Christians in the Champaign-Urbana community brought an acclaimed forum of speakers on social justice, theology and philosophy at the Levis Faculty Center on Wednesday, bridging the divide between faith and science.

Among the speakers on the panel included Nicholas Wolterstorff, professor at Yale University, who argued justice is important. A crowd of about 300 attended, University students among them.

The event was sponsored by the Veritas Team, a team with the pursuit to provide opportunity and space for Christians to speak and explore truths from different perspectives. The team has been holding events, or forums, nationwide at different colleges and universities since 1992. This year’s forum was its first at the University.

Tim Bossenbroek, pastor at Hessel Church, volunteered to lead this process in 2009 because he strongly supported what Veritas Forum stood for. “Theologically, there shouldn’t be a divide between church and science. Faith and science shouldn’t contradict,” Bossenbroek said. “So we wanted to explore truths and knowledge. What we hope to achieve (through this forum) is that Christian faith has something to offer to the campus.”

A planning committee for the event placed posters around residence halls, advertisements in newspapers and messages sent to different departments, specifically law and political science about the event.

Dong Yung Kim, freshman in LAS, said he heard about the event at an All-Campus Worship event weeks prior and said he attended to learn about what he didn’t already know.

“I don’t call myself a Christian yet, but I’m seeking,” Kim said. “I’m hoping that through this, I can get a hint about what I don’t know about justice.”

The night consisted of a main lecture, two responses from other professors, then a final question-and-answer session. From analyzing his experiences in different countries, Wolterstorff presented his own understanding of social justice.

He added that he was most excited to go in-depth on why justice is so important.

“Anyone can talk about justice on a surface level. But I want to talk about why justice is important, on a deeper level, and what would be lost if no one ever talked about it. I want to as best as I can,” Wolterstorff said.

During the question-and-answer session, many individuals who went up to ask a question said they were thankful Wolterstorff showed how a person could study philosophy and justice and still be a Christian at the same time.

Danielle Dewitt, sophomore in LAS, believed this forum was informative and “satisfying.”

“It was really interesting and cool to hear justice in a Christian and academic perspective, using historical evidence and examples that fit with our day-to-day life,” Dewitt said. “It was confirmed that we all have worth, because we were created in God’s image, and we have a responsibility to respect and honor that worth.”