The Fifth Annual Evolution Weekend sponsor claim that 850 congregations worldwide have been discussing the compatibility of religion and science February  12-14, 2010. This is an opportunity for local members to credibly express their view on evolution with other believers and leaders in their congregation and local conference. Notice the red flags added by this blogger.

The Clergy Letter Project Announces
The Fifth Annual Evolution Weekend
12-14 February 2010
850 Congregations Worldwide Will Discuss the Compatibility of Religion and Science

Contact:  Dr. Michael Zimmerman, Founder and Executive Director
Clergy Letter Project
317.964.3188
mz@butler.edu <mz@butler.edu>

Web address:  www.evolutionweekend.org <http://www.evolutionweekend.org/ <http://www.evolutionweekend.org/> >

Churches, temples and mosques from across the United States and around the world are joining together to celebrate Evolution Weekend, Feb. 12-14, a period designed to recognize that religion and science, two fields of critical importance to humans, should be seen as complementary rather than confrontational. Participation includes such activities as sermons, lectures, discussions and classes.

The fifth annual Evolution Weekend event is particularly timely this year since we are entering the third century since the birth of Charles Darwin and the 151th anniversary of the publication of his book, On the Origin of Species.

Twelve countries on five continents as well as all 50 states will be represented. A list of participants can be found at www.evolutionweekend.org <http://www.evolutionweekend.org/ <http://www.evolutionweekend.org/> > . More than 870 scientists on six continents, representing 29 countries, have signed on as consultants.

Michael Zimmerman, founder of Evolution Weekend and Professor of Biology at Butler University in Indianapolis, praised the participants.

“Religious leaders around the world are coming together to elevate the quality of the discussion about this important topic.  They are demonstrating to their congregations that people can accept all that modern science has learned while retaining their faith,” said Zimmerman.  “They are also demonstrating that those who are promoting their narrow religious views as the norm, are not speaking for most of the world’s religious community. Evolution Weekend shows that the disagreement is actually not between religious leaders and scientists, but rather between those who believe that their particular religious views should be incorporated into the science curriculum and clergy who recognize and respect the diversity of different faith traditions.”

Evolution Weekend is sponsored by The Clergy Letter Project (www.theclergyletterproject.org <http://www.theclergyletterproject.org <http://www.theclergyletterproject.org> > ), which Zimmerman started in 2004.   The Christian Clergy Letter has been signed by more than 12,400 Christian clergypersons in the United States who agree that “religious truth is of a different order from scientific truth. Its purpose is not to convey scientific information but to transform hearts.”  Companion Letters by Rabbis (with more than 460 signatures) and Unitarian Universalists (with more than 220 signatures) have recently begun circulating as well.

The letters urge school board members to preserve the integrity of the science curriculum by affirming the teaching of the theory of evolution as a core component of human knowledge.  They ask “that science remain science and that religion remain religion, two very different, but complementary, forms of truth.”

“With clergy members and scientists banding together to proclaim that their two fields have much to teach us about the world and the people in it, with the two groups demonstrating that they can work collaboratively, there is now hope that we can put the divisiveness that has been the hallmark of this struggle behind us,” said Zimmerman. “We can look to a future in which it is no longer controversial to teach our children the best science has to offer. We can create a future in which experts in different fields respect one another and the ideas each has to offer.”

Maranatha!
Faith Johnson Crumbly
Editor, LEAD Magazine
301-393-4094
fcrumbly@rhpa.org

LEAD gets to local churches up to six months ahead of local Sabbath School programming, so we are giving local leaders a few file cards of information that can be used for VBS for two reasons:

• First, as the old proverb confesses, “The best laid plans of mice and men have often gone astray.” Unforseen difficulties arise. Plans change. Leaders get stressed.
• Some churches have not had VBS for a number of years. These programs offer hope and direction for  starting again, starting where you are, and starting now.

1. The central theme for Vacation Bible School at the Cloverdale church in Boise, Idaho, led children to investigate “My Community.”
The information and activities revolved around how children can serve and witness for Jesus within their home, school, church, country—and their community. The children enjoyed (A) singing songs, (B) reciting memory verses, (C) hearing interesting Bible lessons and stories, (D) assembling unique crafts, (E) indulging in tasty treats, and (F) unveiling amazing discoveries in nature.
The attendance was consistent throughout the week: 35 children.
Watching a child’s eyes and face light up because they learned something new about Jesus is a heartwarming feeling that cannot be described.
And that was the purpose of this year’s Vacation Bible School at Cloverdale.

Story by Gerry Eslink, a Vacation Bible School volunteer for Cloverdale church.

In-a-minute Resources
• Sabbath School lesson materials.
• Guide magazine nature facts.
• Children’s devotional nature stories:

2. In the long, hot, lazy days of summer, Vacation Bible School provides children with a fun, faith-based environment to learn about Jesus and build friendships.
Wilma Bing, Washington Conference family ministries director, says that local church volunteers have two purposes to fulfill with “Vacation Bible School programs:
1. To reach out to children and their parents.
2. To brings the entire church together for a common evangelistic goal.”
Through the years, Vacation Bible School has emerged as an effective way to bring Adventist and community children together for child-friendly evangelism.
“When I first got involved with VBS about 12 years ago, the majority of the kids were Adventist with only a handful of kids from the neighborhood,” says Linda Burman, VBS director fot the church in Auburn City, Washington. “Initially we found the process of integrating the neighborhood kids into our programs very difficult, as they were basically outnumbered. However, in the last couple years, the majority of kids attending VBS are from the surrounding neighborhood.”
Children in Kirkland (Wash.), Bellevue (Wash.), and Auburn City explored facing fears at Crocodile Dock, while children at Shelton Valley’s (Wash.) summer daycare camp discovered Bible royalty in Castles and Crowns. Graham (Wash.) children explored creation, while children at Auburn Academy Church visited “Rome” and the underground church in the church’s “Journey to Bethlehem” facility.
The Crocodile Dock theme, about not being afraid, was particularly relevant for a young boy with leukemia who attended the Bellevue VBS. The staff and children prayed for him to not be afraid of his treatment. When he came back, he said because of God, he hadn’t been afraid.
“VBS benefits our church,” says Dixie Robinson, Bellevue VBS leader, “because such a large percentage of people work together as a team to put on this evangelistic effort, which has a great impact on our community.”

Story by Heidi Martell, Washington Conference associate communication director

In-a-minute Resources
• Your local Sabbath School and Children’s Ministries directors.
• Candy DeVore, Children’s Ministries director, Review and Herald Publishing Association

Cindy Chamberlin, Gleaner managing editor, shared Vacation Bible School reports for 2009.