Phase 1 took place from 2021 to 2022 as the bishops prepared for the in-person conference

Faith and science

Faith and science is a major theme at the Lambeth Conference. It is also the focus of a new Anglican Communion Science Commission. In this suite of videos ‘Talking about science and faith’, we share a collection of conversations about ‘Why Should The Church Care About Science?’

The Anglican Communion Science Commission

Science and faith are also the focus of a new Anglican Communion Science Commission that will be co-Chaired by Archbishop Thabo Makgoba and Bishop Steven Croft. The Anglican Communion Science Commission is being coordinated by Professor Andrew Briggs of Oxford University and the Revd Dr Stephen Spencer on behalf of the Anglican Communion Office. The Archbishop of Canterbury is inviting representatives from every Province of the Anglican Communion to take part. Read more here.

The Anglican Communion Science Commission and ECLAS

The Anglican Communion Science Commission will work in close partnership with the ECLAS project (Equipping Christian Leadership in an Age of Science). ECLAS has already generated considerable wisdom and expertise in building the connections between faith and science in the United Kingdom, North America and beyond. ECLAS has many years’ experience in working with Bishops and other senior Church leaders, and through their support, has facilitated dozens of science-based projects in churches. Read more about ECLAS here.

Why should the Church care about science?

Science and technology make a huge contribution to our lives and our world. The pace of change is enabling huge advancements in many areas including medicine, health, communications, transportation, artificial information, agriculture, business and industry.

But scientific knowledge also presents a wide range of ethical questions. How to manage personal privacy in a data driven world. How can we protect the earth’s natural resources from the impact of mass industrialisation? What implications does artificial intelligence have for the world’s human labour market – mass unemployment or new possibilities?

Around the Anglican Communion, millions of Christians work in roles in the science and technology industries. And many bishops in their roles as church and community leaders are working hand in hand with the science community to respond to the human impact of global issues – including tackling poverty, disease prevention and climate change.

Being informed by science, collaborating with the scientific community and bringing the ethical voice of faith to scientific debate will be a major part of Church’s mission in a world increasingly shaped by science and technology.

Watch the videos – join the conversation

In this suite of videos ‘Talking about science and faith’, we share a collection of conversations about ‘Why should the church care about science?’.

Filmed as a panel discussion and video conference hosted by The Archbishop of Canterbury in March 2021 – the films also share reflections from scientists, bishops, church members and practitioners from the Anglican Communion. An entire programme of the video conference has been recorded. It is also viewable in chapters.

Part 1: Talking about faith and science: Why should the Church care about science?

Part 2: Talking about faith and science: How do faith and science work together?

Part 3: Talking about faith and science: How has the church engaged with science during the response to COVID-19?

Part 4: Talking about faith and science: How is the church engaging with science in responding to environmental issues?

Part 5: Talking about faith and science: Hopes for the Lambeth Conference and the Anglican Communion Science Commission.

Main film – full programme

Thanks to our contributors:

  • The Most Revd Justin Welby – The Archbishop of Canterbury
  • Professor Andrew Briggs – Professor of Nanomaterials, Oxford University
  • The Rt Revd Dr Steven Croft – Bishop of Oxford, UK
  • The Most Revd Dr Thabo Makgoba – Archbishop of Cape Town and Primate of Southern Africa
  • Dr Heather Payne (Wales) – Senior Professional Adviser to the Welsh Government
  • Professor Eunice Kamaara – Professor of African Christian Ethics at Moi University, Kenya
  • Archbishop Josiah Idowa-Fearon – Secretary General of the Anglican Communion
  • Dr Anna Pearson – Research Scientist in Quantum Natural Language Processing, Cambridge Quantum Computing, Oxford
  • The Rt Revd Paul Korir – Bishop of Kapsabet, Kenya
  • The Rt Revd David Njovu – Bishop of Lusaka, Central Africa
  • The Rt Revd Pradeep Samantaroy – Bishop of Amritsar, North India
  • The Rt Revd Cleophas Lunga – Bishop of Matabeleland

open to all:
the Phase 3 webinars