wfn.org | [ENS] Religion, science, environment focus of Sewanee (Daybook)

["Matthew Davies" <mdavies@episcopalchurch.org>]

Daybook, from Episcopal News Service

April 25, 2005 -- Monday Mission

[FEAST: Faith, Environment, Action, Science, Technology]

Religion, science, environment focus of Sewanee

[ENS] -- Working collaboratively during a three-year period, a series of
programs that examine the concerns, connections and conflicts of
religion,
science and environmental issues are being developed by the University
of
the South's School of Theology, College of Arts and Sciences, and the
Province of Sewanee Environmental Ministry of the Episcopal Church.

In 2004, Sewanee received a $15,000 grant from the Metanexus Institution
on
Religion and Science Local Societies Initiative (LSI), an organization
dedicated to education, research and outreach on the constructive
engagement
of science and religion.

The University formed the group ENTREAT -- Enter Now The Reflection,
Education, Action Treatise -- and became one of more than 200 LSI groups
in
26 countries providing a method for examining the intersection of
science,
religion, and ethics from three perspectives: reflection, education and
action.

"We looked at the University as a Christian institution and how it was
managing its domain," said Dr. Francis Hart, professor of physics at
Sewanee
and co-chair of ENTREAT. "We found that in some areas they were
performing
admirably and some aspects needed improvement."

Robert Hughes, professor of Systematic Theology at Sewanee and steering
committee member of ENTREAT, said additional grant money has been
received
from other sources and that next year's focus will be on "green
architecture
and construction, building issues," and using "sustainable materials."
In
its third year, the program will examine water quality.

"We received matching funds from the University," which has enabled
ENTREAT
to present workshops and send students to conferences to present papers
on
the group's findings, said Hart.

Recent and planned construction, such as parking lots and other building
projects, have created a great deal of concern on the campus and in the
local community.

With special funding from the John Templeton Foundation, Metanexus has
provided support for LSIs that seek to encourage thoughtful and dynamic
exploration of the interrelationship of science and religion, to promote
greater appreciation of these issues and to enhance increased
cooperation
between science and religion.

Established in 1878, the School of Theology is a leader in Episcopal
theological education and offers a full program to prepare men and women
for
ordained ministry.

To learn more about ENTREAT visit http://www.sewanee.edu/ENTREAT

___________________________
To SUBSCRIBE to enslist, send a blank email message, from the address
which
you wish subscribed, to: join-enslist@epicom.org

Send QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS to news@episcopalchurch.org.

The enslist is published by Episcopal News Service:
www.episcopalchurch.org/ens