NEWSLETTER

of the

American Scientific Affiliation & Canadian Scientific Christian Affiliation

VOLUME 32 NUMBER 1                                                     FEBRUARY /MARCH 1990

NEWSLETTER of the ASA/CSCA is published bi-monthly for its membership by the American Scientific Affiliation, 55 Market St., Ipswich
MA 01938. Tel. 508-356-5656. Information for the Newsletter may be sent to the Editor: Dr. Walter R. Hearn, 762 Arlington Ave. Berkeley, CA 94707. 01990 American Scientific Affiliation (excepting previously published material as cited). All Rights Reserved.
Editor: Walter R. Hearn / Production: Nancy C. Hanger

ZIPF TO COUNCIL; VAN TILL PRESIDENT

Elizabeth M. ("Betty") Zipf, biologist and technical consultant to the president of BIOSIS (Bioscience Information Service) has been elected to a five-year term on the ASA Executive Council, replacing retiring member Charles Hummel.

In the normal succession of officers, Howard Van Till, Calvin College physics professor, becomes president of the Council and of ASA for 1990; Gerald Hess, Messiah College biology prof, moves to the vice-presidential slot; and physiology prof Ken Dormer of the U. of Oklahoma Medical Center becomes secretary-treasurer. Psychologist Stan Lindquist of Link Care Center continues on the Council another year as immediate past president.

Betty Zipf earned her B.A. in biology and chemistry at Mary Washington College, an M.A. in zoology at the U. of Pennsylvania, and a Ph.D. in biology at the U. of Virginia. After a postdoc at Penn she joined BIOSIS, publisher of Biological Abstracts, and has served as head of their Editorial Department and as acting director of the Scientific Division. Besides publishing papers on invertebrate embryology and information science herself, she has served the world of scientific publishing in many ways. For example, she has been a board member and president (1986-87) of the Council of Biology Editors; served on the board of the National

Federation of Abstracting & Information Services; and been secretary-general of the International Federation of Science Editors' Associations (1988-89).

Betty was national president of Sigma Delta Epsilon/Graduate Women in Science (1984-85) and is currently on the SDE/GWIS National Council board of directors. Since 1961 Betty has been a member of the Jewish-Christian Beth Messiah/Messianic Jewish Center in Philadelphia. Participation in that congregation has given her a special appreciation of "our responsibility to witness to our Jewish neighbors and colleagues and to 'Pray for the peace of Jerusalem' as Psalm 122:6 admonishes us."

Each year ASA members must choose between two nominees for a position on the Council. Each year a close vote indicates the quality of both nominees. Coming in second this year was science teacher Helen Martin of Unionville High School in Pennsylvania, recognized nationally and internationally for her contributions to secondary science education. For example, she currently serves on the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. As a Christian teacher in a public school, Helen understands the need for discretion in her witness, but rejoices in her opportunity "to help young people understand the benefits and limitations of science and the ethical and moral implications of the disciplines." She has thought a lot about Jesus' example in teaching and making disciples. ASA stands to benefit greatly from Helen Martin's experience as we continue to explore our role in serving science education.

A DECADE OF DEDICATION

Much is being said about the '90s as the last decade of the 20th century. In 1991 the American Scientific Affiliation will complete its 5th decade of existence. The 1989 Annual Reports and new Membership Directory, now in the works, should be a source of encouragement and stimulation to all ASA and CSCA members. This is a time for renewing our dedication to serve both the church and the scientific community in Christ's name, especially in helping them better understand each other.

Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith, now with a new editor, has established our Affiliations as serious scholarly enterprises. A vigorous campaign for new subscribers has been initiated through a grant from the Templeton Foundation. Potential subscribers receive an excellent promotional piece-offering as an inducement a free copy of Teaching Science in a Climate of Controversy. That booklet continues to win respect as a sane solution to a dilemma faced by teachers and school boards.

ASA moves forward on various projects from preparing materials on environmental stewardship for churches to helping catalyze public health research in East Africa to preparing a TV series "Of Time and Space." Appropriately for a group of scientists, we keep experimenting as we seek to serve Jesus Christ together. As ASA defines its long-range strategy, we try faithfully to recruit the graduate students and young scholars who will represent Christ in future generations.

For all our joint activities, we remain primarily a fellowship of like-minded people. Through personal interaction via the Newsletter, in local sections; on tours to Europe and China (and in 1990 to the Middle East); on commissions; and especially at Annual Meetings we learn from each other, stimulating one another in personal witness and scholarship. Superb books on science and Christian faith have been written by ASA members as a result.

Never has ASA been more deserving of our financial support. Like many other Christian organizations, however, ASA has felt a pinch as costs have risen but contributions have dropped off. Other types of organizations also face financial difficulties. The American Chemical Society, with 60 times ASA's membership and with many of its activities underwritten by a profitable chemical industry, is currently debating increases in its dues and journal prices vs curtailment of some programs.

ASA began to stand on its own feet some years ago when a number of members accepted the challenge to "tithe the tithe," pledging one percent of their income to ASA. This looks like a good year to recover that sense of dedication.

FACES AND PHASES

Photographs of ASA members have been appearing in places other than the Dec/Jan spread in this Newsletter. Edward R. Dayton's photo graced the first page, of the Dec 1989 Newsletter of MARC, Missions Advanced Research & Commuiucation Center of World Vision. Ed is turning over the readership of NIARC after 23 years of putting his skills from the aerospace industry to work in the service of Christian missions. Looking back, Ed recalled "What a great day that was when World Vision got its IBM computer with 8K (!) of memory and we produced the first Mission Handbook." He will continue for the time being as VP-at-large for both World Vision International and World Vision U.S. (We hope somebody recruits Ed's successor at MARC, Bryant Myers, into ASA. Bryant is an active Presbyterian layman with a Ph.D. in chemistry.--Ed)

Speaking of computers, Kenneth H. Olsen's picture jumped out at us from a two-page advertisement in the Dec I I issue of Newsweek. Ken, president of Digital Equipment Corporation, recalled how well people worked together when Digital was a small company, "s1mring information, energy and ideas with a real sense of entrepreneurial teamwork." As the company grew, that spirit was kept alive through computer networking, the ad said, giving DEC now "the largest private data network in the world, serving over 100,000 people at nearly 500 sites." The ad was obviously pitched to other entrepreneurs who need "the power of teamwork" supplied by DEC equipment.

Henry ("Fritz") Shaefer made news in both the Nov 10 and Dec 4 issues of The Red & Black, U. of Georgia campus newspaper. The first story reported his speaking again to a packed lecture hall on "Modem Science and the Christian Faith"-the same sort of lecture that raised such a flap in 1987. By now his critics seem to understand that the lecture isn't sponsored by the university, and that Fritz doesn't press his religious views in chemistry classes. Shaefer, who is Graham Perdue Professor of Chemistry at Georgia, was pictured on the front page a few weeks later when it was announced that he will receive the 1990 annual award of the Second World Association of Theoretical Organic Chemists. The reporter asked Fritz if it's true that he has been nominated for the Nobel prize in chemistry. Several scientists have told Fritz they have nominated him, but he downplayed the question by saying that his top priorities are Jesus, his family, and chemistry-in that order.

The Dec/Jan issue of this Newsletter carried a PERSONALS item about Frank E. Young, ASA's highest placed person on the Washington, D.C., totem pole. Soon after the copy left our hands, Frank's face was looking at us from a story in the Nov 27 issue of Chemical & Engineering News about his changing jobs. On Dec 18 he left his post as head of the Food & Drug Administration to become deputy assistant secretary for health, science & environment in the Dept of Health & Human Services, FDA's parent agency. Instead of slipping down a notch, the change was described as "a lateral move." Some people seem to think Young got the blame for a scandal over careless approval of generic drugs; others think he welcomed the change, tired of criticisms aimed at FDA. We wish him well in his important but perhaps less visible new job, where he will oversee development and use of new technologies to improve the nation's health care system.

BULLETIN BOARD

(I.) The 1990 AAAS Annual Meeting will be held Feb 15-20 in New Orleans, featuring many sessions updating scientific research and others relating science to philosophy, politics, and education. Informal ASA get-togethers were once held at most AAAS meetings. Do any ASA members now attend AAAS? How about ASA local sections hosting a get-together in a convention hotel when AAAS comes to your area, publicizing it at the meeting, in the local area, and in the ASA/CSCA Newsletter?

(2.) An interdisciplinary conference on "Science, Technology, & Religious Ideas" will be held in Frankfort, Kentucky, on Apr 6-7, with philosophy professor Frederick Ferre' of the U. of Georgia's Environmental Ethics Program as plenary speaker. The conference, sponsored by Kentucky State University's Institute for Liberal Studies, will feature contributed papers on history of science-religion interaction; new physics & theology; biology & teleology; technology & religion; ethics of technology; and sociobiology of religion. Biologist Tom Rambo of Northern Kentucky U. spotted an announcement of the conference, but too late for this Newsletter to tell ASAers to get abstracts in by the Jan 15 deadline. For registration info, contact Dr. George W. Shields, ILS Conference Committee, Hathaway Hall, Kentucky State U., Frankfort, KY 40601. ELS plans to publish a Proceedings and to hold subsequent annual conferences on a variety of interisciplinary themes.

(3.) A Lutheran Task Force on Science and Technology has been set up by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, paralleling groups within the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the United Church of Christ. Six projects are underway: agenda for study; establishment of network; international communications; campus ministry contacts; parish ministry & continuing education; and worship materials. The Worship Materials project, headed by ASA member George Murphy, seeks to develop preaching resources, liturgical materials, and other ideas in the Christian tradition particularly appropriate for a scientific-technological world. Non-Lutherans as well as Lutherans are invited to contribute to the work of the Task Force. George would like ASA/CSCA members interested in his or any other of the projects to contact him at St. Mark Lutheran Church, 158 North Ave., Box 201, Tallmadge, OH 44278.

(4.) Ray Grizzle, assistant prof of biology at a state school in west-central Alabama, is refurbishing a course on "Biology Theories " mainly concerned with evolZnary theory and its historical development. He would like to include coverage of how science and religion are related. Ray would appreciate any suggestions concerning appropriate readings, potential problems, approaches that have worked elsewhere, etc. Address: Dept of Biology, Livingston University, Livingston, AL 35470.

(5.) Evangelicals for Social Action is putting together an environmental action handbook to help individuals, families, and groups respond in practical ways to the environmental crisis. Suggestions should be sent to ESA (10 Lancaster Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19151), to the attention of Natalie Wainwright. Tel(215) 645-9397.

(6.) An Association of Christian Engineers & Scientists (ACES) is a new organization "to provide technical support for missions and to evangelize engineers and scientists around the world." According to a note in the Fall 1989 Newsletter of the Interdisciplinary Biblical Research institute, ACES, which was begun by Laymen for Christ, Will seek to encourage tentmaking technical missionaries, evangelize internationals in U.S. colleges, and do short-term mission projects, among other things. Contact ACES, 479 Rose Ave, Vemonia, OR 97064.

(7.) A new Task Force for Cultural Exchange between Faith & Science in the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts is chaired by the Rev. Barbara Smith-Moran (93 Anson Rd, Concord, MA 01742). Because she considers the gospel message "both compelling and irresistible," the fact that many scientists and engineers are unaffected by it suggests to Smith-Moran that the Task Force needs to "translate" the gospel into language they can better hear. She considers her approach to Scripture and theology "less evangelical than that of ASA," but she hopes that networking with ASA via our Newsletter will prove "encouraging and invigorating." (The formation of such task forces among major denominations is in itself encouraging and invigorating-Ed.)

(8.) A press release from the International Bible Reading Association (P.O. Box 1501, Murphreesburo, TN 37133) designates 1990 as an International Year of Bible Reading. A Joint Resolution of Congress, passed on 21 Nov 1989, authorized and requested President George Bush to issue a proclamation to that effect. "White House sources indicate that he will do so." Special activities are planned for Washington, D.C., in conjunction with the National Day of Prayer in May.

(9.) Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society, announced in 1989 that it will move its headquarters from New Haven, Connecticut, to Research Triangle Park in North Carolina early in 1990. Sigma Xi past president (and ASA past president) V. Elving Anderson helped lead the task force set up to explore relocation possibilities.

IN PRINT

Don N. Page, physics professor at The Pennsylvania State University in College Park, wrote a thoughtful review of Stephen Hawking's best-seller, A Brief History of Time (Bantam, 1988), for the 21 April 1989 issue of Nature. Don called it probably "the first popular book on cosmology written by a scientist of such statue" since Steven Weinberg's The First Three Minutes (recently reissued by Basic  Books). After a knowledgeable description of Hawking's "no-boundary" proposal for the quantum state of the universe, Don commented on the philosophical and theological conclusions drawn in the book. In particular, Hawking asked, if the universe actually has no boundary, and hence no beginning, "What place, then, for a Creator?" Don countered that the objection "does not apply to the Judaeo-Christian view, that God creates and sustains the entire Universe rather than just the beginning. Whether or not the Universe has a beginning has no relevance to the question of its creation, just as whether an artist's line has a beginning and an end, or instead forms a circle with no end, has no relevance to the question of its being drawn." Hawking's conclusions about God's lack of freedom in choosing initial conditions are debatable, Don said, noting that God could freely choose to limit his own freedom of choice. (Thanks to whoever sent us the
review-Ed.)

Physicist Don De Graaf of the U. of Michigan in Flint sent us two papers of interest from the Aug 1989 issue of American Journal of Physics. In "Cognizable Worlds: The Anthropic Principle and the Fundamental Constants of Nature" (pp 746-9), astronomer George Greenstein and chemist Allen Kropf, both of Amherst College, concluded that "anthropic constraints, while very crudely limiting the values of the constants of nature, cannot yet determine them uniquely." After fiddling with a number of equations relating fundamental constants to each other, they found "no support for the contention that ours is the only cognizable reality and that life owes its existence to some remarkable feat of fine tuning on the part of the cosmos." (In other words, God had many possibilities to choose from?-Ed.) In "Eastern Mysticism and the Alleged Parallels with Physics" (pp 687-92), Eric R. Scerri of the Dept of History & Philosophy of Science, King's College, London, responded to writers like Fritjof Capra (The Tao of Physics) and Gary Zukav (The Dancing Wit Li Masters) who find significant parallels between modem physics and Taoist, Buddhist, and Hindu sources. What infuriates many critics is that "the parallelists seem to imply not merely analogies, but a meaningful identity between the findings of physics and Eastern mysticism." (Good discussion of the role of analogies in science, with 59 references-Ed.)

Jim Neidhardt spotted a short communication on a less theoretical level in the 20 Nov 1989 issue of Monday Morning: A Magazine for Presbyterian Leaders. Pastor Paul McKowen of Irvington Presbyterian Church in Fremont, California, plugged the American Scientific Affiliation as an ideal opportunity for theologians to interact with scientists, so that we all might be "less strident and more understanding." Under the heading "Science for Presbyterians," Paul told of his fellowship in the Bay Area Local Section of ASA, of ASA publications, and of the role ASA leaders played in the 1987 Presbyterian Consultation on the Church and Contemporary Cosmology. Then he got down to preaching': "Most of us pastors have within our congregations medical doctors, high school science teachers, and, in some areas, junior college instructors, science professors, and so on. Introduce yourselves and your church members to ASA and try to get into fellowship in metropolitan areas. Use your study leave time to travel to the annual national gatherings of ASA people in the summers." (And all the people said, "Amen! "-Ed.)

WHEREVER GOD WANTS US: 10.

No. 9 of this series, on western Europe, was written before the dominoes began falling in eastern Europe. The unexpected upheavals in communist bloc countries remind us of the Boy Scout motto, "Be Prepared." We are witnessing an amazing opening of doors. As ambassadors of Jesus Christ, we need to be ready when any doors open to the gospel, not necessarily where news media attention is focused but "wherever God wants US."

In "'Me Cross and the Kremlin 11" in the Dec 1989 issue of World Monitor, theologian Harvey Cox described what he saw of the religious life of the Soviet Union on a recent one-month trip. He was astounded at some of the changes since his Oct 1988 "Cross and Kremlin" article published in the same magazine. For example, he found Science and Religion, a quasi-official journal of "scientific atheism" now so open to serious discussion of religion that many atheists complain. Believers and nonbelievers alike repeatedly used the word dukhovnost ("spiritual life") to describe the deepest need of their country.

According to Bill Bright of Campus Crusade for Christ, Soviet officials recently authorized Crusade to print a million Bibles in the Russian language, even offering to print them on government presses near Moscow. Bright feels the need is urgent not only because of Russian hunger for the Word of God but also because increasing economic and ethnic troubles could sweep President Mikhail Gorbachev out of office. If that happened, the Soviet religious situation might tam sour once again.

In Sept 1989 a Moscow book fair gave 30 evangelical publishers (of a total of 85 U.S. publishers) an unprecedented opportunity to exhibit and distribute Christian literature. In the past, books related to pacifism were the only Christian books allowed at the fair. In 1989 the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) was able to distribute 10,000 free New Testaments. So many people lined up to get one of the New Testaments that the militia was called in, not to stop the unauthorized distribution but to control the crowd trying to get into the ECPA booth. According to News Network International, Madalyn Murray and others at the American Association of Atheists booth were almost totally ignored. American publishers were able to negotiate a number of contracts for publication of Christian literature by Soviet publishers.

Communist countries in the western hemisphere are also open to the witness of caring Christians with appropriate technical skills. Illinois veterinarian David R. Helland, whose work with Heifer Project International was described in the Newsletter a few years ago, returned in Oct 1989 from a trip to Cuba sponsored by a Heifer Project group called VIVA (Volunteers in Veterinary Assistance). Dave had expected to spend the week doing clinical work out in the hams, but the purpose of the project was really to plan an exchange with Cuban veterinary counterparts. Because agricultural self-reliance is a high priority in Cuba, veterinary research has considerable status. The VIVA group toured some animal production facilities where advanced technology was being developed. An embryo transfer station in Valle de Picadura ("Valley of the Hummingbird") was modem in every sense.

Dave found the majority of Cuban people living relatively comfortable lives, with educated technocrats perhaps a little better off. The military, militia, or even police were not much in evidence where the VIVA group went, including airports. In contrast to some American cities, Havana seemed safe to walk around in at any time. Cuban citizens on the streets seemed proud of their country and eager to show visitors historic spots in old Havana. Likenesses of Fidel Castro were nowhere to be seen, but Jose Marti, "Mentor of the Cuban Nation," is highly honored. Although education high priority -religion- in any form is hard to find. Dave thinks that because the Roman Catholic Church tended to side with the wealthy and powerful in Cuba, it lost its chance to play a role after the Revolution.

Recognizing that he couldn't get the whole picture in a week's time, Dave came back feeling that the U.S. embargo is probably an unwise policy. Cuba wants to open up trade and travel with the U.S., and his Cuban counterparts asked if he could help them get hold of veterinary literature and scientific journals. Since Cuba has technical exchange programs with other nonaligned and socialist countries, Dave met scientists from Europe and South America while joggm*g in the early morning along the Malecon in Havana. Who knows what doors will yet open in Cuba?

A Christian friend of the Newsletter editor has been working in the National Development Bank in Nicaragua. Although he disagrees with U.S. policy toward that communist country, our friend chose not to engage in political protest. Instead he simply offered his technical skills as a computer expert to help develop the economy of that desperately poor country. He is one of over 700 professionals from many fields sent to Nicaragua since 1983 by an outfit called TECNICA (3254 Adeline, Berkeley, 94703). Volunteers in its people-to-people technical assistance program have seen their skills, easily taken for granted here, make a huge impact where no one has ever had such knowledge before. Even short-term stays of as little as two weeks have enabled volunteers to provide important training. TECNICA recently sent its first volunteer to Lusaka, Zambia, and expects to send others to such southern African countries as Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

Meanwhile, the most densely populated communist country in the world is still the People's Republic of China. We've described the work of ERRC (Educational Resources & Referrals-China) before, but somehow failed to mention that chemist Neil Elsheftner of Sunnyvale, California, is chair of the ERRC board. Neil supports ERRC because of his commitment to the Great Commission and because ERRC takes a long-term approach, with the exhibition of a highly ethical lifestyle by professionals as a primary concern. ERRC director Martha Chan is convinced that Christians with a long-term commitment to China have a special role to play. ERRC sends its long-term teachers to China via an affiliated language program in Taiwan.

Did the upheavals in Tiananmen Square last June close doors to the gospel in China? ERRC teachers report that in some schools the resulting tensions have made students reluctant to discuss certain topics with their foreign teachers. In most schools, though, students comfortably visit their foreign teachers, freely discussing all topics and "expressing their heartfelt needs." One teacher wrote that student interest in Christmas in America opened the door for a discussion of the Christian message.

Currently, ERRC has open doors to recruit teachers in business, computer science, education, engineering, English language, linguistics, literature, geology, journalism, law, and in various branches of physical, biological, and social science, plus some specific industrial technologies (such as printing and food processing). Minimal service period for most of these positions is one school year. Contact ERRC-China, 2606 Dwight Way, Berkeley, CA 94704-3000. Tel: (415) 548-7519.

AH, NEWSLETTERS

Some time ago, a PERSONALS item (Feb/Mar 1989) on Walt Hearn cited his role in a piece of literary detective work by writer Kathryn Lindskoog (The C. S. Lewis Hoax, 1988). Lindskoog challenged the veracity of certain claims made by Walter Hooper, curator of Lewis's literary estate. She has kept it up in a privately published newsletter that's fun to follow, The Lewis Legacy (Lindentree Press, 1344 E. Mayfair Ave, Orange, CA 92667; $1 per issue). It answers critics and alerts readers to the reality of literary forgeries and frauds.

Walt has admitted a certain fondness for newsletters in Kay Lindskoog's latest book, Creative Writing (Zondervan, 1999). Full of wisdom and wisecracks, it includes a chapter on "C. S. Lewis's Free Advice to Hopeful Writers" culled from Lewis's published books and letters. Virginia Hearn and husband show up, alphabetically, in a chapter on "Authors in Action," along with such famous authors as Sheldon Vanauken and Walter Wangerin, historian Richard Pierard, sci-fi writer Arthur C. Clarke, journalist Russell Chandler, and poet Luci Shaw.

Under the heading "Science and Sonnets," Walt confesses that a lot of his writing has been in the newsletter genre, an unlikely route to literary fame and fortune. But ten years of turning out a weekly departmental newsletter and twenty of the bimonthly ASA/CSCA Newsletter do add up to "a lot of copy, probably more than the million-word apprenticeship required of 'real' writers."

After SEARCH was launched as an ASA publication in 1988, we called attention to what amounted to a "mass extinction" of massmarket magazines devoted to science (Jun/Jul 1988, pp. 5-6). Newsletters may be even "less highly conserved" than magazines, or "more vulnerable to lethal mutations." A case in point is the National Association of Biology Teachers' newsletter, Scientific Integrity. Careless categorizing of ASA as an "anti-science ministry" in its Fall 1988 issue led to an exchange of correspondence with the distinguished editor, William V. Mayer (ASA Newsletter, Apr/May 1989, p. 5). Only a few months later he died of a sudden heart attack. NABT announced that unless someone volunteered to edit it without pay (as Mayer did), Scientific Integrity would not be continued.

Since then another highly readable science newsletter has become extinct, a year after it began. AAAS Observer, a lighthearted bimonthly supplement to Science, fell victim along with AAAS Congressional Bulletin to the impact of a budget crunch.

NCSE Reports, which evolved (or was created--depending on your point of view) from Creationl Evolution Newsletter in 1989 has adapted and survived. When the editor chosen to succeed Karl Fezer became ill, National Center for Science Education director Eugenie Scott took over on an interim basis. The newsletter has since been tied more closely to NCSE's goals and generally upgraded in style and content. The Jul-Aug 1989 issue contained a 4-page article by ASA member Glen Kuban on renewed attempts by young-earthers to cling to the Paluxy River "man tracks." It also excerpted John Armstrong's critical review (from Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith, Mar 1989) of Henry Morris's Creation and the Modern Christian.

NCSE Reports has been accurately describing ASA and expressing a certain respect for some ASAers, including Wayne Frair, Charles Thaxton, and Kurt Wise. Science writer Bob Schadewald (13204 Parkwood Drive, Burnsville, MN 55337) has officially become the new editor. The Sep-Oct issue was devoted mostly to the 1989 National Conference on Biblical Origins held at Bryan College in Dayton, Tennessee, in August. (Subscriptions to NCSE Reports, P.O. Box 9477, Berkeley, CA 94709: $10/yr.)

Another newsletter mentioning ASA last year was the Jul/Aug/Sep 1989 issue of The Home Catacomb. An anonymous writer expressed mild surprise at finding "a strong voice for scholarship and science within the evangelical community, a voice almost a half-century old." The writer analyzed Bob Herrmann and John Templeton's "Deep and Powerful Ordering Forces in the Universe" and Mary Stewart Van Leeuwen's "North American Evangelicalism and the Social Sciences" (Perspectives, Dec 1988), relating their ideas to the interests of Spindrift, Inc., with which The Home Catacomb is closely associated.

It may not be correct to say that Spindrift actually publishes the newsletter, which calls itself "an underground newspaper" of "the Spindrift network." Answering a request for information about ASA publications, we discovered that Spindrift, Inc.'s return address (Spindrift, Inc., 2018 Shattuck Ave, #132, Berkeley, CA 94704) was merely a mailbox-rental outfit. A reciprocal request for information yielded several issues of the newsletter and data sheets on Spindrift, "a nonprofit corporation dedicated to laboratory research in the field of Christian healing." Incorporated in 1981, Spindrift is "a network of individuals" who support something called "qualitative research."

According to the Home Catacomb editor, a San Francisco Christian Science nurse-practitioner, the network was begun by Christian Scientists (with a capital S) but soon attracted a number of Roman Catholics. Because members are regarded with suspicion or considered renegades, their newsletter masthead says, "We do our best to protect our subscribers, our contributors, and others on the Spindrift network from the penalties which have come to many of us from our various denominational church homes." One huge issue strongly criticized recent changes in The Christian Science Monitor. Another was devoted entirely to certain problems within Catholicism. The 33-page current issue is smaller but more varied, with articles on the Virgin Mary and women's place in Christianity, on court cases over the deaths of Christian Science children, and on "The Spindrift Card Test" (a variation on psi experimentation).

The Spindrifter who liked ASA's journal described himself as "an adherent of a Christian denomination which is continuously under the lash of at least a portion of the evangelical community." Spindrift, by the way, is an old word describing sea spray driven by wind and waves. "It is suggestive of the way of the cross and the stormy waters encountered in responding to God's leading."

THE EDITOR'S LAST WORDS: 7.

0n Dec 2 the Weary Old Editor (WOE is me) thought he was coming down with his "crisis virus" that sometimes sends him to bed for three days and saves him from burnout. This time after a week he still felt terribly weak, and although he got up to work now and then, he basically stayed in bed for two weeks, running a low-grade fever most of the time. The family doctor thought it must be the particularly virulent "Berkeley bug" ravaging the community.

Good friend David Anderson, a cardiologist, got suspicious when Our Wedded Editor described the symptoms. On Dec 30 David's EKG and an echocardiogram by his wife Chris, an echo technician, made it clear that on Dec 2 I'd had a heart attack, and "not a small one" according to David. Since then I've worn a Holter EKG monitor for 24 hours and am scheduled for a Jan 8 treadmill EKG with radio-thallium visualization, to see exactly how much damage my heart muscle suffered.

The Andersons were surprised that a guy with so few risk factors (except for being slightly overweight and facing repeated deadlines) should have a heart attack at age 63. The Hearns were amazed that something so serious could happen without my realizing it. We're rejoicing that I'm recovering so well, but this is the second time this fall and winter that we've been "badly shaken." No doubt we'll have some comments about it next time, the Lord willing and nothing more serious occurring before then.

LOCAL SECTION ACTIVITIES

METROPOLITAN NEW YORK
The 1990 Winter-Spring meeting will be held on Feb 10 at Nyack College, Nyack, New York. The speaker will be Dr. Christopher B. Kaiser, professor of historical & systematic theology at Western Theological Seminary (Reformed Church in America), Holland, Michigan. His afternoon lecture will be on "The Creationist Tradition from Basil to Bohr: Theology in the History of Science," tracing the interaction of theological themes relating to creation with the development of modem science and technology. In sum, these "secular" enterprises have taken over many creation themes, while the church has focused on redemption. Dr. Kaiser's evening talk will be "Out of the Secular Came Something Theological: Samson's Riddle Paraphrased to Address the Clerical Crisis in Evangelical Witness." To restore a proper focus, the evangelical church needs to pay attention to the working life of laypeople instead of letting creation themes continue to be secularized in an unbiblical way.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN
Final details of the Feb 10 meeting: Auditorium (Rm 338) of Cires Bldg, U. of Colorado, Boulder; registration 8:30-9 a.m. Keynoter Kenell Touryan (director of energy research of Tetra Corp., adjunct professor, U. of New Mexico) speaks at 9 on "The New Science of Chaos" and at 10:30 on "Can Technology Solve the Global Problems It Has Created?" After lunch and brief business meeting, 30-min. papers by UNC prof Dean Turner, psychologist John Vayhinger, and geologists Phillip Harold and Karl Evans. Adjournment at 4:30 p.m.

Ken Touryan was born in Beirut, Lebanon, where he did his undergraduate work in engineering at the American University. His Ph.D. in aerospace & mechanical sciences is from Princeton. At Sandia Laboratories in Albuquerque (NM, 1962-78) he managed reentry dynamics research, then alternative energy research. He served as director of research, then deputy director of the Solar Energy Research Institute in Golden (CO, 1978-81). Since 1981 he has engaged in various entrepreneurial energy projects and promoted Christian stewardship of technological skills overseas.

PERSONALS

David T. Barnard of Kingston, Ontario, former head of the Dept. of Computing & Information Science at Queen's University, is now associate to the vice-principal (research), a newly created post at Queen's. He is part of an office responsible for the School of Graduate Studies & Research, office of Research Services, and academic services including the library, computing, communications, radio, television, and archives.

Edward L. Dick is a first-year medical student at Texas Tech in Lubbock. He plans a career in international medicine and is writing an article on international medical education for JAMA's student insert, Pulse. Ed would welcome input on med student training or service opportunities with international dimensions. Address: 3201 W. Loop 289, Apt. 116, Lubbock, TX 79407.

John E. Halver, professor in the School of Fisheries at the U. of Washington and member of the National Academy of Sciences contributed the Preface for ASA's Teaching Science in a Climate of Controversy. Active in the Bothell United Methodist Church of Bothell, Washington, John was interviewed in Decision magazine (Nov 1989, pp 14-15) under the heading "Are We Responsible for the Earth?" John described the deterioration of parts of our environment and the tension that "will always exist between meeting our industrial needs and preserving our environment." He also described some practical steps he and his wife Jane take to try to be good stewards of the environment. John: "I believe that God is the Author of truth and logic and that science is the precision of that truth. I see no conflict between science and theology and believe that science and truth are on a convergent path. (Thanks to Shirley Ulrich of Rochester, Minnesota, for sending us a copy of that interview-Ed.)

Bill Hathaway has completed his Ph.D. in clinical psychology at Bowling Green State U. and is now doing an internship in the U.S. Air Force at Wright-Patterson Medical Center, also in Ohio. He has attended several ASA Annual Meetings, including Oxford '85. Bill hopes to continue his doctoral research on the role of religion in psychosocial coping. He would like to hear from other ASA members aware of church programs or other "faith-oriented" programs that help people cope with life stresses (e.g., drug education, training in problem solving, financial management, listening labs). Bill's address is 1865 Longview Drive, Fairborn, OH 45324.

Robert C. Houston teaches aeronautical science at several military bases in West Germany as an associate professor in the European Division of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's School of Continuing Education. He and wife Emily live in Kaiserslautern. Bob, who has a Ph.D., refired from American Airlines as director of Flight -Management Development after a satisfying 29-year career in the Flight Department. There he spent much of his time developing training programs and techniques.

Stanley L. Lindquist's ASA presidential address at Indiana Wesleyan somehow got lost in our report of the 1989 Annual Meeting. Stan used the Link Care organization, which he founded and still heads in Fresno, California, as an example of applying scientific knowledge to opportunities to serve God. In Oct 1989, new opportunities arose. Link Care, which ordinarily serves the needs of missionaries, sent a team of psychologists and therapists to the Santa Cruz area after the 7-point earthquake. Area churches asked for help because so many residents were experiencing "post traumatic stress syndrome." Under the direction of clinical director Tim Boyd, the Link Care team provided counseling seminars and individual counseling-in the midst of continuing aftershocks.

George L. Murphy, physicist and pastor of St. Mark Lutheran Church of Tallmadge, Ohio, has had a couple of papers published recently. His "Macroscopic Deviations from Coulomb's Law without a Photon Mass" appeared in the Aug 1989 International Journal of Theoretical Physics and "Celebrating our Stewardship of Creation" in the Nov/Dec 1989 issue of Lutheran Partners.

Philip F. Rust does statistical work in the Dept of Biometry at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. On a holiday trip to the west coast in December, the U.C. Berkeley grad called the Newsletter office, saying that he discovered ASA three or four years ago through a reference in some book or other that even included ASA's address. As a member of the American Statistical Association Phil generally misses our Annual Meetings because that "other ASA" meets in August, too.

The exciting thing is that for the past two years a small group of Christian statisticians has gathered at that meeting. In 1989 notices were posted on the bulletin board to draw in new individuals, and in 1990 Phil hopes to obtain official listing on the convention program, as the "Federation Christian Fellowship" has done at FASEB meetings for at least twenty-five years.

Rodney J. Scott is now assistant professor of biology at Wheaton College in Illinois. He recently completed the Ph.D. program in botany at the U. of Tennessee in Knoxville.

PEOPLE LOOKING FOR POSITIONS: Astronomy, physics, physical science: Sherman Kanagy (1213 Ohio St, Valparaiso, IN 46383) seeks a tenure-track asst or assoc professorship for fall 1990; Ph.D. in astronomy (Illinois, 1977); experience teaching university-level courses in physics, history/philosophy of science, geoscience, math (through differential equations; statistics); research on tidal evolution as it relates to paleogeophysics; papers on science/pseudoscience/religion demarcation criteria given at ASA meetings.

POSITIONS LOOKING FOR PEOPLE: Many fields: Christian professors needed to fill strategic posts at a respected university in Indonesia, to contribute to higher education while helping national Christians witness to their own people; near a seminary, center of effective ministry; M.S. or Ph.D. holders in math, computer science, civil engineering, management, business administration, education needed now. Contact Robert Savage, Partners International, P.O. Box 15025, San Jose, CA 95115-0025; tel. (408) 298-0965. (Introduced to ASA by Larry Kells of Palo Alto.) Chemistry (inorganic or physical), Biology (animal ecologist or animal physiological ecol.), Nutrition (biochem.): 10 yr. track record, tenure track positions, to start Fall 1990; submit vitae to: Dr. Ken Perrin, Natural Science Dept, Pepperdine Univ., Malibu, CA 90265. Computer Science: 2 yr. replacement (Aug '90-May '92), MA in Com. Sci. required. Contact: Joseph Lechner, Mt. Vernon Nazerene College, 800 Martinsburg Rd., Mr. Vernon, OH 43050 (614-397-1244).