Expanding the Parameters of God’s Revelation: Planning for an International Conference for Roman Catholic Seminary Rector-Presidents and Deans

To prepare for the ultimate goal of an international conference for Roman Catholic major seminary administrators to address the possible need of integrating science in the seminary curriculum we propose a preliminary grant to secure cooperation, commitment and input from key persons so that such a conference is best positioned to succeed. Our proposal has three steps. First, to meet with a range of scientists, theologians and seminary leaders and gain their support. Second, to involve ten committed and influential persons for a Planning Team meeting to make program recommendations (conference content, invitees, venue)and develop guidelines for options/models to be integrated into seminary curriculum. Third, to gather a mini-working group of five persons to fine-tune a conference program and to refine integrative options: modules, on-line courses, and summer seminars for seminarians. Outputs:a congenial and knowledgeable Planning Team; wide consultations; a substantive conference program; guidelines for three attractive, inspiring, and academically solid options/models for adaptation in seminaries; a website and a video-recording of meetings and interviews for website and future media purposes; research and analysis of how and where science is incorporated in seminaries. Outcomes would parallel outputs: a committed team, consultations from people who know seminary education; an inviting conference program, creative guidelines for options/models for implementation, a website and a video file,and research concerning where science may be already embedded in the curriculum. The long term impact would grow from incremental changes – the short-term impacts - produced by evaluation and integration of positive responses to models/options resulting in concepts of science and religion embedding themselves gracefully in the intellectual and spiritual formation of seminarians so that their integration might become a standard praxis in the RC seminary curriculum.