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GtN Events

WEEKEND CONFERENCE EVENT

“The Soul of Science
and the Heart of Religion”

Biographies

Dr Bethany Sollereder

Presenting plenary sessions on Friday evening and on Saturday

Bethany Sollereder is a research coordinator and an associate member of the faculty of theology at the University of Oxford. Her theological work has focussed on the question: “How could a good and loving God create through evolution, with all its violence, death, and competition?” She is interested in how to read the Bible and understand the nature of God while learning from the sometimes difficult discoveries of the natural sciences. Bethany received a PhD in theology from the University of Exeter and an MCS in interdisciplinary studies from Regent College, Vancouver.

Dr Andy Bannister

Leading a seminar on Friday evening

Dr Andy Bannister is the Director of the Solas Centre for Public Christianity and an Adjunct Speaker for Ravi Zacharias International Ministries, speaking and teaching regularly throughout the UK, Europe, Canada, the USA, and the wider world. From universities to churches, business forums to TV and radio, he regularly addresses audiences of both Christians and those of all faiths and none on issues relating to faith, culture, politics and society. Andy holds a PhD in Islamic studies and has taught extensively at universities across Canada, the USA, the UK and further afield on both Islam and philosophy. Andy is also an Adjunct Research Fellow at the Centre for the Study of Islam and Other Faiths at Melbourne School of Theology.

Sarah Lane Ritchie

Presenting two plenary sessions on Saturday

A Michigander by birth, Sarah Lane Ritchie now calls Scotland 'home.' She is a PhD candidate in Science and Religion at the University of Edinburgh, focusing on divine action in human consciousness. Sarah also holds a Master of Science degree from Edinburgh, a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, and a Bachelor's in Philosophy and Religion from Spring Arbor University. Her research project is an interdisciplinary one, giving her the opportunity to explore the relationship between neurobiology, philosophy and theology.

Rev Iain McFadzean

Leading a seminar on Saturday with colleague Rev Kristina Herbold Ross

Rev Iain McFadzean was ordained in 1989 and served as a chaplain in both the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy before returning to parish ministry at Bankfoot in Perthshire.  At Bankfoot a new church was built in the heart of the community where Iain's ministry was based on a community chaplaincy model.  In 2010 he accepted the role as National Director to the newly formed Work Place Chaplaincy Scotland and its two chaplains.  He was appointed Chief Executive in January 2014.  Today WPCS has 93 chaplains serving 1500 work places across Scotland as diverse as the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, City councils and Boots.

Rev Kristina Herbold Ross

Leading a seminar on Saturday with colleague Rev Iain McFadzean

Rev Kristina M Herbold Ross studied theology at the University of Goettingen in her native Germany.  Having worked in Vienna with the Community of Protestant Churches in Europe (CPCE), she was ordained by the Lutheran Church of Hanover. Following her marriage to a Church of Scotland minister in 2009 Mrs Herbold Ross moved to Scotland where she worked at Greyfriars Kirk in Edinburgh and for five years as a parish minister in East Lothian.  With Work Place Chaplaincy Scotland since May 2016 she works in Edinburgh West, including Edinburgh Airport, The Gyle Centre, Edinburgh Park and Royal Mail.

Rev Dr Liam Fraser

Leading a seminar on Friday evening and on Saturday

Rev Dr Liam Fraser is a newly ordained Church of Scotland Campus Minister at the University of Edinburgh. His doctoral thesis – soon to be published by Cambridge University Press – examined the origins and theological assumptions of atheism in Britain and America. He has been involved in a range of dialogues and debates with prominent humanists and atheists, and will be continuing this work with Edinburgh University Humanist Society. He serves on the Church of Scotland’s Panel on Doctrine and its Ecumenical Relations Committee.

Prof Chris Packard

Leading a seminar on Friday evening

Prof Chris Packard is an Honorary Professor of Vascular Biochemistry at Glasgow University. His research interests have focussed on cholesterol and heart disease including clinical trials of statins. A longstanding aim has been to understand the causes of the high rates of heart disease in Scotland. With a deep interest in the interplay of scientific and theological understanding, he is chairman of one of the new GTN forum tables. Chris serves as an elder at Hamilton Old Parish church and is a board member of the Search for Truth Charitable Trust.

Dr Antony Latham

Leading a seminar on Saturday

Dr Antony Latham was born in Ireland and attended medical school at Trinity College Dublin. He has worked for 9 years in East Africa, latterly as a medical missionary in Tanzania. For 21 years he has lived with his family on the Isle of Harris where he works as a GP (now semi-retired). He has spent some years studying the theory of evolution and, more recently, philosophy of mind and has written a book on each of these subjects. Antony is fascinated by the phenomenon of consciousness and how studying it throws light on whether we are purely physical creatures or something more. He is chairman of one of the new GTN forum table.