The Elisha Project wins major Science for Seminaries grant
The Theological Colleges Environment Network (TCEN) is delighted to announce that the Science for Seminaries* programme has awarded them a major grant to fund The Elisha Project. Praised as ‘creative and strategic’, the award assessors recognised The Elisha Project’s ‘potential for profound impact in theology and the environment’, and expressed the greatest respect for and trust in the expertise of project leads, Dr Martin Hodson and Revd Margot Hodson, alongside theological educators, Dr Tim Middleton and Dr Grace Milton. TCEN is one of three projects in the UK to receive an award for 2026-27.
The Elisha Project
Named for the prophet who took on the mantle of Elijah, and went on to heal the polluted waters of his city, The Elisha Project is a yearlong, national initiative to resource and empower a new generation of science and environmental theology educators for Theological Educational Institutions (TEIs).
Running from January 2027–January 2028, it will bring together early-career theologians, church leaders and scientists, with mid- and later-career professionals, to create a network of relationships for future projects and collaboration. It will establish the ministry and missional importance of science and environmental theology in participating theological education institutions (TEIs), and strengthen the TCEN network as a resource to provide expertise for all UK TEIs into the future.
Project leads will recruit up to 20 participants, alongside tutors, speakers and mentors. Content will explore scientific issues, including climate change and biodiversity, alongside theological responses with ministry and mission applications. By the end of the project, through a programme of conferences, webinars and assignments, participants will know reliable sources to keep up-to-date, and will have had training in science communication. They will have the tools to reflect on environmental issues ethically and theologically, and will be equipped to apply their understanding in colleges, ministry and mission, and in the wider national conversation.
Theological Colleges Environmental Network (TCEN)
The 2021 Environment in UK Theological Education Institutions report, by Martin and Margot Hodson, highlighted the urgent need to update theological education to include teaching on the environmental crisis. TCEN was formed in August 2021 and is now an ecumenical network of around 80 theological educators, trainee church ministers, TEIs operations staff, scientists and others with an interest in environmental education and engagement in TEIs.
Invitation to participate
The project leads welcome enquiries from
- Early-career theologians and TEI tutors
- Ministry students and early-career church ministers with an interest in science and environment
- Early-career scientists with strong Christian commitment and vision to resource the church for science into the future
Each participant will be given a mentor and will develop an assignment, which might include:
- Integrating environmental understanding into one or more courses in a TEI
- Planning and leading an event on the environment in a TEI
- Working with the senior management and advisory board of a TEI to establish environmental understanding as part of their overall mission
It is not intended that this will be a heavy workload, and it should easily be possible to fit it around study or a job.
Key dates
7-8 January 2027: opening residential at Regent’s College, Oxford
January 2027 online programme begins
9-11 July 2027 Science communication weekend at Ripon College, Cuddesdon
For further information, including programme details, timeline and applications, contact Revd Margot Hodson at elisha@tcen.org.uk
*Science for Seminaries is a programme run by ECLAS (Equipping Christian Leaders in an Age of Science), and funded by the John Templeton Foundation.
The Theological Colleges Environment Network (TCEN) is a separate organisation from JRI. However, JRI has been a major supporter of environmental work in theological colleges since 2020, when it helped put on a major online consultation. JRI is now pleased to provide this page to help publicise The Elisha Project, which aims to deepen environmental work in theological colleges even further, and to resource younger theologians and scientists to do so.