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Note #6684 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

Lurching toward Beulah Land
14-June-2001
GA01126

Lurching toward Beulah Land

Science, Technology and the Christian Faith luncheon held

by Nancy Rodman 

LOUISVILLE, June 14 – Using Isaiah’s reference to Beulah Land,
the Rev. Barbara Smith-Moran, a scientist and Episcopal priest, addressed
the annual General Assembly luncheon of the Presbyterian Association on
Science, Technology and the Christian Faith (PASTCF). She offered a
travelogue of the “wild ride” of her denomination toward the
“Beulah Land” of a relationship between science and religion.

	She used a sustained metaphor of dating and marriage – Beulah means
married, she said – to outline the lurching courtship over 20 years
that has finally resulted in denominational recognition of the relationship
between science and religion.  It is a process, she said, that “was
like driving a standard shift car in heavy traffic in a foreign land without
a map.”

	Her description from the “first date” of grass roots efforts to
the “marriage” of the science and religion group securing a
place in the structure of the Episcopal Church evoked the sympathetic
laughter of recognition from her audience.

	“We’re all called to speak with the voice of prophecy,”
she said, “and it’s hard to be married to a prophet.”

	As is customary, PASTCF presented its annual Dan Martin Award for the
practice of science as a Christian vocation.  Recipients were Jim Bridges,
Tom English, Rogene Henderson, Ross Robinson, and George Neal.

	The association, whose mission is to present issues of science and
technology for integration into the life of the church and to present issues
of Reformed theology for integration into the lives of Presbyterian
scientists and technical professionals, distributed its new five-year
development plan.  Among its programmatic highlights are educational
materials and consultative services.
	
	

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