Executive Council
President (interim)
President (on leave)
Vice President
Past President (vacant)
Executive Director
Secretary
Treasurer
Student and Early Career Representative
Other Staff
Mailing Address
Canadian Scientific & Christian Affiliation
Post Office Box 63082. University Plaza
Dundas, Ontario L9H 6Y3
Phone: 905-297-5245
Specific Inquiries
- CSCA in General: Executive Director
- CSCA Executive Council Matters: President
- CSCA Financial Matters: Treasurer
- CSCA Initiatives for Students: Student & Early Career Representative
- CSCA Membership Sign-Up, Renewal, Payments:
- Secretary
- copy Chelsea Church <chelsea@asa3.org> (ASA Membership and Outreach Manager).
- CSCA Website, Social Media, & YouTube channel: Project Development Officer
- Local Chapters:
- Find your chapter’s local contact below
- CSCA members can also access the ASA member directory to establish local connections.
- Event Promotion (online): Project Development Officer
- Chapter Expenses & Reimbursements: Treasurer
- Forming a Local Chapter:
- Dana Oleskiewicz <asac@asa3.org> (ASA’s Local Chapter Coordinator).
- See also: Start a Local Chapter
- General ASA Contact Page
- Profiles/Accounts at asa3.org: Chelsea Church <chelsea@asa3.org> (ASA Membership and Outreach Manager)
- Print-Journal Matters: Lyn Berg <lyn@asa3.org> (Managing Editor, Perspectives on Science and Faith)
- ASA/CSCA Annual Meeting (the July conference): Chelsea Church <chelsea@asa3.org> (ASA Membership and Outreach Manager)
Executive Council
The CSCA Executive Council (EC) consists entirely of unpaid volunteers. Under normal circumstances, the Council structure proceeds as follows: Every three years, the EC brings on a new vice president from among our membership. At that time, the existing vice president becomes president, the existing president becomes past president, and the existing past president retires from the EC. The positions of Secretary, Treasurer, and Student & Early Career Rep. are not limited to specific terms. The Executive Director serves at the pleasure of the EC, with a review every five years.
E. Janet Warren
BSC (MCMASTER UNIVERSITY)
MD (UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO)
MTS (TYNDALE SEMINARY)
PHD (UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM)
Family Physician/Independent scholar
Hamilton, Ontario
Janet has been practising Family Medicine for 20 years, with a special interest in mental health care and counselling. She recently attained her PhD in Theology and published her thesis as Cleansing the Cosmos: A Biblical Model for Conceptualizing and Counteracting Evil. Her current research interests include the integration of psychology/neuroscience and theology. Janet has been involved with CSCA since 2011 and is excited to be part of the executive council.
Janet serves as our Executive Council Liaison to our local chapters in Hamilton, Waterloo, and Toronto.
Patrick Franklin
Associate Professor of Theology, Tyndale Seminary
Book Review Editor, Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith
Patrick Franklin, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Theology at Tyndale Seminary (Toronto, Canada). He has been a CSCA/ASA member since 2008, invited to be a Fellow of the CSCA/ASA in 2017, and currently serves as Book Review Editor for Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith. He is the author of Being Human, Being Church: The Significance of Theological Anthropology for Ecclesiology (Paternoster, 2016) and many academic articles and book chapters (including two articles and several reviews in PSFC). An experienced pastor, church leader, professor, and scholar, Patrick is passionate about encouraging and facilitating deeper dialogue between the scientific community and local churches and pastors. To this end, he is intentional about building relationships, networking, and providing opportunities to host genuine conversations and nurture ongoing friendships and partnerships.
Due to serious health issues, Patrick is not actively engaged in his role as President at the moment.
Heather Prior
Bachelor of Religious Studies (Mennonite Brethren Bible College, Winnipeg)
B. Sc. & Ph.D. (Genetics, University of Alberta)
Associate Professor and Chair of Biology,
The King’s University, Edmonton, AB
Heather teaches and studies biology and its history as an associate professor at The King’s University in Edmonton. She has also studied in Winnipeg, Ohio, California, and China. Her research interests include ocular cataracts, honeybee diseases, and the intersection of faith and science, particularly in the area of reproductive technology and treatments for infertility. She delights in teaching, traveling, collaborating, and generally being amazed at the incredible universe God has created. She has experienced the CSCA as a gift of fellowship and an opportunity to nurture and deepen the dialogue between Christian faith and science.
Heather serves as our Executive Council Liaison to our local chapters in Edmonton and Winnipeg.
The role of Past President is normally a three-year position, taken over by the outgoing President of CSCA. The most recent Past President was Arnold Sikkema, who became Executive Director on 9 November 2018. Since he cannot occupy both roles at once, he left the role of Past President early.
Arnold E. Sikkema
B.SC. (UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO), PH.D. (UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA)
Professor of Physics
Chair, Mathematical Sciences Department
Trinity Western University, Langley, BC
Arnold is a theoretical physicist, with background in general relativity and condensed matter theory. His current research interests are in theoretical biophysics and in the Christian philosophy of science, particularly in the relationship between physics and biology. Since 1997 he has been involved in Christian higher education, and joined the executive council of the CSCA in 2011. On November 9th, 2018, he became the Executive Director of CSCA, now serving at the pleasure of the council. Originally from Ontario, he and his wife Valerie (a professional horticulturist) have been happy to call BC home since 1991. They have three adult children, all of whom have studied at TWU.
Arnold serves as our Executive Council Liaison to our local chapters in Vancouver and Calgary.
www.csc.twu.ca/sikkema
www.twu.ca/directory/faculty/arnold-e-sikkema.html
Bob Geddes
B.Sc., M.Sc. (University of Western Ontario),
M.Div. (Knox College, University of Toronto)
The Presbyterian Church in Canada, Retired
Bob’s first calling was as a geologist, working for 15 years in mineral exploration in northern Canada and then with the Ontario Geological Survey. He then became a Presbyterian minister, pastoring a congregation on the Hamilton mountain for nearly twenty years. He enjoys exploring science and faith issues by way of 19th century Christian geologists such as Canada’s Sir J. William Dawson, and also as manifested in the new science of astrobiology.
Bob serves as our Executive Council Liaison to our local chapters in Ottawa and Montréal.
Michael Werth
Mike studied science at the University of British Columbia before completing a BFA in film production. He worked in film and television for several years, earning an Emmy and some Academy Awards before moving to the west coast. Mike offers computer, technical and moral support at Comox Valley Presbyterian Church, and enjoys travelling, the arts, and reading.
Timothy Opperman
B.A. (Anthropology), University of Alberta
M.A. (Theological Studies), Regent College
Timothy Opperman is originally from Edmonton, Alberta. It was in the prairies that he developed a passion for science and attended several schools in order to finish his Bachelor of Arts in anthropology at the University of Alberta. After several rounds of international travel, a few stints in Los Angeles, and one too many odd jobs, he moved to Vancouver, B.C. to enjoy the beaches, engage in stimulating conversations, and complete a Master’s of Arts in Theological Studies at Regent College. Timothy has been examining the interaction between science and religion since his early undergrad, with a specific focus on the evolution-creation debate, the evolutionary development of human personhood, bioethics, transhumanism, theological anthropology, and the origins of religious thought.
Tim serves as our Executive Council Liaison to our local chapters in Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia.
Other CSCA Staff
Mark McEwan
B.Ed. (University of Alberta)
M. Theological studies (cand.) (ACTS seminaries, Trinity Western University)
Originally from Edmonton, Alberta, Mark and his wife, Krystal, live in the Lower Mainland, BC. Mark studies at ACTS Seminaries at Trinity Western University. In addition to being a certified Electrician, Mark is qualified to teach physical sciences and mathematics at the secondary level. His academic interests include epistemology, languages, apologetics, and the fruitful interaction of science and theology. He also has experience with creating webpages and volunteer youth ministry. He feels specifically called to serve Christ by encouraging responsible thinking in matters of theology, science, and especially with respect to interactions between the two.
As CSCA’s Project Development Officer, Mark worked full-time 2016-2018 on our “Local Chapters Project,” funded by a three-year grant from the Temple Word Charity Foundation, Inc. During that time, he worked closely with Project Leader Arnold Sikkema on creating new local chapters around the country, a more robust online presence for CSCA, and organizing our first national CSCA conference. You can read about the project’s outcome in our December 2018 newsletter. Mark continues to help CSCA with our website, YouTube Channel, and various social media.
Local Chapter Contacts
The CSCA has the following contacts for our local chapters around the country (from West to East):
Vancouver, BC
Arnold Sikkema
Professor of Physics, Trinity Western University

arnold.sikkema@gmail.com
Vancouver Events & Info
Calgary, AB
Matthew Morris
Assistant Professor of Biology, Ambrose University

mrjmorri@ucalgary.ca
Calgary Events & Info
Edmonton, AB
David Haitel
Spiritual Care Coordinator, Capital Care

david.haitel@gmail.com
Edmonton Events & Info
Saskatchewan
Truitt Wiensz
Assistant Professor of Physics and Mathematics, Briercrest College & Seminary

twiensz@briercrest.ca
Saskatchewan Events & Info
Winnipeg, MB
Rebecca Dielschneider
Assistant Professor of Biology, Providence University College

Rebecca.Dielschneider@prov.ca
Winnipeg Events & Info
Waterloo, ON
David Shumaker
Program Associate for a nonprofit

david.martin.shumaker@gmail.com
Waterloo Events & Info
Toronto, ON
Steve Hewko
Program Director, Wycliffe Serves, Wycliffe College

shewko@wycliffe.utoronto.ca
Toronto Events & Info
Montreal, QC
Chris Barrigar
Pastor, St. Peter’s Anglican Church

cjbarrigar@sympatico.ca