Church celebrates Darwin's birthday

Warwick — Creation or evolution? That debate has raged since British naturalist Charles Darwin documented his Theory of Evolution nearly 150 years ago. It was renewed in August when President Bush said school children should be taught about “intelligent design” alongside evolution as competing theries. The president’s comments drew sharp criticism from opponents of the theory, who said there is no scientific evidence to support it and no educational basis for teaching it. This Sunday, though, the two ideas will be discussed - compatibly - in some of the most unlikely places - Christian churches across the country. Rev. J. Scott Barker of Christ Episcopal Church here in Warwick, along with hundreds of other Christian pastors, will devote his sermon to the compatibility of religion and science. Religious leaders across America will be making the statement that religion and science are not adversaries, and that Christianity can comfortably embrace evolution. Father Scott, as Barker is known to his congregants, agrees that many in the Christian faith believe in both creation and evolution, to some extent. “The Episcopal Church uses a common sense approach regarding the meaning of the biblical creation story,” Barker said. “On the one hand, we say that the Genesis account is absolutely true in the essential facts it presents about how the world came to be. For instance, Episcopalians affirm that God created everything, that human beings are created in God’s image, and that we are fallen and so in real need of God’s presence and love in our lives to survive and thrive. All these truths come to us in part from the creation account in Genesis.” However, Barker added, the purpose of the creation story is not to convey scientific data about the beginnings of the earth. “That’s a whole different category of question, and not one to which the Bible speaks with much clarity,” Barker said. “This makes it possible for Episcopalians to believe in both the theory of evolution and the biblical creation accounts. And to the extent that I have talked about this with the folks I serve, I believe that is where most Episcopalians stand.” Barker’s sermon this Sunday will consider that the theory of evolution and the belief that God is the creator are not opposed to each other. In fact, evolution may well be the particular way God creates. Father Scott decided to join in with the Evolution Sunday project after receiving an e-mailed invitation. “It was an easy call for an Episcopalian parish,” said Barker. “The national Episcopalian position is well-settled. Essentially, God can use whatever means to create. We are created in the image of God. Two gifts we all get are critical thinking and intellect. We take seriously modern, scientific data and fit it with our beliefs.” In the fall of 2004, Michael Zimmerman, dean of the University of Wisconsin’s College of Letters and Sciences, worked with clergy throughout Wisconsin in support of teaching evolution. The project, which became known as The Clergy Letter Project, was sparked by a series of anti-evolution policies passed by the school board in Grantsburg, Wisc. In a few weeks, nearly 200 clergy signed the statement, which ultimately helped in getting the Grantsburg School Board to retract its policies. Zimmerman took the project nationwide after the outpouring of support from the clergy. As of last week, 412 congregations in 49 states have signed on for Evolution Sunday. Christ Episcopal Church is the only church in Warwick participating. The list of participating congregations across the nation can be found at www.uwosh.edu/colleges/cols/rel_evol_sun.htm. The site also lists articles and resources on the subject and more than 30 sermons on the topic of the compatibility of religion and science. Father Scott’s sermon can be heard at all three of his services this Sunday at 8, 9, and 11 a.m. The sermon will also be broadcast next Sunday, Feb. 19, on Cablevision’s Public Access Channel 77 at 5 p.m., as well as at www.christchurch.org. Christ Church is the white Gothic church with a red door at 50 South St. For more information, call 986-3440.