A Scientist Who Studies Stars Will Preach in Pasadena Sunday

A Methodist minister who spent his early career studying how stars form will stand in the pulpit of First United Methodist Church this Sunday, bringing three decades of work on science and faith to a congregation in the shadow of Caltech.

Rev. Dr. David Wilkinson, a professor at Durham University in England, will preach during the 10 a.m. worship service on January 25 at the church’s sanctuary at 500 East Colorado Boulevard. The service is free and open to the public.

Wilkinson holds doctorates in both theoretical astrophysics and systematic theology—a combination rare enough to make him a sought-after voice in conversations about whether science and religion must be enemies. His first PhD examined star formation and the chemical evolution of galaxies. His second explored how Christian theology engages the physical universe. He has written more than a dozen books on the subject, including “God, Stephen Hawking and the Multiverse,” and is a regular contributor to BBC Radio 4’s Thought for the Day.

The Pasadena appearance caps a weekend devoted to those questions. On Friday, January 23, Wilkinson will speak at Caltech’s Ramo Auditorium as part of the university’s Behind The Book series, discussing his Hawking book with Prof. Mark Davis. That event is also free, with reservations recommended.

First United Methodist Church, founded in 1874 before Pasadena itself was incorporated, has long identified itself as a congregation that values both faith and reason. The church states it believes “God wants us to use our heads and our hearts, science and reason, compassion and sensitivity when sorting through the complex issues of the day.”

Wilkinson directs ECLAS—Equipping Christian Leadership in an Age of Science—a project based at Durham University and funded by the John Templeton Foundation. The initiative works with church leaders worldwide to engage scientific questions with openness rather than fear.

“We move away from church leaders engaged in science with a sense of fear in their eyes, to a sense of openness and joy in their eyes,” Wilkinson has said of his work.

The church’s senior pastor, Rev. Dr. Amy Aitken, has led the congregation since 2021. The church describes itself as “a welcoming and loving community of Christian faith in the heart of Pasadena” and is part of the Reconciling Ministries Network, welcoming all persons.

Nursery care is available during the service for children up to age 4. Sunday School is offered for children pre-K through 6th grade after the Children’s Sermon. The service is also livestreamed on the church’s YouTube channel.

Parking is available in the lot at the corner of Green Street and Los Robles, behind the church. For more information, contact the church office at (626) 796-0157 or visit fumcpasadena.org.

The logs of Wilkinson’s career show a life spent in motion between two worlds. A Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, he was installed as an ecumenical canon of Durham Cathedral in January 2024. He is married to Alison, also a Methodist minister.

The upcoming event will be held on Sunday, January 25 at 10:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary of First United Methodist Church, 500 East Colorado Boulevard. For more information, call (626) 796-0157 or email Office@fumcpasadena.org.