FW: Clergy Letter Project Update

[Frank Dunn]

Friends,

This just came in my email.  

Several years ago when Kansas once more was in an uproar over evolution vs. creationism, and when “intelligent design” became banded about, Zimmerman started a project to see how many clergy he could get to sign onto a letter essentially saying that there is no conflict between science and religion over evolution.  His aim is obviously to impress those who are confused about this.  I signed the letter several years ago.  Other than that, I have paid little attention to the project.

Since Storyfield, however, I have been reading more in evolutionist theory and am quite excited about the coherence of the evolution story as the fundamental narrative of human experience. I thought you might like to see that what we are working on, if you did not know already, is also what lots of other people are working on.

An aside comment.  I believe I was one of only two clergy, and one of only several “religious” functionaries at Storyfield, although my experience was that practically everyone at the conference had deeply spiritual and frequently religious interests.  I find it odd that this is so, and I frankly hope that as the storyfield effort unfolds it will change.  For one thing, an enormous amount of energy, for good or ill, in religious communities goes into storytelling and story-making.  My own commitment is to have an impact on the way my own religious community, on all levels, handles its story-making and storytelling tasks.

Frank

------ Forwarded Message
From: "Zimmerman, Michael" <mzim...@butler.edu>
Date: Wed, 10 Oct 2007 07:19:13 -0400
To: <iop...@verizon.net>
Conversation: Clergy Letter Project Update
Subject: Clergy Letter Project Update

Dear Members and Friends of The Clergy Letter Project,

I’m delighted to provide you all with an update on the recent activities of The Clergy Letter Project.  There has been a great deal going on.  Below you’ll find the following pieces of information:
 

1. The Clergy Letter has now exceeded 11,000 signatures.
2. The Evolution Weekend 2008 web page is now up.
3. The list of scientific consultants continues to grow.
4. I’ll be speaking about The Clergy Letter in various locations in the DC area between 21 and 24 October.
5. A warning about what the study of evolution might do!
   

1.  The Clergy Letter has now exceeded 11,000 signatures.

About a week ago, The Clergy Letter reached another milestone when the number of signatures exceeded 11,000.   As more clergy endorse the letter we are able to reach a growing number of people around the globe.  Please take a minute or two and pass information about The Clergy Letter Project along to friends and colleagues in your address book.  Such a small effort will pay large dividends in our ability to change the public’s understanding about the compatibility of religion and science.  Thank you for any contacts you can make.
 
2.  The Evolution Weekend 2008 web page is now up. http://www.butler.edu/clergyproject/rel_evolution_weekend_2008.htm <http://www.butler.edu/clergyproject/rel_evolution_weekend_2008.htm>
 
Evolution Weekend is set for 8-10 February 2008.  Please note that we’ve changed the name from Evolution Sunday to Evolution Weekend to be welcoming to people of all faiths.  At this early date, we already have 214 congregations from 45 states and three countries signed up to participate.  (We’re currently missing congregations from Kentucky, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada and West Virginia, so please help contact colleagues there.)   
 
Evolution Weekend is an opportunity for congregations from around the world to come together to discuss the relationship between religion and science.  Participation can take any form, from a sermon to a lunch discussion.  And participation can take place on Evolution Weekend or on a nearby date.  Finally, locally, if you wish, feel free to call your event by any name you’re most comfortable with.  The goals are to elevate the quality of the discussion on this important topic and to demonstrate that religion and science need not be at war with one another.
 
If you have not yet signed up to participate in Evolution Weekend 2008, please think about doing so.  Congregations that have participated in the past, report that their events have been great successes.  And, remember, our web pages list a great many resources available to help you prepare.  Additionally, like last year, I’m working with some publishers to make some books available as resources to participants.  
 
If you want to participate, just drop me a note (m...@butler.edu <mailto:m...@butler.edu> ) and I’ll do the rest.
 
 
3.  The list of scientific consultants continues to grow.

Our web page (http://www.butler.edu/clergyproject/rel_expert_data_base.htm <http://www.butler.edu/clergyproject/rel_expert_data_base.htm> ) listing scientists from around the world who are willing to answer scientific questions posed by members of The Clergy Letter Project continues to grow.  We currently have more than 475 scientists from 26 countries signed up.  If you know a scientist who might be interested, please pass information along.
 
 
4.  I’ll be speaking about The Clergy Letter in various locations in the DC area between 21 and 24 October.

I’ll be giving a series of public talks in the DC region and any local members of The Clergy Letter Project are more than welcome to attend.  Here’s the schedule of events:
 
Sunday Oct 21:  3:00 pm: Alliance for Science hosts an informal presentation and a "Pot Luck Dinner" at Falls Church Community Center, 223 Little Falls St., Falls Church VA 22046   Contact: Mary Detweiler 703-400-1025  mary.de...@verizon.net
 
Monday Oct 22:   12:00 noon:  “The Clergy Letter Project:  Building Bridges to Enhance Science Literacy” Presentation at the National Institute on Aging/NIH, Gerontology Research Center, 5600 Nathan Shock Drive, Baltimore MD 21224.  Call: 410-558-8498 (NIA office)
 
Monday Oct 22:   7:30 pm:  “Exploring the Limits of Science: Evolution, Environmentalism and Science Literacy” Presentation at Washington Grove United Methodist Church, 303 Chestnut Rd., Washington Grove MD 20880. Call 301-869-3753 (church)  
 
Tuesday Oct. 23:   7:00 pm:  “The Clergy Letter Project: Scientists and Clergy Working Together To Improve Science Literacy” at Annapolis Café Scientifique, b.b.bistro, 112A Annapolis Street, Annapolis MD 21401.  Call: 410-990-4646 (Bistro)
 
Wednesday Oct.24:  5:30 pm:  “The Clergy Letter Project: Building Bridges To Enhance Science Literacy” presentation at Georgetown University.   Sponsored by Dept. of Biology.  Executive Conference Room, 7th Floor, ICC Building. Contact: Prof. Peter Armbruster pa...@georgetown.edu  
 
 
5.  A warning about what the study of evolution might do!

The following news story appeared in The New York Sun, on Wednesday, 31 December 1902 under the headline “Preacher Insane Over Evolution.”
 
“Pottsville, Pa., Dec. 30. – Crazed over his too close application of the study of Darwin’s evolution theory, the Rev. S. B. Wongert, pastor of the United Brethren Church of Schuylkill Haven, has gone insane.  He had been a close student of Darwin’s teachings. He is confined to a room at the parsonage with a guard.”
 
As always, I am deeply grateful for all of your support.
 
All the best,
 
                                                Michael
 
Visit The Clergy Letter Project on the Web at www.evolutionsunday.org <http://www.evolutionsunday.org>  
 
Michael Zimmerman
Office of the Dean
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Butler University
Indianapolis, IN  46208
 
Tel:  317.940.9224
Fax:  317.940.8815
m...@butler.edu <mailto:m...@butler.edu>