Faith and Software

December 10, 2007 == MEDIA ADVISORY

Summary: A Calvin computer science professor has created a professional
journal that focuses on the link between Christian faith and software
development.

Full story see http://www.calvin.edu/news/releases/2007-08/dynamic-link.html

A Calvin computer science professor has created a professional journal that
focuses on the link between Christian faith and software development.

Dynamic Link: Christian Perspectives on Software Development is written by
professional software developers who strive to glorify God through their work.

“Rather than approach it from the purely academic sense, I decided to
approach professional software developers who are also professed Christians and
ask them if they see the link,” said Patrick Bailey, the Calvin CS professor
and creator of Dynamic Link.

The new journal contains articles exploring an entire universe of faith issues
in the field of software development, including an article by Dorothy Graham, a
1966 Calvin graduate and software tester living in the United Kingdom, about
her company’s “ethos,” a thoroughly articulated Christian code of conduct
for the workplace.

Remington Steed’s entry—wherein the 2006 Calvin grad shares about his
experiences creating better software for the Wycliffe Bible Translators—is
also an exhortation to software developers to pursue God’s distinctive
calling for their lives: “Whatever the case, expect the call to require
obedience, sacrifice and trust,” he writes. And Jared Staal, a 2006 grad,
writes about faith and the work environment.

Bailey’s contribution to Dynamic Link—besides editing the journal—was an
article summarizing the results of his survey of 80 Christian software
developers about how their faith influenced their work. It was that survey, in
fact, that led to the creation of Dynamic Link, which included funding from
Vocation Venture Fund of Calvin College, part of the Lilly Endowment Program.

Bailey sees a common theme in the new journal’s offerings: “They’re
saying, ‘Let’s not do it for ourselves. Let’s do it for the glory of
God!” That means looking out for other people, Bailey emphasized. “You’re
there for the team. There are a lot of pressures on software developers. There
are a lot of things happening for money reasons. And doing the right thing is
another way of loving your neighbor.”

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Received on Mon Dec 10 12:55:27 2007