Ministry, Science and Technology: A Conversation with Black Majority Churches

It was fantastic to have over 20 senior Black Majority Church leaders and members of Durham University’s ECLAS (Equipping Church Leaders in the Age of Science) team gathered in the Royal Society’s Council Room. The occasion was a consultation on Theology, Ministry, Science and Technology in April 2025.  

ECLAS is no stranger to these consultations and has been doing so with the historic denominations, with the support of the John Templeton Foundation, for the past decade. However, until now, Black Majority Churches (BMCs) have remained on the periphery of these national conversations. 

This consultation was built on 18 months of conversations between BMC scientists and ECLAS. Their enthusiasm to see BMCs fully embracing the gifted scientists in their midst provided the impetus for engaging and listening to the rich wisdom, experience and expertise of the senior BMC leaders.

Our conversations ranged from the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in health, leadership and ministry, leaders’ participation in health and well-being, and leaders advocating for inclusive and personalised health care, as well as the challenges and opportunities posed by both modern science and Black Majority Churches. 

Our enthusiastic leaders wanted to ensure this was not a one-off consultation, but the beginning of an engagement with theology, science and ministry. Therefore, they have established a working group that will take forward the many recommendations and the issues and challenges they must address to affirm scientists in their congregations and advocate for their communities. 

Revd Steve Muneza