Center director Debra Mason presents to the UM Board of Curators and Faculty Council in the Memorial Union. Photos by Jeff Lautenberger, The Maneater

Center presents to UM Board of Curators

• See article in The Maneater
• See blog in The Maneater

Oct. 5, 2007 - Center on Religion & the Professions staff made a presentation Oct. 5 to the Board of Curators, the University of Missouri's governing board. Presenters included CORP director Debra Mason and graduate research assistant Tim Walker.

Three organizations were invited to speak on the theme of "Access and Outreach" at a breakfast sponsored by the MU Faculty Council. Presenters addressed an audience of about 75 administrators, faculty, staff, students and media. The group included the curators, MU Chancellor Brady Deaton and UM System Interim President Gordon Lamb.

Mason described the Center's mission, activities, research and outreach. She presented three scenarios to illustrate the relevance of the Center's work in improving religious literacy among professionals:

UM Board of Curators member Judith Haggard, left, listens to a presentation by Bruce McClure, an organizer of Saturday Morning Science, during the Faculty Council meeting with curators. Photos by Jeff Lautenberger, The Maneater

• A Latino couples' daughter arrives at the emergency room after a near-drowning. The doctor says she has suffered brain damage. Her parents want a priest to perform an exorcism on their daughter. What should the doctor do?

• A software engineer heads a lunchtime Bible study and downloads scripture to his work computer. His employer endorses religious involvement, but prohibits evangelism at work. What should the employer do?

• A journalist is assigned to cover the war in Iraq. But she doesn't know the difference between Sunni and Shia Muslims. What should the journalist do?

Walker shared his experiences as a researcher with the Center and other opportunities offered through his involvement.

The other two programs featured at the breakfast meeting were MU science clubs and Saturday Morning Science.