachael Jackson

Church of the Blessed Redeemer
Palm Bay, FL
The Rev. Brian W. Turner, Vicar

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Charlotte County
Port Charlotte, FL
The Rev. Robert F. Murphy

Georgia

Unitarian Universalists of Coastal Georgia
Brunswick, GA
The Rev. Jane Page

Norcross Presbyterian Church
Norcross, GA
The Rev. Dr. Matthew M. Fry, Pastor / Head of Staff

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Statesboro
Statesboro, GA
The Rev. Jane Page

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Champaign, IL
Pastor Lynette Chapman

Grace Lutheran Church
Champaign, IL
The Rev. Chris Repp

The New Reform Congregation Kadima
Deerfield, IL
Rabbi David Oler

First Congregational UC
Downers Grove, IL
Pastor Scott Oberle

Evangelical United Church of Christ
Godfrey, IL
The Rev. Tim Darmour-Paul

Friedens United Church of Christ
Hecker, IL
The Rev. Ivan Horn

Friedens United Church of Christ
Irvington, IL
The Rev. Stacy Tate

Open Table United Church of Christ
Ottawa, IL
The Rev. Jennifer Amy-Dressler

Indiana

Crooked Creek Baptist Church
Indianapolis, IN
Dr. James McGrath

First Unitarian Church of South Bend
South Bend, IN
Chip Roush, Pastor

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Tippecanoe County
West Lafayette, IN
The Rev. Jennie Barrington, Settled Minister

Iowa

Clarke University Campus Ministry
Dubuque, IA
Dr. Andrea Bixler

Windsor Heights Lutheran Church
Windsor Heights, IA
The Rev. Christopher Olkiewicz

Kansas

Kentucky

Unitarian Universalist Church of Bowling Green
Bowling Green, KY
Janeen Grohsmeyer

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Owensboro
Owensboro, KY
The Rev. Dr. Claudia A. Ramisch

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church
Baltimore, MD
The Rev. Dr. Pamela G. Conrad, Interim Rector

UU Fellowship of Greater Cumberland
Cumberland, MD
Lay leader JD Stillwater

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Frederick
Frederick, MD
The Rev. J. Carl Gregg, Pastor

Massachusetts

St. Anthony of Padua Parish
Allston, MA
Father Robert J. Carr

Lakeville United Church of Christ
Lakeville, MA
The Rev. Dr. Ruth Shaver

North Congregational United Church of Christ
Middleboro, MA
The Rev. Dr. Ruth Shaver

Assumption University
Worcester, MA
The Rev. Dr. Gary R. Shahinian

Michigan

St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Elk Rapids, MI
The Rev. Dr. Derek J. Quinn

All Souls Community Church of West Michigan
A Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Grand Rapids, MI
The Rev. Colleen Squires

Saint John's United Church of Christ
Grand Rapids, MI
The Rev. Nathan Dannison

Berien UU Fellowship
St. Joseph, MI
Nadine Sapirman

Grace Episcopal Church
Traverse City, MI
The Rev. Dr. Derek J. Quinn

Minnesota

Open Circle Church
Burnsville, MN
Pastor Jay H. Steele

Family of God Church ELCA and UCC
East Grand Forks, MN
The Rev. Gretchen Graf

PioneerCare Retirement Community
Fergus Falls, MN
The Rev. Krehl Stringer, ELCA

First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis
Minneapolis, MN
The Rev. Dr. David Breeden, Senior Minister

Bet Shalom Congregation
Minnetonka, MN
Rabbi David Locketz

Luther Seminary
St. Paul, MN
Dr. Richard Lindroth

Mississippi

Missouri

Cape Girardeau Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
Cape Girardeau, MO
Allen Gathman

Montana

Nebraska

Augustana Lutheran Church
Omaha, NE
Charles Austerberry

Nevada

New Hampshire

Saint Matthew's Episcopal Church
Goffstown, NH
Dr. Brian Penney

Meriden Congregational Church
United Church of Christ
Meriden, NH
The Rev. John Gregory-Davis, Co-Pastor
The Rev. Susan Gregory-Davis, Co-Pastor

Plymouth Congregational Church
United Church of Christ
Plymouth, NH
Dr. Larry Spencer

New Jersey

Congregation Beth Tikvah
Paramus, NJ
Rabbi Arthur Weiner

The Jewish Community Center of Paramus
Paramus, NJ
Rabbi Arthur Weiner

Pennington Presbyterian Church (PCUSA)
Pennington, NJ
The Rev. Nancy Mikoski

Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County
Teaneck, NJ
Leaader Curt Collier

New Mexico

The United Church of Santa Fe
Santa Fe, NM
The Rev. Talitha Arnold, Senior Minister

New York

Roessleville Presbyterian Church
Albany, NY
The Rev. Dr. Joseph W. Shook

Trinity Memorial Episcopal Church
Binghamton, NY
Dr. Sandra D. Michael

Cornwall Presbyterian Church
Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY
The Rev. Jeffrey A. Geary

Jewish Center & Federation of the Twin Tiers
Elmira, NY
Paul Solyn

Metropolitan Community Church
New York, NY
Bishop Pat Bumgardner

Rutgers Presbyterian Church in the City of New York
New York, NY
The Rev. Andrew Stehlik

Sinai and Synapses
New York, NY
Rabbi Geoff Mitelman

Poplar Ridge Friends Meeting
Poplar Ridge, NY
Howard Nelson

Heart on the Left
Wappingers Falls, NY
Dr. Tony Mitchell

West Bloomfield United Church of Christ
West Bloomfield, NY
The Rev. Corey Keyes

North Carolina

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
Chapel Hill, NC
The Rev. Will Rose

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

Congregation Bayt Shalom
Greenville, NC
Rabbi Harley Karz-Wagman

The Beloved Community United Methodist Church
High Point, NC
The Rev. Clarinda Crawford

Hillsborough United Church of Christ
Hillsborough, NC
Jay Kennett, Pastor

Umstead Park United Church of Christ
Raleigh, NC
The Rev. Douglas S. Long

North Dakota

Family of God Church ELCA and UCC
Grand Forks, ND
The Rev. Gretchen Graf

First United Methodist Church
Jamestown, ND
Pastor Marty Toepke-Floyd

Ohio

Winter Institute of the Central East Region, UUA
Cambridge, OH
The Rev. Cal Frye

Lutheran Church of the Resurrection (ELCA)
Cincinnati, OH
The Rev. Barry S. Riehle

Christ Episcopal Church
Dayton, OH
The Rev. Peter Homeyer

All Shepherds Lutheran Church
Lewis Center, OH
Pastor Glen Bengson

Ebenezer United Methodist Church
McConnelsville, OH
The Rev. Walter A. Jones, Pastor

Oberlin Friends Meeting
Oberlin, OH
Brother David Finke

Trinity United Church of Christ
Wooster, OH
The Rev. Dr. Kevan S. Franklin

Oklahoma

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

Oregon

St. Stephen Episcopal Church
Newport, OR
The Rev. Dr. Judith Jones, Vicar
Dr. Brian Jones

Cedar Hills United Church of Christ
Portland, OR
The Rev. Mary Sue Evers
JJ Crow
Giuseppe Amato
Faith Formation Director Amy Norden

St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church
Portland, OR
The Rev. Steve Norcross

St. Luke by the Sea Episcopal Church
Waldport, OR
The Rev. Dr. Judith Jones, Vicar
Dr. Brian Jone

Pennsylvania

Unitarian Universalist Church of Athens and Sheshequin
Athens, PA
The Rev. Darcey Laine

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

Unitarian Church of Harrisburg
Harrisburg, PA
Lay leaders JD Stillwater & Tony Morgan, PhD

The Chapel of the Good Shepherd (Episcopal)
Hawk Run, PA
The Rev. Cliff Johnston

First Unitarian Universalist Church of Indiana, PA
Indiana, PA
Sara Steelman, Worship Service Coordinator

Trinity Lutheran Church
Lansdale, PA
The Rev. Dr. Nelson Rivera

Hill Evangelical Lutheran Church
Lebanon, PA
The Rev. C. Frank Terhune

UU Fellowship of Pottstown
Pottstown, PA
Lay leader JD Stillwater

Temple Hesed of Scranton
Scranton, PA
Rabbi Daniel J. Swartz

Trinity Episcopal Pro-Cathedral
Williamsport, PA
The Rev. Cn. Kenneth E. Wagner-Pizza

UU Congregation of York
York, PA
Lay leader JD Stillwater

Rhode Island

Episcopal Church of the Ascension
Wakefield, RI
The Rev. Russell G. Ruffino

South Carolina

Circular Congregational Church
Charleston, SC
The Rev. Jeremy Rutledge

South Dakota

Tennessee

First Presbyterian Church
Elizabethton, TN
The Rev. Dr. Brian C. Wyatt, Pastor

Messiah Lutheran Church
Knoxville, TN
Dr. Gordon Burghardt

Network for Environmental & Economic Rsponsibility
United Church of Christ
Pleasant Hill, TN
Donald B. Clark

Pleasant Hill Community Church
United Church of Christ
Pleasant Hill, TN
Donald B. Clark

Texas

Center for Inquiry
Austin, TX
Steve Bratteng

Community Unitarian Universalist Church
Plano, TX
Elena Westbrook

Creative Life Spiritual Center
A Religious Science Community
Spring, TX
The Rev. Dr. Jesse G. Jennings

Baptist Church
Waco, TX
Dr. Gerald B. Cleaver

Utah

Vermont

Vergennes United Methodist Church
Vergennes, VT
The Rev. Michael Doran

West Addison United Methodist Church
West Addison, VT
The Rev. Michael Doran

Virginia

Kol Ami: The Northern Virginia Reconstructionist Community Arlington, VA
Rabbi Melanie Aron
Dr. Michael Dine

New Hope Fellowship
Hartfield, VA
Pastor Leonard Edloe

Bull Run Unitarian Universalists
Manassas, VA
The Rev. Charlotte Lehmann

St. John’s Episcopal Church
Waynesboro, VA
Alex Storrs

Washington

Metaline Falls Congregational United Church of Christ
Metaline Falls, WA
The Rev. Tara Leininger

United Church in University Place
University Place, WA
Dr. Neva Laurie-Berry

Cascade UU Fellowship
Wenatchee, WA
The Rev. Thomas Perchlik

Washington, DC

Metropolitan Memorial United Methodist Church
Washington, DC
The Rev. E. Maynard Moore

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Plymouth Congregational UCC
Dodgeville, WI
The Rev. Jennifer L. Seaich

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Eau Claire
Eau Claire, WI
Dr. Wil Taylor

Peace United Church of Christ
Kewaskum, WI
The Rev. Eric Kirkegaard

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

Frame Memorial Presbyterian Church
Stevens Point, WI
The Rev. Susan Gilbert Zencka

Camillus Jesuit Residence
Wauwatosa, WI
The Rev. Joseph A. Bracken, S.J.

Wyoming


International Partners

Australia

rexaehuntprogressive.com
Canberra, ACT, Australia
The Rev. Rex A. E. Hunt

Canada

Unitarian Fellowship of Sarnia and Port Huron
Sarnia, ON, Canada
Allan McKeown

England

Memorial Church (Unitarian)
Cambridge, England
Andrew J. Brown, Minister

The Malvern Festival of Ideas
Malvern, England
Andrew Webb

New Zealand

St Marks Methodist Church
Christchurch, New Zealand
The Rev. Andrew Donaldson

Scotland

EcoCongregation Scotland
United Reformed Church
Edinburgh, Scotland
The Rev. David Coleman


Due to scheduling difficulties, some participating congregations will be holding
their events close to the weekend of 9 - 11 February 2024 but not on that weekend.