The Faraday Institute for Science and Religion

03/09/2026

📢 New publication: AI Guidelines for Christian Ministry

How should churches and Christian organisations approach the opportunities—and challenges—presented by artificial intelligence?

The AI Christian Partnership has published AI Guidelines for Christian Ministry, offering practical guidance around the benefits, costs and guardrails of using AI in Christian ministry.

This is a practical, non-academic publication.

The publication considers three key areas of church life where AI is already having an impact:

🔹 In the pulpit — sermons, prayers, liturgy, worship songs and more
🔹 In wider ministry — pastoral care, small groups, church meetings and other activities
🔹 In the back office — communications, data processing, policy creation and administration

It also recognises a fourth space: the congregation. As more people use AI in everyday life, churches will increasingly encounter questions about its practical, ethical and theological implications.

Primarily written for church leaders, the guidelines will also be valuable for leaders of other Christian organisations seeking to engage with AI thoughtfully and responsibly.

📖 Read the guidelines on The Faraday Institute website:
https://www.faraday.cam.ac.uk/posts/26007/

25/08/2026

🌌 Unique Humans in a Strange Universe

What does evolution tell us about the place of humanity in the universe?

Join us in Cambridge for a public lecture with Prof. Simon Conway Morris FRS, 2026 Templeton Prize laureate and renowned evolutionary palaeobiologist.

📅 Wednesday 21 October 2026
🕕 6:00–7:00 pm
📍 Yusuf Hamied Theatre, Christ’s College, Cambridge

Prof. Conway Morris will explore the intriguing question of human uniqueness in a universe that continues to surprise us—drawing on a distinguished career investigating evolution and the history of life.

The lecture will be followed by a drinks reception and bookstall.

🎥 Can’t attend in person? A recording will be published online shortly after the event.

Find out more: https://www.faraday.cam.ac.uk/event/prof-simon-conway-morris-unique-humans-in-a-strange-universe/

13/08/2026

Something to think about.

Can evolution fit with Christian faith, or does it challenge belief in a loving Creator? Dr Denis Alexander and Ed Atkinson debate evolution, suffering, and purpose - exploring whether science and faith can truly be reconciled.

12/08/2026

Help Us Shape a New Master!

If you have (or will soon have) a bachelor's degree or higher, we would love your input. We are developing a new Master’s Programme in Global Perspectives on Science and Religion. Your ideas can help shape what it becomes. In this 15-minute survey, tell us:

“Which topics interest you most?”
“Whether you prefer to study in person, online, or in a hybrid format,”
“And what would make the programme affordable and accessible?”

At the Faraday Institute for Science and Religion, we are exploring the possibility of offering an internationally recognised, accredited master’s degree that examines the relationship between science and religion across cultural contexts. We cannot do this without your support!

Click here to go to the survey:
https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8916350/e2ad5a001177

29/07/2026

🌍 Creation Care and Climate Change: Biblical and Practical Responses

How might Christian faith shape the way we understand and respond to climate change?

In this thought-provoking talk, Revd Dr Dave Bookless explores biblical perspectives on creation care alongside practical responses to one of the most pressing challenges facing our world today.

The talk was given as part of the Faraday Institute Summer Course 2026, Science, Religion and Society.

This is a free resource available to everyone and well worth watching — or revisiting if you joined us for the course.

▶️ Watch here: https://www.faraday.cam.ac.uk/resources/multimedia/creation-care-and-climate-change-biblical-and-practical-responses/

Dave Bookless Rocha International .international

20/07/2026

**Session 1: Preaching – How (not) to use science in the pulpit**

Science and faith both help us understand the world and our place within it. This course explores how scientific insights can enrich the Church's ministry while Christian faith offers valuable perspectives for engaging with science.

Our opening session with Revd Dr Jonathan Jong asks how scientific research can strengthen preaching without becoming a distraction or being misused. We'll explore how science can provide fresh illustrations, deepen biblical teaching, and help connect with scientifically minded listeners, while also considering the common pitfalls to avoid.

📅 Monday, 21 September 2026
💻 Online

https://www.faraday.cam.ac.uk/event/equipped-for-ministry/

Jonathan Lewis-Jong

16/07/2026

**New Course: Equipped for Ministry: Science and the Life of the Church**

How can science enrich preaching, worship, pastoral care, prayer, community engagement, and the way we read the Bible? *Equipped for Ministry: Science and the Life of the Church* is a six-session online course exploring the fruitful relationship between science and Christian ministry.

Led by experienced practitioners in ministry, theological education, and science-faith engagement, each session combines a recorded talk, discussion, practical examples, and take-home resources. Whether you are a church leader, ministry trainee, or active church member, this course will equip you with fresh insights and practical tools for serving your church and community.

📅 Mondays, 21 September 2026 – 22 March 2027
💻 Online

Join us as we discover how science can illuminate the life of the Church—and how Christian faith continues to inspire scientific curiosity and care for creation.

https://www.faraday.cam.ac.uk/event/equipped-for-ministry/

13/07/2026

⏰ Reminder: Applications close 15 July!

There's still time to apply for our **Postdoctoral Researcher** position at the Faraday Institute for Science and Religion.

We're seeking a researcher with strong quantitative and qualitative social science expertise, excellent communication skills, and a passion for exploring questions at the intersection of science, religion, and society.

✨ 12-month, full-time position
✨ Wellcome Trust-funded project
✨ Start date: 1 October 2026 (negotiable)
📅 **Application deadline: 15 July 2026**

If you or someone in your network might be interested, we'd be grateful if you could share this opportunity.

🔗 https://www.faraday.cam.ac.uk/.../vacancy-postdoctoral.../

10/07/2026

The Faraday Summer Course is underway!

We are delighted to introduce Revd Dr Dave Bookless, Head of Theology for A Rocha International, a global family of conservation organisations helping communities live out God’s calling to care for creation.

Dr Bookless’s work brings together theology, biodiversity conservation, mission, ecology, and church life. His PhD at the University of Cambridge explored a theological understanding of biodiversity conservation, and his wider academic interests include theology of place, ecological theology, missiology, ecclesiology, and the theological importance of wildlife.

After years in parish ministry, he founded A Rocha UK in 2001, serving as National Director before moving into writing, theological education, and his current international role. He has written and spoken widely on creation care, with books including Planetwise: Dare to Care for God’s World and God Doesn’t Do Waste.

We look forward to hearing his insights at this year’s Faraday Summer Course.

A Rocha International .international University of Cambridge

10/07/2026

The Faraday Summer Course is underway!

We are delighted to introduce Dr Thoko Kamwendo, Research Fellow at Durham University.

Dr Kamwendo is an interdisciplinary researcher working across history, sociology, and Science and Technology Studies. Grounded in the Sociology of Scientific Knowledge, her work examines how scientific and religious knowledge is constructed, governed, authorised, and institutionalised across different social and disciplinary settings.

Her current research focuses on strengthening the foundations of the social study of science and religion as an emerging interdisciplinary field, bringing valuable insight into how knowledge communities form, develop, and shape public understanding.

We look forward to hearing her insights at this year’s Faraday Summer Course.

Durham University