Page 5 - Presbyterian Connection Fall 2025

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ConnectionP R E S B Y T E R I A N
The Church and
Biotechnology
By Katharine Sisk, Justice Ministries
The applications of biotechnology
(the use of science and technol-
ogy to change or manipulate
biological organisms) are wide-
ranging. Technological and sci-
entific innovation has done much
to improve societal well-being,
and biotechnology is in the van-
guard. In 2020, the Nobel Prize
in chemistry was awarded to re-
searchers for the discovery and
development of CRISPR-Cas9
gene editing technology that al-
lows scientists to precisely edit
DNA sequences. This kind of
development can have profound
implications for such things as
the treatment of genetic diseases,
or the development of crop seeds
that are more drought resistant in
a warming climate.
Such developments also raise
some profound questions about
how, when, why and by whom
such technologies are used, and
to what end? Who benefits? What
about unanticipated consequenc-
es? Are there limits that should
be observed, and what are they?
Who makes these decisions, and
who is (and isn’t) at the decision-
making table? Living Faith, a sub-
ordinate standard of the church,
recognizes the potential good
that scientific development can
have, stating: “Our care for the
world must reflect God’s care.
We are not owners, but stewards
of God’s good earth. Concerned
with the well-being of all life, we
welcome the truths and insights
of all human skill and science
about the world and the universe”
(2.4.1). It is not, however, an un-
qualified statement and places the
welcoming of scientific innovation
within parameters of responsibility
to care for the world in a way that
reflects God’s care of the world.
The complexity of biotechnol-
ogy can be overwhelming, and
the rate of scientific and techno-
logical development often means
that the applications and uses of
discovery outpace the impera-
tive, and much slower, processes
of ethical discernment, regula-
tion and accountability, bringing
to mind the adage “just because
we can do something, doesn’t
mean we should.” Neither is it
a foregone conclusion that we
shouldn’t. But are we taking the
time necessary to ask essential
precautionary questions that are
imperative for establishing ethical
principles and developing guid-
ance based on these principles
for the use of such technologies?
As people who are “concerned
with the well-being of all life” (Liv-
ing Faith 2.4.1), I think our faith
calls us to such prudence.
The General Assembly has pe-
riodically commented on issues
related to scientific development
in life sciences. Responding to
an overture raised after the first
successful human heart trans-
plant operation in 1967, the 1969
General Assembly adopted a re-
port stating that heart transplants
should be accepted as “a normal
part of surgical practice” (A&P
1969, pp. 325). When cloning
technology was first developed
(some may remember Dolly the
Sheep), the 2000 General Assem-
bly adopted a report reflecting on
some of the ethical dimensions
of this technology, and adopted
a recommendation that repro-
ductive cloning of human beings
should be banned by law (A&P
2000, pp. 336, 20). The 2013
General Assembly adopted a re-
port that included a section that
considered some of the implica-
tions of direct-to-consumer ge-
netic testing. Assembly adopted
a recommendation that the Mod-
erator write to the federal govern-
ment, seeking information about
how Canada’s laws ensure the
genetic privacy of Canadians and
asking for information about any
additional legal protections under
consideration at that time (A&P
2013, pp. 374, 19). The concern
is apt: earlier in 2025, the genetic
testing company 23andMe filed
for bankruptcy, raising questions
(and lawsuits) regarding what will
happen to the genetic information
the company collected from thou-
sands of people who used their
services and products.
The ecumenical community
has discerned a need for faith-
based dialogue—and answering
this need is a group within the
Canadian Council of Churches
called the Faith and Life Sciences
Reference Group that brings to-
gether church representatives
who are experts in fields such as
medicine, technology and ethics.
The group’s work includes rais-
ing ethical questions through a
faith-based lens and developing
resources to help Christians (who
may not be experts in biotechnol-
ogy) understand and engage with
these questions. A critical and
timely focus of the group’s cur-
rent work is with the use and im-
plications of Artificial Intelligence
(AI) in biotechnology.
You can learn more about
the work of the Faith and Life
Sciences Reference Group on-
line at councilofchurches.ca/
biotechnology. You can learn
more about the Presbyterian
church’s statements regarding
biotechnology and related issues
on the Social Action Hub, online
at presbyterian.ca/biotechnology.
National Housing Day:
A Day to Reflect on
Seniors and Aging
By Ainsley Chapman, Executive
Director, Evangel Hall Mission
One of the most upsetting trends
that Canada is seeing is the ris-
ing number of seniors who are
unhoused. At Evangel Hall Mis-
sion (EHM), we are seeing more
seniors become regulars at our
drop-in centre, seeking food,
showers, clean clothes and in-
continence supplies. In our resi-
dences, the tenants who have
lived there for many years are
aging, while the average age of
new tenants is going up. Why
is this happening? The first rea-
son is simply statistics, as Baby
Boomers make up a very large
portion of society. But more con-
cerning is the fact that seniors
are becoming newly homeless
at rapid rates. Seniors are los-
ing their housing to renovictions
or are facing unaffordable rent
hikes while on fixed incomes.
Many seniors find themselves
unable to make ends meet once
their partner passes away. And
for those who were unable to
save for retirement, they simply
can’t afford housing once they
can no longer work.
Agencies like EHM aren’t just
working to create affordable hous-
ing for seniors but also to make
sure that seniors can access so-
cial and spiritual supports where
they live. Like churches that have
housing, we have the opportunity
to create community, foster social
connections, and make sure that
everyone can build friendships.
Because home is more than four
walls, and life is more than the
number of years one lives. This
National Housing Day, EHM is
looking at how the housing crisis
impacts seniors, and how we can
ensure that everyone can live and
age with dignity.
Because of EHM housing, Doris has a beautiful home where she cooks, plays
guitar, tends to the EHM garden and volunteers.