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Great Event!

On Friday, October 29th, 2021 we hosted a great event. It was our first event in over eighteen months (thank you covid), but a fantastic restart to the activities of Trinity Fellowship.

Dr. Ted Davis, Emeritus Professor of the History of Science, Messiah University, delivered an incredible, well-researched, provocative lecture, “Why Christianity is Good for Science.” You can view the lecture here. Dr. David was joined on a panel by Dr. Michael Hamburger and Dr. John Beggs. The various points of view, Christian and nonChristian, made for a very engaging discussion. The panel and Q&A can be viewed here.

We are excited about the future of Trinity Fellowship and look forward to offering more “one-off” events, as well as ongoing classes in the near future. For past events, check our Resources page and click Past Lectures.

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Why Christianity is Good for Science

with Dr. Ted Davis

The “warfare” narrative has lodged itself in our understanding of the relationship between faith and science. Galileo dragged before the Inquisition, the Scopes Trials, fights over school science curriculum – those are the stories that get traction, inside and outside the church. But, as Dr. Ted Davis argues, the “warfare” narrative is part myth and part propaganda, and almost entirely rejected by modern scholars of the history of science.

More positively, Christianity is Good for Science. That is the subject of Dr. Davis’ talk at the Trinity Fellowship Lecture on October 29th. Christianity and Science complement one another. Dr. Davis suggests the Christian faith fills in the picture of the world coming from the sciences. Christianity, according to Dr. Davis, can help us achieve a deeper understanding of the world and how we should  understand it. Biblical faith offers both a powerful motive for investigating nature and a foundation for the very possibility of scientific knowledge.

Dr. Ted Davis

Dr. Ted Davis is recently retired as Distinguished Professor of the History of Science at Messiah University. He received his B.S. Physics from Drexel University and an M.A. and Ph.D. in History & Philosophy of Science from Indiana University. He has studied and written extensively regarding the junction of faith and science, especially during the period of the Scientific Revolution, including biweekly columns for the BioLogos Forum.

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Audio and Video of Lecture

The audio and video for last week’s lecture “Christian Politics: a Political Theology of Hope,” with Dr. Matthew Tuininga, is now available. Find it below and on the Resource page under Past Lectures.  Audio and video of the excellent Q&A will be posted soon.

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Calvin and Christian Shrillness

There is an impulse in many of us that emerges in our public engagement, especially on social media – the preferred method for discourse currently.

The impulse: call out sin or injustice or immorality whenever we see it. It is often done with a shrillness that is, quite frankly, unbecoming (and lest you think I’m wagging a finger, I am the pot calling the kettle black).

Against this impulse Calvin writes, “[Christians are not bid] to assert and proclaim what has been given us by the Lord everywhere, and always and among all indiscriminately, for the Lord gives his people the spirit of discretion, so that they may know when and how far and to whom it is expedient to speak” (Commentary on 1 Peter 3:15).

51zgzlu3qsl._sx331_bo1204203200_Reflecting on this, Dr. Tuininga writes, “Calvin agreed that Christians need not always publicly reprove vice. There are times for silence, even before magistrates, and silence does not always constitute cowardice.”

A good word. Join us for more of this and exploration of how Calvin’s two-kingdom theology offers a way forward for Christians to faithfully engage in today’s democratic, pluralistic societies.

“Christian Politics: a Political Theology of Hope,” with Dr. Matthew Tuininga. A Trinity Fellowship event at ECC (503 S High Street, Bloomington). Thursday night, February 20th. 7:00 pm. A time of Q&A will follow the lecture.

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New Creation: A Primer on Living in the Time between the Times (Rodney Clapp)

71bznuj-0rl“We are storied creatures, and everything happens because we lean toward endings. These endings are the goals, the pursuits, the destinies, the termination points that mark and animate our lives. Without endings we could never begin anything. We would lack plots and our lives would be without purpose, devoid of meaning.” So begins Clapp’s book which explores how eschatology, or our vision of ‘last things’, shapes our living in the now. The now is the ‘time between the times’, when this age and the age to come overlap.

In his exploration of how eschatology shapes practical Christian living – from politics to sex, creation care to prayer – Clapp is, in the words of one reviewer, an ‘equal opportunity offender’.  Everyone will be challenged and convicted at some point.

rodneyclappJoin us on Saturday, February 2nd at 10:00am for a ‘fireside chat’ with Rodney Clapp. The informal conversation is hosted at Evangelical Community Church, Bloomington (and no, there isn’t a real fireplace).  It’ll be a good time to think together, talk with Rodney about his ideas, and hopefully leave encouraged to bring the end into the present as much as possible.

Rodney Clapp is a former editor at Christianity Today, editor and columnist for the Christian Century, and author of numerous books, including A Peculiar People: The Church as Culture in a Post-Christian Society.

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Special Lecture – Christian Politics: a Political Theology of Hope

We are very excited  Dr. Matthew Tuininga, Associate Professor of Moral Theology at Calvin Theological Seminary will be with us for TFIU event on February 20th at 7:00pm.  matt-tuninga_2_942ab2a090bef6aa1cb38c8a2e78886eThe relationship between church and state, pastors and magistrates, believers and the government is one Christians have been navigating for centuries. In today’s atmosphere, few things are as polarizing today as political dialogue or as dangerous to the common good as the lack thereof. We are excited to be hosting this lecture on an important and difficult issue (or nexus of issues). The lecture will be held at ECC, February 20th, at 7:00 pm.

Dr51zgzlu3qsl._sx331_bo1204203200_. Matthew Tuininga previously taught at Emory University, Oglethorpe University, and at Sewanee, University of the South. He speaks on topics revolving around Christian ethics and Christian cultural and political engagement.

His first book, Calvin’s Political Theology and the Public Engagement of the Church: Christ’s Two Kingdoms was published with Cambridge University Press in 2017. Dr. Tuininga has also edited On Charity and Justice, the final volume of Kuyper’s collected works on public theology, forthcoming with Lexham Press.

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Creation Care and Earth’s Changing Environment: A dialogue on science, faith, and earth stewardship

Hcreation care(2)osted by: Concerned Scientists @ IU and Evangelical Community Church
in collaboration with: Sherwood Oaks Christian Church, Foot of the Cross Church,
Intervarsity Graduate Ministry, and Trinity Fellowship.

Fostering a conversation among Bloomington’s rich academic and faith communities to share scientific and religious perspectives on environmental stewardship. We seek to generate vibrant and open discussion raised by scientific information, scriptural and theological wisdom, societal realities, and pastoral insight.

The program will consist of two Wednesday‐evening workshops (Sept. 25 and Oct. 2), devoted to presentations and informal group discussions, followed by a field excursion andclosing celebration dinner at McCormick’s Creek State Park on Sunday, October 6. We encourage participants to take part in all three sessions if possible.

Interested in taking part? Register online at http://www.scienceandreligion.net/

Session I: Sacred Ground |Evangelical Perspectives on Creation Care
Wednesday, September 25, 7:00 – 9:00 PM, Evangelical Community Church
Speaker: Dr. Jessica Moerman, Evangelical Christian, AAAS Science Technology and Policy Fellow
Followed by panel presentations, refreshments, and small‐group discussion.

Session II: Our Changing Planet | Scientific Perspectives on Climate Change
Wednesday, October 2, 7:00 – 9:00 PM, Evangelical Community Church
Speaker: Dr. Ben Brabson, Climate Scientist, Professor Emeritus, IU Department of Physics
Followed by panel presentations, refreshments, and small‐group discussion.

Session III: A Shared Appreciation of Creation
Sunday, October 6, 2:00 – 6:00 PM, McCormick’s Creek State Park, Trailside Shelter
Guided field trip, dinner, and open discussion.

Interested in taking part? Register online at http://www.scienceandreligion.net/

Funded by a grant from the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s “Dialogue on Science, Ethics & Religion” (DOSER) program

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Christian Politics: A Political Theology of Hope

With Dr. Matt Tuininga, Calvin Theological Seminary
September 10th, 6:45pm in Woodburn Hall 200.

We are happy to help promote a lecture sponsored by InterVarsity Graduate and Faculty Ministry on an important and difficult issue (or nexus of issues). The lecture will be held in Woodburn Hall 200 at 6:45pm. Contact Rev. Sam Boldenow (919.597.0992) with questions.

matt-tuininga_2Dr. Matthew Tuininga serves as Assistant Professor of Moral Theology at Calvin Theological Seminary. He previously taught at Emory University, Oglethorpe University, and at Sewanee, University of the South. He speaks on topics revolving around Christian ethics and Christian cultural and political engagement. His first book, Calvin’s Political Theology and the Public Engagement of the Church: Christ’s Two Kingdoms was published with Cambridge University Press in 201.