FEATURE/Episcopal Church to Host Ecumenical Roundtable in Chicago.

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NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE FEATURES)--March 22, 2000

The Episcopal Science and Faith Working Group will host the tenth annual meeting of The Ecumenical Roundtable on Science, Technology and the Church, taking place March 24 through 26 at the Dominican Center located in Rock Forest, Chicago.

Together with other religious groups, the Episcopal Church Working Group on Science and Faith will debate current issues such as biomedical ethics, the impact of genetically altered food on world hunger and human genetics technology. Many of the participants are both scientists and ordained pastors who represent a broad range of disciplines from pathology to astronomy. Key speakers from the Episcopal Church group will include the Reverend Joan Grim, Rev. Barbara Smith-Moran, Rev. Mark Winward and the Reverend Franklin Vilas. Presentations will focus on topics such as "Christian Theology that can and must hold its own in the Science/Religion dialogues" and science language and imagery in hymns and liturgy.

The focus of the Roundtable is on the churches' capacity to understand and fulfill their mission and ministry in a world shaped by science and technology. The Roundtable has played an active role in the Initiative on Dialogue between Science and Religion sponsored by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Its ecumenical nature helps define and counteract some of the stereotypes of conflict between science and religion.

The Roundtable is hosted by one of its participating groups each year. Groups expected to attend this year include: The Anglican Church of Canada, Episcopal Church in the USA, the Evangelical Lutheran Church, Presbyterian Church (USA), Reformed Church in America, Roman Catholic Church, United Church of Canada, United Church of Christ and United Methodist Church.