Faith and Science in Dialogue: The Rheticus Forum

Tuesday, October 11th, 7p

Daniel W. Pack, PhD

“Dr. Pack is professor of Chemical & Bioolecular Engineering at the U of I.  His research focuses on the design & development & gene delivery systems & devices.

He is an active member at Windsor Road Christian Church.

Minister’s Musing –

September 23, 2011

Legacy, Listening, Learning
and Longing of

Faith and Science in
Dialogue: The Rheticus Forum

Legacy -   Members of  Trinity Lutheran Church in Mattoon, Illinois knew the joys of ministry and then pain of that ministry ending.  Yet, with forethought of next generations, this community shared a legacy gift with St. Andrew’s/Lutheran Campus ministry.  From their gathered gifts of lifetime faithful work, they shared a significant financial gift that became the seed money for Faith and Science in Dialogue: The Rheticus Forum.  Even as the congregation closed, its mission is continued through this gift that supports the formation of church leaders.

Listening -   Faith and Science in Dialogue: The Rheticus Forum held its inaugural on Tuesday, September 13.   What an exciting event with a good crowd, great conversation and intriguing ideas.  Dr. Steve Shoemaker was the first presenter and this lecture was entitled “50 Minutes of Reflections for a Campus Minister on Scientists known over 50 years”. He shared stories of relationships, poetry, quotes, art and reflections from a lifetime of work.  This work integrated campus ministry, engaging scientists and scientific thought through periods of religious fundamentalist thinking, liberal theological scientists and the natural scientists.

Learning -   Rheticus was a scientist in the early 1500 who worked with Copernicus and studied as a contemporary of Martin Luther.  He lived and worked during this historical  period when new ideas, new paradigms, and new social structures were challenging and engaging each other.  I would assume Rheticus, along with Lutheran and Copernicus, learned a great deal when they moved from polemic posturing into leaning toward the other, listening with respectful openness.  From this all three left legacies of insight. They were people on the cutting edge who shifted perspectives of their own present dilemmas into future realities.

Longing -   Faith and Science in Dialogue: The Rheticus Forum affirms my pastoral longing for integration, listening and learning in amazing and surprising ways.  For within it’s very process a new legacy is built.  Young and old alike sit together to listen learn and discuss.  All of us are invited into the stories of extraordinary leaders in science and faith who share and reflect on how God and science meet with their work and study and the see challenge and clarity in response.  This is the gift we can give each other that moves beyond our own deaths and into the generations that follow.

Legacy, listening, learning, and longing integrated in this surprising gift of the Rheticus Forum.  If you can, join us on Tuesday, October 11 when Dr. Daniel W. Pack will speak.  He is a professor Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the UIUC.  He is an active member at Windsor Road Christian Church.

If you are not able to join us, please offer prayers of gratitude for these gifts to live on.

Gently,

Pr. E