TABLE OF CONTENTS BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Transcription

1 2016 Annual Report

2 I m 67 years old and have never believed in God. Some events in my life have caused me to look for a relationship with Jesus. Science vs. faith has always been my main reason to reject God. Then I found you guys. The Holy Spirit is guiding me towards Christ because of BioLogos. - Dave BOARD OF DIRECTORS TABLE OF CONTENTS The Language of God Anniverary Book: Reflections on Faith and Science The Big Story BioLogos Online Speakers Bureau What it Means to be Human Building Bridges Financial Highlights Jeff Hardin - Board Chair Chair of the Department of Zoology at the University of Wisconsin Praveen Sethupathy Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at Cornell University Larry Langdon - Board Secretary/Treasurer Partner at Mayer Brown LLP Ard Louis Professor of Theoretical Physics at Oxford University Mark Vogelzang President and CEO of the Maine Public Broadcasting Network Jennifer Wiseman - Board Vice Chair Astronomer, Author, and Speaker Richard Mouw Professor of Faith and Public Life at Fuller Theological Seminary

3 10 Years Do you remember when you first read Francis Collins book The Language of God? 2016 marked the 10th anniversary of this ground-breaking volume, as Collins personal story of conversion from atheism to Christian faith quickly made the book a best-seller. His standing as a world-class scientist (Director of the Human Genome Project and now Director of the National Institutes of Health) brought the Christian message to new audiences. Many people, for the first time, learned that science and faith can speak together of the same creator God. Today, BioLogos continues that work. Collins vision has been carried to people across the country and around the globe: Each year, our website is viewed over 2.5 million times. The letters continue to pour in especially from students saying that BioLogos saved my faith or BioLogos is pointing me to Christ for the first time. BioLogos has become the trusted resource on science and faith for countless pastors, campus ministers, and teachers. Most importantly, we ve changed the conversation. We ve shattered the stereotype that world-class science and Christian faith can t mix. What Francis Collins began, BioLogos now embodies. In the next ten years, I believe that BioLogos has a vital part to play in the Church s mission to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our work isn t just about genomes and galaxies; it s about equipping Christians to understand, explore, and proclaim a passionate Christian faith in today s scientific age. In this annual report, we ve shared many of the highlights from Thank you for your prayers, support, and all you do to share the harmony of science and biblical faith. Blessings, Deborah Haarsma President of BioLogos 2

4 NEW BOOK FEATURES REFLECTIONS ON FAITH AND SCIENCE In May of 2016, BioLogos and InterVarsity Press released How I Changed My Mind About Evolution: Evangelicals Reflect on Faith and Science, the first volume in a series of BioLogos books produced as a result of a partnership between InterVarsity Press and BioLogos. This volume is perfect for sharing with a pastor or friend. It gathers the stories from 25 prominent Evangelicals who have wrestled with evolutionary science and found their faith fortified in the process. Contributors include BioLogos founder Francis Collins, biblical scholar NT Wright, pastor John Ortberg, philosopher Jamie Smith, scientist Jennifer Wiseman, and others. Many Christians have given the impression that religion and science are at irreconcilable odds, leaving people of faith who find science credible without a way forward. How I Changed My Mind About Evolution seeks to dissolve this false dichotomy. It holds the Bible in high regard without discrediting science s conclusions. - Jonathan Merritt Each of the narratives contained in the book show that Christianity and science need not be at war, which is at the heart of the mission for this new series. Over 3,800 Copies sold BOOK REVIEWED BY: 03

5 THE BIG STORY In February of 2016, BioLogos released The Big Story, a professional video of an influential and captivating talk given by Pastor Len Vander Zee at the 2015 BioLogos National Conference. His presentation was an excellent discussion of preaching and ministry in the context of modern science. Len s amazingly visual sermon spun a tale of wonder and beauty about the true story of the whole world (as NT Wright calls the Bible). Jaws dropped as he described the scientific wonders of the Big Bang as a reflection of the joy of the Trinity God the Father, Son, and Spirit. He told the story of the evolution of plants and animals as an expression of God s creativity, something we celebrate at BioLogos. He told of the development of the first humans and of how our sin tore us away from God s intended path. He brought us on a journey through God s plan for salvation in Jesus Christ and finally to the end of all things in God s restored creation. During the promotion and release of Len s talk to a wider audience, which was accompanied by a transcript and small group discussion questions, BioLogos supporters shared it on social media, ed it to friends and family, and organized showings at their church or on campus. Over 38,200 Video views 4

6 BIOLOGOS ONLINE The BioLogos website continues to be our primary communication vehicle, delivering rich content to our diverse audiences. In 2016, we reaped the benefits of the previous year s comprehensive website re-design, with an increase of 35% in people browsing with their mobile device and a near 50% increase in users between the ages of 18 and 24! This was augmented, no doubt, by our very active presence on social channels like Facebook and Twitter. TOP BLOG POSTS In fact, social media traffic to biologos.org grew by 40% since launching the new site! Notably, BioLogos responded to the Ark Encounter exhibit in Kentucky, which opened in summer 2016, with two editorial pieces by President Deb Haarsma and Senior Editor Jim Stump. BioLogos also launched its 11-part, widely read Divine Action blog series, featuring seven different authors. Over Surpassed Published 2,500,000 72, Pageviews Social media followers Blog posts Overhead 13.0% Assessment 3.5% New Content 40.6% Promotion & Communication 20.2% Infrastructure & Design 22.7% Templeton Religion Trust: Expanding the Reach of a Premier Website = $1,666,757 05

7 SPEAKERS BUREAU As part of the Public Engagement grant initiative, we were pleased to launch BioLogos Voices in June 2016, a speakers bureau featuring some of the top scholars and communicators in the BioLogos community. With expertise including biological and physical sciences, theology and biblical studies, and philosophy and history, these 22 speakers are eminently qualified to present on a wide range of issues of science and faith. Our speakers came together for an in-depth training workshop at the launch of the bureau and have since gone out to speak at a wide range of churches, universities, conferences, and more, sharing the truth of a rich harmony between science and biblical faith. We also passed several milestones in planning for the 2017 BioLogos Conference. With plenary speakers, including Francis Collins and NT Wright, and high-quality abstracts for breakout presentations submitted from around the world, we were well-prepared for a superb conference to come in In addition to our own conferences, BioLogos is reaching even more audiences through our exhibit tables at a range of other conferences. John Templeton Foundation Grant: BioLogos Public Engagement = $1,045,662 Voices of Overhead 13.0% Exhibit Booths 8.6% Speakers Bureau 46.8% National Conferences 31.6% 6

8 WHAT IT MEANS TO BE HUMAN For many Christians who are considering the science of evolution, they have a vague feeling that common ancestry undermines human uniqueness and the image of God. BioLogos hopes to counter that view with up-todate science and faithful biblical interpretation, showing that we can indeed hold to a doctrine of humanity that affirms the special status of human beings. In order to do this, we need to make sure we get the science correct and understand the best Christian theology on the topic. To that end, BioLogos has received a new planning grant from the John Templeton Foundation called Exploring Human Uniqueness. The project began in July of 2016 and is led by BioLogos Senior Editor Jim Stump and Senior Scholar Jeff Schloss. By early 2018 they will submit a major grant proposal on the topic, which will aim to answer the question: What does it mean to be human, in light of evolutionary science and Christian theology? I ve read a lot of material from BioLogos. They are truly seeking an open, faithful, and civil conversation that takes God s Word and His World seriously. As a Christian and a scientist they inspire me towards an even bigger view of God. Thank you BioLogos! - Rob Overhead 13.0% Scholary Project 10.4% Grant Proposal 46.0% Scholar Workshop 36.6% John Templeton Foundation Grant: Exploring Human Identity = $217,019 07

9 BUILDING BRIDGES In 2016, a manuscript was submitted to InterVaristy Press for our joint book project with Reasons to Believe (RTB), an old-earth creationist organization, and professors from Southern Baptist Seminaries. The book is a culmination of years of face-to-face dialogue with scholars from RTB and is designed to show the gracious dialogue that came out of these meetings. Each chapter is framed with a question from one of the Southern Baptist professors, and then a representative from RTB and a representative from BioLogos answer the question; the moderator asks a follow-up, and each contributor responds to that too. The chapters cover topics on biblical interpretation, Adam and Eve, miracles, genetics, human uniqueness, and other related subjects. BioLogos continues to disagree with RTB on the science of evolution, and the specific points of disagreement are pointed out in the chapters. But we are pleased to have developed Christian friendships with the RTB scholars and the Southern Baptist moderators who hosted our discussions at their institutions. The book will be published by IVP in July of 2017 under the title Old Earth or Evolutionary Creation: Discussing Origins with Reasons to Believe and BioLogos. Overhead 13.0% John Templeton Foundation Grant: Building Bridges Among Evangelicals on Origins = $152,308 Multi-Author Books 25.7% Dialogue Workshops 43.2% Joint Speaking Events 7.1% Online Media 10.9% 8

10 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS Expenses: While grants support many of our key programs like website content and events the General Fund supports the operations and infrastructure of BioLogos as well as some programs. Just under 93% of the 2016 general fund income was spent on personnel, fundraising, and operational costs such as rent, utilities, professional fees, and insurance costs. The general fund also supported nearly $44,000 of program expenses not covered by grants. Our 2016 audit is nearly complete. In the 2015 Independent Auditor s Report, we received what is known as a clean opinion from Monroe, Sweeris & Tromp P.L.C, illustrating they have no reservations with respect to BioLogos financial statements. The auditors give us confidence that we will again receive a clean opinion for our 2016 financial statements. [Evolutionary creationism] has allowed me to worship God more fully with my mind, expanding my joy and wonder about our Creator and his interaction with creation. I m thankful for BioLogos resources in this regard! - Dave 2016 General Fund Expenses: $670,059 Operations 41.5% Personnel 50.5% Programs 8.0% 09

11 Income: BioLogos received $1.17 milion in grant payments in 2016; half of which related to newly awarded grants. In total $1.27 million was awarded in new multi-year restricted grants during Income from unrestricted sources goes into our General Fund. In 2016, BioLogos received $363,000 in unrestricted donations. The other significant source of income was $109,000 in overhead funds from grants, which support the general operations needed to run programming services. In 2016 a $10,000 restricted gift was received for a project from The David R. Clare and Margaret C. Clare Foundation and $2,000 was earned in interest and book sales. In 2015 nearly $283,000 of cash reserves were accumulated in anticipation of planned future expenses. Just over $186k of this cash reserve was used to fund operations in ,337 Total gifts $363k Total gift amount 2016 General Fund Income: $670,059 Other Income 0.3% Overhead from Program Restricted Grants 16.3% Prior Year Reserves 27.8% Restricted Gifts 1.5% Your Donations 54.2% 10

12 3940 Peninsular Dr. SE, Suite 220 Grand Rapids, MI (800) or (616) BIOLOGOS.ORG Copyright 2017 BioLogos