Secular versus sacred? It’s not that simple

Helen Billam explores the relationship between faith and science and how the ECLAS initiative serves as a bridge between the scientific community and the Church

For those of us who haven’t studied science since leaving school, it can feel intimidating, irrelevant or mysterious. We might feel that science has nothing to do with our faith – that one is secular and the other sacred. But this is too simplistic. 

Science and technology are at the heart of many of our questions about life and faith. Questions like:

Is this new medication safe?

What’s the impact of smartphones on my children’s mental health?

Can AI make my job easier?

How worried should I be about climate change?

As Christians, we aren’t always equipped to answer these questions. But we can’t ignore them, either – not if we want to be a church which can speak to the needs, desires and concerns of the world. 

There are huge benefits and opportunities to engaging with science as people of faith. If developed as wisdom, science can help us to appreciate God’s world and act positively within it. And the testimonies from Black scientists featured in this section show how a career in science can be a vocation, one which enriches faith and offers new perspectives on God’s creation.

At Equipping Christian Leadership in an Age of Science (ECLAS), we have spent more than ten years creating opportunities for Christians to connect with world-class science and scientists, to develop well-informed, biblically grounded, practical knowledge about the world and our place in it. We’ve facilitated conversations between church leaders and scientists on topics such as AI, fracking, gene editing, and neuroscience, supporting theological reflection on complex and timely issues. We work with Bible training colleges to weave together biblical study and scientific insights. And we equip local churches through our Scientists in Congregations awards, giving grants to fund activities and resources exploring scientific issues that matter to the community. So far, we’ve awarded over 80 grants to churches in the UK and Ireland, supporting everything from theatre productions and art installations to family activity days. 

We’ve seen the impact that can be made when people share their passion and their curiosity. For many churches, the events they run through this awards scheme enable them to engage their local community, which lasts far beyond the event itself. And scientists within those churches feel affirmed, knowing they don’t have to keep their ‘work self’ and their ‘church self’ separate. 

Our final round of grant applications is open until mid-November, and we invite Keep The Faith readers to take part. Your church could receive a grant of up to £10,000 to work with a scientist in your congregation or network on a creative project that brings science and Christian belief into conversation. Whether you care about the environment, are concerned about AI, or want to bust medical myths, this is a fantastic way to explore it further while witnessing to the wider community. 

Reverend Egla Aitkens of New Testament Assembly Church in Tooting received a Scientists in Congregations award in 2024. A nurse educator, she wants to improve health awareness and build trust in medical care through health education sessions, a science career fair, and revamped Sunday school materials. Egla said:

This Scientists in Congregations project is an opportunity to help our congregation and the Black community to see that faith and science are not dichotomous. We will demonstrate from the Scriptures how God uses His Word and His work through us, to establish life as we know it today. In addition, our congregants will be better able to have healthy discussions on consultations and policies that affect us. 

As a church, we are determined to equip our congregation to have a voice and a presence in science and faith spaces, where previously our silence by default meant consent. Imagine a church where we have subject matter experts who are culturally competent and spiritually sound to address matters of faith and science.

PULL-OUT BOX 

Interested in a Scientists in Congregations grant? Here’s how to apply.

1. Go to eclasproject.org/congregations 
2. Applications for 2026 will open on 6 October 2025. Download the application form, which asks for an overview of your idea and a rough budget. Email it back to us by 21 November.
3. We’ll assess applications and invite shortlisted projects to submit a full project proposal by early March.
4. Final decisions will be made shortly afterwards.

You can also read more about our current and previously funded projects for inspiration of what your church could achieve.

Helen Billam

ECLAS Communications Manager  Follow on Twitter/X: @eclasproject