DECEMBER 2016

QUANTUM SHIFT: THEOLOGICAL AND PASTORAL IMPLICATIONS OF CONTEMPORARY DEVELOPMENTS IN SCIENCE

BY HEIDI ANN RUSSELL AND GEORGE V. COYNE SJ

For our symposium in December, 2016, our writers read “Quantum Shift: Theological and Pastoral Implications of Contemporary Developments in Science” by Heidi Ann Russell and George V. Coyne, SJ, to inform their writing as they worked on a submission based on science and youth ministry. Our contributors for this symposium are at the bottom of the page, and as their papers publish, links to them will appear below their bios.

FINDING GOD IN THE WAVES

BY MIKE MCHARGUE

Our writers also read the new book Finding God in the Waves, which recounts Mike McHargue’s personal journey from Christianity to atheism back to Christianity, all the while guided by his relationship with science.

While they were with us at Luther Seminary, we sat down with our writers to hear their thoughts on science and faith. Hear what they have to say in the video:

CONTRIBUTORS:

EMILY DUMLER-WINCKLER

Emily Dumler-Winckler is a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Notre Dame in the Center for Theology, Science, and Human Flourishing. She earned her M.Div., Th.M. and Ph.D from Princeton Theological Seminary. She specializes in moral theology (historical, doctrinal, and systematic) with a particular interest in virtue, moral philosophy and psychology, aesthetics, politics, science, and social change in the modern era. Her research brings ancient and medieval thought to bear on modern and contemporary debates in religious ethics. Her dissertation, Modern Virtue: Edmund Burke, Mary Wollstonecraft and a Tradition of Dissent, challenges the narrative of the virtue’s modern demise by offering an account of modern virtue, specifically the virtues of democratic social criticism and friendship. In her work with the Center, she is developing a theology of home-making, which examines how the practices of modern science and religion have shaped our relationship to the natural world for better and worse. This project considers the virtues needed to perfect these practices and so make a home of the shared world we inhabit.

Read Emily’s article, I Wonder As I Wander.

JEFFREY KASTER

Jeffrey Kaster has served as the Director of the Youth in Theology and Ministry program at Saint John’s School of Theology and Seminary, Collegeville, Minnesota since 2000 and the Coordinator of the Lilly Youth Theology Network (www.youththeology.org) since 2013. He teaches practical theology courses at Saint John’s University and the College of Saint Benedict in Christian education and youth ministry. Prior to his work at St. John’s, Jeff served as the St. Cloud Diocesan Youth Consultant for ten years and as a parish youth minister for twelve years. Jeff’s publication, Youth Ministry, Revised Edition (2016) was published by from the Liturgical Press.

Read Jeffrey’s article, Beyond an Either/Or Christianity.

KRISTIN FRANKE

Kristin Franke spent 5 years as the youth director at Union Church in Hong Kong. She graduated with her M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary in May 2015. In the fall of 2016, she began as the Director of Youth Ministries at the National Presbyterian Church in Washington DC. In her free time, she plays and coaches ultimate Frisbee.

KERMIT MOSS

Kermit Cornell Moss, Sr. is a Ph.D. student in the area of Practical Theology (Christian Education and Formation) at Princeton Theological Seminary. Research interests include Black liberation theology, critical race theory, philosophies of practical reason, pneumatology, the spirituality of urban youth and hip-hop culture.

Prior to matriculating to the Ph.D. program, he graduated Summa Cum Laude from Long Island University-Brooklyn campus, with a B.A. in Political Science. In addition, Kermit also graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity.

Kermit also currently serves as senior pastor of Manhattan Bible Church which is located in the Inwood neighborhood in Northern Manhattan (NYC). In addition, he served as senior pastor in a congregation in the South Bronx New York, has served on pastoral staff in congregations in New Jersey and Virginia and ministered for six months in the Philippines. He is married to Antoinette Gaboton-Moss and they have three wonderful children: Kermit Jr., Sebastian, and Chloe.

Read Kermit’s article, Redeeming Science and Theology Toward Racial Reconciliation.

KEVIN ALTON

Kevin Alton is a youth ministry veteran and a writer, author, and speaker on all things spiritual and age-level Christian ministry. He’s the co-creator of the Wesleyan lectionary curriculum website Youthworker Circuit and serves as content curator for the Science for Youth Ministry grant. Kevin lives with his wife and two boys in the Georgia woods just outside of Chattanooga, TN. You can connect with him on most social media as @thekevinalton.

Read Kevin’s article, Hide and Seek with Jesus: On Youth Ministry and Finding God.

MEGAN DEWALD

Megan DeWald has been a devoted practitioner of youth and young adult ministry in a variety of contexts and traditions, from camps and congregations to nonprofits and social movements, from Roman Catholic organizations to Southern Baptist churches. Prior to working at the Institute for Youth Ministry, Megan served as the Site Coordinator of the PCUSA’s Young Adult Volunteer Program in Nashville, Tennessee. Believing in the power of personal story to transcend the boundaries we build between us, Megan is also a writer, poet, activist, and musician. She holds a B.A. in communication from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas and an M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary.

Read Megan’s article, Apophatic Science and Dark Matter.

SARAH RITCHIE

Sarah Lane Ritchie is currently finishing up her PhD in Science and Religion at the University of Edinburgh, in Scotland. A Michigander by birth, she completed her undergraduate degree in Philosophy and Religion at Spring Arbor University, a Master of Divinity at Princeton Theological Seminary, and a Master of Science at the University of Edinburgh. Her research focuses on all things related to theology and the science of human consciousness; the focus of her dissertation is divine action and the human mind. When not geeking out on science and theology, Sarah loves running, devouring podcasts, hiding out in bookstores, sampling such Scottish delicacies as white pudding, and debating politics with her Scottish hubby.

Read Sarah’s article, Losing and Recovering Faith.

TIM SUTTLE

Tim Suttle is a pastor, writer, and musician. His latest books is called Shrink: Faithful Ministry in a Church Growth Culture (Zondervan, Sept. 2014). Tim often writes for the Religion Section of The Huffington Post, and his work has been featured at The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Sojourners, and Immerse Journal. Tim is the author of An Evangelical Social Gospel? (Cascade Books, 2011), and Public Jesus (The House Studio, 2012). Tim is also the founder and front-man of the popular Christian band Satellite Soul, with whom he toured for nearly a decade. Tim has a BS from Kansas State University, and an MDiv. from Nazarene Theological Seminary. Tim has planted three flourishing churches over the past 15 years and is the Senior Pastor of Redemption Church in Olathe, Kan. He and his wife, Kristin, live in Kansas City with their two boys, Nicholas and Lewis.