The Rev. Pamela Conrad, rector of St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Glen Burnie, Maryland, is a neat person whom I’d likely enjoy speaking with as an astronomy geek and fellow Anglican Christian.
Episcopal News Service published a profile this week of the Maryland Episcopal priest and scientist working with NASA on the Mars Perseverance rover:
Conrad connects virtually with scientists around the country and at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California for several shifts a week, monitoring sensors that she helped design as they transmit data about the Martian environment. Among the instruments she works with are the cameras that have sent back over 25,000 photos, including Perseverance’s first selfie, which shows the rover and the small helicopter that is expected to take the first-ever powered flight on another planet later this week.
Conrad tells ENS that the scientific and spiritual worlds have always been intertwined for her, united by a sense of wonder. From an early age, she remembers “being very in touch with the general concept of nature and God.”
That concept of General Revelation – God disclosing himself to us through the created order – is helpful in pointing us to him, and even preparing our hearts and minds to see his character in Jesus Christ.
The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 1:20: “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.”
But Conrad veers away from historic Christian teaching in the interview:
“People often regard humans as the pinnacle of creation. We don’t want to consider the possibility that Mom doesn’t like us best. As Christians, what we have to ask ourselves is, If God can create life here, is God big enough to create life elsewhere? Of course, the answer is yes.”
Can life exist elsewhere? Yes, it could, and God would have an interest in such life. But scripture and the historic teaching of the Church proclaim that man is uniquely made in the image of God. The entire created order is good, but mankind’s role is special.
Genesis 1:27 tells that “God made man; in the image of God He made them; male and female he made them.”
Setting aside Conrad’s use of a female “Mom” title for God (that’s a different topic) I’d argue that yes, he does “like us best” (in the sense that he takes pleasure in us as Psalm 147 says) and that comes with unique advantages and unique responsibilities in regards to our role with the rest of creation.
When Jesus speaks in Matthew chapter 6 about why we should not be anxious, he instructs: “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”
God regards each human life to be of special value. God does want us to explore his universe (the scope of which may serve to convict us of our small size and reliance upon him) but our value is different. An Episcopal priest should be aware of and unashamedly proclaim this.
Comment by Tregonsee on April 13, 2021 at 3:24 pm
Hmmm. I was baptized at St. Alban’s 72 years ago, and still have a plate which belonged to my late mother with a picture of the church. Sounds like it has changed a bit.
Comment by Tom on April 13, 2021 at 4:06 pm
Hmmmmmmmm…why is the Episcopal church losing so many members so rapidly? It’s a mystery.
Comment by Jeffrey Allen on April 13, 2021 at 6:04 pm
What an interesting combination of specialties. I do think you are reading too much into the “Mom likes us best” She’s probably just referencing that sometimes children think their mom loves another sibling best . And Jesus did use the Mother hen metaphor.
Comment by td on April 13, 2021 at 6:28 pm
I agree that she would be interesting to talk. She obviously likes to be provocative.
Of course the problem here is the denial of Christ’s divinity. Jesus taught us that God the father is God the father. Our Father. That is our relationship between us. Jesus told us that the first person of the trinity is his father and our father. He did not say mother or it, person, or anything else.
And once you deny Jesus’ teachings, you are on the brink of calling him a liar or a trickster.
Language like this may be provocative and fun, but it isn’t Christianity.
Comment by Jeffrey Walton on April 14, 2021 at 10:59 am
A quick glance at the parish Facebook page shows a book study on Diana Butler Bass’ Christianity After Religion: The End of Church and the Birth of a New Spiritual Awakening. That probably says something about the direction of spiritual teaching at this church.
Comment by Star Tripper on April 13, 2021 at 11:21 pm
Rector of an Episcopal church and works for NASA. Is rector a part-time gig now because of shrinking membership?
Comment by Jeffrey Walton on April 14, 2021 at 10:50 am
According to Episcopal Church records, St. Alban’s is a congregation of 185 members. That’s not atypical for an Episcopal congregation, but with a plate-and-pledge of $144,000 a year, it’s hard to employ much of a staff and upkeep a building (unless there is an endowment). These congregations are often served by either bi-vocational or retired clergy. It does appear the congregation’s attendance dropped from 84 to 55 in the span of 10 years (2009-2019), a decline of 35%.
Comment by Dan W on April 14, 2021 at 9:29 am
I’ve been a huge NASA fan since Apollo 11 went to the Moon in 1969 – I was 6 years old.
I would love IRD to interview Rev. Conrad. I believe she was a NASA Scientist long before she entered the Ministry and am curious how that background helps/hinders her work. I have friends who are Christian and scientists and it can be challenging.
Comment by Jeffrey Walton on April 14, 2021 at 10:54 am
I appreciated her comments about how colleagues were supportive of her clerical role, and in some cases she had become a pastor to them. This is a recurring benefit I hear about bi-vocational clergy — they end up in contact with those whom otherwise might not darken the door of a church building, but often fruitful conversations emerge.
Comment by Penny Cucumber on April 18, 2021 at 3:13 pm
Nothing in the Bible quotes limits God to creating “in His own image” only on our small blue planet. One of the main challenges to Christian theology is the problem of pain and suffering. It is comforting to play with the possibility that Jesus’ second coming will happen after God has prepared all our brothers and sisters on other planets for salvation.
Comment by Joseph Montileone on April 18, 2021 at 5:15 pm
If GOD created life elsewhere in the universe I believe it would be limited to plants and some animals. This would be for His enjoyment and purpose. We will never make it to any of these planets because it would take many life times to get to the nearest one outside our solar system.
Besides, if He created other beings wouldn’t they be made in His image also. He has no reason to experiment with different forms unless He isn’t really sure that we are His best
design,
The main reason I believe we are all that there is……is Jesus would have to die over and over again for the sins of the beings on other planets . NOT GOING TO HAPPEN !!m
Comment by Bill Feus on April 19, 2021 at 8:53 am
As an Episcopal priest kicked to the curb for my orthodox faith, not much surprises me anymore in “my” church. More of the trash thrown out of the car as TEC continues to drive toward a destination called “relevancy.” Sadly, what is most relevant for embrace by the larger culture but rather the loving embrace of our Savior who gave His life to save us from such foolish, temporal things.
Comment by Clinton Smith on April 19, 2021 at 4:40 pm
“Mom always liked you best” was a running gag deployed by the Smothers brothers for years with great effect. People under forty were born too late to remember.