The Society of Ordained Scientists (SOSc) has announced
the formation of an Irish Chapter to accommodate growing interest in
the society from clergy and lay scientists living and working in
Ireland.
The Chapter Convenor is Rev. Dr. Scott Peddie SOSc., Minister of The
Old Presbyterian Church Templepatrick and First Presbyterian Church
Crumlin and current Editor of the Bulletin of the Society of Ordained
Scientists.
The new chapter will meet for an inaugural day retreat at the
Corrymeela Community’s Knocklayd Retreat Centre on Tuesday
13th September.
The retreat will be led by Dr. Peddie and the newly
elected Warden of the society, Rev. Dr. Keith Suckling SOSc, will be in
attendance.
Dr. Suckling said: “The society originated 25 years ago as a
dispersed community of scientists within the ordained ministry of the
Anglican Communion. However, interest in membership grew and we are now
an ecumenical body comprising Anglicans, Congregationalists, Lutherans,
Presbyterians, Methodists and Roman Catholics.
Membership is open, at the invitation of the Warden, to ordained
members of any church who assent to a short Trinitarian
confession.
Associate members are either lay or ordained members of any
Christian Church who have an interest in science and faith issues”.
The society’s scope is becoming increasingly global explained Dr.
Suckling: “Although most of our members and associates live in the UK,
we have members and associates living and working in the US, Australia,
New Zealand, the Ukraine, Canada and other locations across the globe.”
Dr. Suckling continued: “we are especially delighted that our
membership has grown in Ireland over the last year and are now able to
open a new chapter here”.
Dr. Peddie commented on the society: “It often surprises people that a
trained scientist should be a minister or priest. However, we in the
society believe that God is present in all aspects of human life; so we
have members who are chemists, physicists, medical doctors, engineers,
biologists, archaeologists and many more disciplines. Some members
continue in scientific careers and help their churches part time, whilst
others work in various capacities for the church full time, while
retaining an active interest in their field of expertise”.
Membership of the society has many benefits explained Dr. Peddie:
“being a member or associate of the SOSc is a wonderful way of fostering
fellowship and friendship between people interested in the interaction
between faith and science. I’m confident we can recruit more members
and associates living in Ireland and the new Chapter will be a valuable
vehicle in promoting the aims of the society”.
Further information on the Society of Ordained Scientists can be obtained from the SOSc website (www.ordainedscientisits.org) or by contacting Rev. Dr. Scott Peddie directly (e-mail: s.peddie@pattersonpeddie.com).