Programs for Unity and Religious Scence / New Thought Churches

Rev. Michael Dowd
presentations for
Unity / New Thought / Religious Science audiences


Right: Dowd at Renaissance Unity
(Michigan) September 2008
Click for full-length VIDEO.

   

THE REV. MICHAEL DOWD has been called "America's evolutionary evangelist". He is a charismatic, heart-centered teacher, preacher, and sacred story teller. His engaging presentations integrate cutting-edge science with a passionate life-affirming spiritual message of hope and possibility. A long-time student of Practical Christianity and Science of Mind and Heart, over the last 25 years Rev. Dowd has addressed more than 1,000 religious and secular groups, touching and inspiring people of all ages and theological/philosophical orientations. At home in both liberal and conservative settings, Rev. Dowd is committed to enthusiastically sharing the great news of what God has been up to for billions of years, and also to sharing a realistically hopeful vision of the future that effectively motivates people to be of service to the future, to the glory of God. His 2008 book, Thank God for Evolution has been endorsed by 6 Nobel laureates and by science and religion leaders across the theological spectrum.

Rev. Dowd has been the keynote speaker at Southeast Unity Regional Conference (October 2006), Southcentral Unity Regional Conference (at Unity Village, October 2007), and the annual meeting of the United Church of Religious Science (August 2007)

  • "Watch Online: Michael Dowd at Agape Center"
        On 17 June 2009, Rev. Dowd shared his cosmic gospel message at the Wednesday evening service of Michael Beckwith's Agape Spiritual Center in Culver City, CA. Three cameras captured this 35-minute dynamic message. The full video is now available free online. (When you get to the page, click the play arrow.)

    ♦ BRIEF BIOGRAPHY for INTRODUCING Michael Dowd at Unity / New Thought / Religious Science events

    published in 2008

    full list of endorsements

    		  

     

  • "Michael's book — a sacred look at cosmic history and emergent creativity from multiple angles — will ignite a revolution in evolution for any reader. Here is a book that promises to deliver and delivers on its promises!" — Rev. Howard Caesar, Senior Minister, Unity Church of Christianity, Houston

  • "Thank God for Evolution is a seminal work. It crosses the great divide between science and religion, by offering a new, all inclusive, science-based, spirit-infused way for us to move together as co-evolutionary participants in the process of creation. It is a gift to all of us." — Barbara Marx Hubbard, President, Foundation for Conscious Evolution; author of Emergence

  • "Michael Dowd is a pioneering voice for a deep spirituality that both celebrates the wisdom of science and is juicy with love, intimacy, and aliveness." — Duane Elgin, author of Promise Ahead and Awakening Earth

  • "A gift to humanity and the Earth, especially at this critical point in human history." — Mary Manin Morrissey, past president, Association of Global New Thought

  • "The universe took 13.7 billion years to produce this amazing book. I heartily recommend it." — John Mather, NASA Chief Scientist, 2006 Nobel Prize in Physics

  • "The science vs. religion debate is over! Michael Dowd masterfully unites rationality and spirituality in a world view that celebrates the mysteries of existence and inspires each human being to achieve a higher purpose in life. A must read for all, including scientists." — Craig Mello, 2006 Nobel Prize in Physiology/Medicine

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    ♦ Lesson/Sermon Titles

    ♦ 90-minute illustrated talk

      
  • Since April 2002, Michael and his wife, Connie Barlow (a noted writer of popular science books), have been full-time itinerant evolutionary educators and sacred story tellers.

  • Find out what science and spirit leaders have to say about them and their programs.

  • Read endorsements from New Thought ministers and church members.
    		•   

     

    "Can you believe that Michael Dowd had a large audience of Unity ministers begging for more? His message of oneness was recognized by this New Thought gathering to be the message that will bring the world to its senses and it so related to their own mission. We highly recommend him to any group that will open their minds and allow the possibility that we are all ONE in this universe, therefore all connected in our desire for love and peace. Michael's presentation — which shows how science and religion are compatible and how evolution and creation are entwined — is dynamic, highly informative, and goes from scientific knowledge right to the heart."
    — Rev. Ron Neff, 2006 Southeast Unity Region Conference Chairman.

    		  

    VIDEO & AUDIO CLIPS OF MICHAEL DOWD

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     "Gratitude: An Evolutionary Celebration" 

      Unity of Bellevue, WA (2009)  

    25 minute AUDIO
     


     "Evolutionary Transformations" 

      Mountainside Ctr Spiritual Living, Placerville CA (2009)  

    22 minute AUDIO
     


     "Seven Gifts of Evolutionary Spirituality" 

    Agape Spiritual Center, Culver City, CA (2009)

    35 minute VIDEO
     


     "The Evolutionary Gospel" 

    Renaissance Unity, Detroit MI (2008)

    20 minute VIDEO
     


     "Thank God for Evolution!" 

    Unity of Marin, CA (2008)

    30 minute MP3 AUDIO
     


    "The Gospel According to Evolution"

    Unity Church of Christianity (Houston) 2006

    32 minute FULL-LENGTH LESSON MP3 AUDIO

     "The Great Story" 

    Unity of Woodinville, WA (2006)

    40 minute MP3 AUDIO
     


    "The Big Picture"

    Unity Church of Dayton, Ohio, 2004

    (3:00 mins) VIDEO SHORT

    "Community Creativity"

    Unity Church of Dayton, Ohio, 2004

    (2:00 mins) VIDEO SHORT

    "The Cosmic Century Timeline"

    New Thought Unity Center of Cincinnati, 2003

    (2:30 mins) VIDEO SHORT

    "The Making of an Evolutionary Evangelist"

    Christ Way Community Church of Denver, 2004

    (2:00 mins) VIDEO SHORT


    "Celebrating Our Differences"

    Christ Way Community Church of Denver, 2004

    (2:00 mins) VIDEO SHORT

     

     More VIDEO clips and full-length AUDIO programs
    are accessible through the companion website
    for Michael's book: Thank God for Evolution

     


    Lesson/Sermon Titles and Descriptions

    ♦ "THANK GOD FOR EVOLUTION"
         [alt title] "THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO SCIENCE: Evolutionary Good News"

    How can a God-glorifying understanding of evolution transform our lives and our world? How does an evolutionary worldview further the insights of practical Christianity and the science of mind and heart? In this lesson, Rev. Dowd presents key insights from his 2008 book, Thank God for Evolution.

    ♦ "GRATITUDE: AN EVOLUTIONARY CELEBRATION"

    Scientific discoveries are fascinating for revealing the magnificence of Earth and Cosmos, but can they also help us cultivate our spirituality? In this dynamic and soul-filled presentation, Rev. Dowd draws upon sciences as diverse as paleontology, astrophysics, geology, and evolutionary brain science to help us nurture a grateful heart.

             


    ♦ BRIEF BIOGRAPHY for INTRODUCING Michael Dowd at Unity / New Thought / Religious Science events

      

    Michael's book is endorsed by 6 NOBEL LAUREATES, other scientists, and religious leaders across the spectrum

    Visit the Thank God for Evolution website for

  • samples of audio and video clips from Rev. Dowd's media interviews and live presentations

  • links to NEWS REPORTS of the book and Dowd's ministry, including articles published in New York Times Magazine and Washington Post.

  • Rev. Dowd's BLOG: "The Evolutionary Evangelist"

  • link for purchasing the book


    • Suggested DESCRIPTION FOR PUBLICITY for this 90-minute special presentation:

       


    templates for
    PUBLICITY FLIERS

    		  

    Free follow-up presentation by Michael Dowd (90 minutes, for a weekday evening) CHOOSE ONE:

    1. "Thank God for Evolution: Finding Peace, Passion, and Purpose in Challenging Times"

    In this richly illustrated talk, Rev. Dowd will cover the major themes of his 2008 book, Thank God for Evolution: How the Marriage of Science and Religion Will Transform Your Life and Our World. This book has been endorsed by 6 Nobel Prize-winning scientists and by religious leaders across the spectrum, including Mary Manin Morrissey, Barbara Marx Hubbard, and other New Thought leaders.

    Come learn how a sacred, meaningful view of the history of everyone and everything bridges head and heart, provides guidance, and restores realistic hope for individuals, families, and for humanity as a whole. Rev. Dowd will also show how an understanding of human nature given by evolutionary brain science and evolutionary psychology can help each of us live with greater integrity, love, and compassion, and how a deep-time view of grace offers peace, passion, and purpose in trying times.

    2. "EVOLUTION AND THE GLOBAL INTEGRITY CRISIS"

    From crumbling economies to collapsing ecosystems, humanity is experiencing an unprecedented global integrity crisis. In a richly illustrated presentation, Michael Dowd sheds light on a wide range of personal, social, political, and economic issues through the prism of global integrity: humanity in right relationship at all levels, from the personal to the planetary. The evolutionary sciences teach us that throughout life's history, a vital trend is chaos catalyzing cooperation in ever-larger systems of interdependence. Dowd proposes that only an evolutionary worldview can help us co-create a just and thriving future at this new, planetary level of interdependence. The talk is based on his landmark book, Thank God for Evolution, which has been endorsed by 56Nobel Prize-winning scientists and religious leaders across the spectrum.

    ♦ Rev. Dowd and his wife, science writer Connie Barlow, have been been living entirely on the road since 2002, bringing the "good news" of evolution to churches, schools, and spiritual centers across the USA. He has been called "America's evolutionary evangelist," and was featured in a 2008 issue of The New York Times Magazine.

    		     

    ♦ PUBLICITY PHOTOS      ♦ TEMPLATES FOR PUBLICITY FLIERS

    LOCAL PUBLICITY: Our PUBLICIST will be happy to work independently (or with you, if you prefer) to secure regional radio/TV and newspaper interviews in advance of the event. Click to sample the ARCHIVE OF NEWS ARTICLES.

    		          

      

    "Thank God for Evolution" is partly a powerpoint presentation so it requires a room that can be darkened. Michael brings his own high-lumen, digital projector with him, and he also brings our own large screen, so the only equipment requests are (1) a small, high table for setting the projector on, and (2) voice amplification.

    		   


    Short Biography: MICHAEL DOWD, a former United Church of Christ minister and long-time advocate of practical Christianity and Science of Mind and Heart, is an emissary of a worldwide ecumenical movement that draws from the contemporary wisdom of those on the growing edge of evolution and meaning. He is the author of the 2008 book Thank God for Evolution — which six Nobel laureates, as well as leaders across the religious spectrum, have enthusiastically endorsed.

    ♦ Click for PRAISE for Michael's work, by ministers and others in UNITY / NEW THOUGHT contexts.

    ♦ Click for PRAISE for Michael's 2008 book.

    ♦ Click here to view or download PUBLICITY PHOTOS.


    Scheduling Presentations and Fees

    Michael is passionate about these topics. For guest sermons/lessons, he gratefully accepts whatever compensation a congregation typically offers guest ministers.

    In addition, Michael likes to present a FREE powerpoint, evening talk during the week immediately following the Sunday service. We carry our own portable screen and high-lumen digital projector to use for the evening follow-up program, so the only thing you need to provide is an adequate room and voice amplification. Because book and DVD sales following the presentation are usually substantial (we make the table self-serve, so no assistance is required for that either), we suggest you publicize the event as FREE (or on a love offering basis) and consider it as an opportunity to attract newcomers from the wider community.

    For especially large or community outreach events, our PUBLICIST will be happy to work directly with you on publicity. But for the most part, congregations have found quite adequate our DOWNLOADABLE FLYERS/POSTERS TEMPLATES.

    FOR LARGER VENUES, especially those that require him to travel by air, we are happy to negotiate fees that will work for your group.

    Rev. Dowd generally schedules appearances on a region-by-region basis to minimize transportation time, costs, and energy. To learn when Michael will be in your region, click for his MONTH-BY-MONTH CALENDAR, or YEAR AT A GLANCE ITINERARY.

    Michael and Connie's itinerant lifestyle is made possible by a commitment to voluntary simplicity and the generosity of those who open up their homes to them for a few days or longer. Depending on whether we are also presenting for other organizations in your town or city, we may ask you to locate HOME HOSPITALITY for us for the night preceding a morning service or that follows an evening workshop. Click here for a handy list of information on our HOME HOSPITALITY needs. We intend this list to supply prospective hosts with all the information they need to feel comfortable in extending us an invitation.

  • DVDs of Michael's performances - available through this website.


    &diams PUBLICITY PHOTOS

    ♦ BRIEF BIOGRAPHY for INTRODUCING Michael Dowd at Unity / New Thought / Religious Science events

       LEFT:Michael Dowd preaching on an evolutionary understanding of our "unchosen nature" (original sin) at North America's first evolutionary revival in San Diego, February 2008. An evolutionary understanding of original sin can be found in chapters 8 - 11 of his book, Thank God for Evolution. The projected slide behind him in the photo presents playful names for the parts of our brain that reflect a deep evolutionary heritage: "Lizard Legacy" (brain stem and cerebellum); "Furry Li'l Mammal" (limbic system); "Monkey Mind" (neocortex); and "Higher Porpoise" (frontal lobes).

    RIGHT: Michael Dowd in action across the stage at Unity Church of the Hills, Austin TX (February 2009)

    		  

       LEFT: Michael Dowd presenting at the Unity Church of Frederick, Maryland (March 2009)



    WWW www.TheGreatStory.org