Synthetic intelligence. These two phrases evoke a way of robotic futures and apocalyptic hellscapes the place technocratic forces composed of companies and governments management our lives and deaths. This evocation was really the function, not a bug, of the choice by John McCarthy to make the most of a sensationalistic umbrella time period to cowl a gaggle of varied associated however distinct applied sciences on the Dartmouth Conference of 1956. The time period caught, even because the technological advances it pointed to have developed at totally different charges.
We as a society are already swimming in algorithms. At this time, at any time when we’re prompted to do one thing on an digital machine, it’s most of the time a immediate that originated from machine studying relatively than the precise intentions of one other human being. This has led to the idea—or at the very least, the observe—that algorithms assist folks to have higher experiences, corresponding to on social media or when utilizing their banking companies.
Ewa Luger explains that whereas it’s arduous to agree on any strong definition of AI, “once we use the time period, we’re describing the capability of a computational system, be {that a} digital pc or a robotic, to carry out the actual duties one may generally count on of a human or different clever being.” It’s its “intelligence” that’s each a promise and peril for society, and maybe particularly for the church.
See our entire series of articles offering considerate engagement of AI.
Already, AI impacts our world at massive, in addition to small segments inside that world, such because the native church. This impression can be at the very least as nice because the web and e mail have been. In order we take into account AI in mild of ministry, its current and future, I counsel three conversations pastors ought to haven’t solely with stakeholders of your ministry staff but in addition their congregations at massive. Pastors, I consider this may enable you to transfer folks away from McCarthy’s sensationalism to a extra considerate strategy—and forestall you from any pointless surprises. I consider it can additionally assist easy the anxiety that Gloo/Barna find occurs among believers.
1. Ought to we use AI—and if that’s the case, how?
In 2023, ChatGPT—underneath the guise of a middle-aged man on a monitor—led a forty-minute worship service in Fürth, Germany, as a part of the biannual Deutscher Evangelischer Kirchentag. The AI pastor and his preaching was conceived by Jonas Simmerlein from the College of Vienna. By all accounts, it was unexpectedly not weird. This will likely appear a bridge too far for something aside from an experiment—at the very least, primarily based on at the moment’s expertise. Tomorrow is one other matter.
There’s already a temptation amongst pastors to “borrow” sermons from different pastors (plagiarism) or to achieve for sensational but inaccurate illustrations (misinformation). These temptations are hardly new, however they’re arguably stronger at the moment in our world of simple info entry. They’re additional exacerbated by the rising expectation that pastors are specialists in a dozen areas together with rhetoric and oratory. AI will enhance these temptations by making “new” sermon content material out there to pastors in minutes as a substitute of hours.
When discussions of future tech come up, somebody typically quotes the well-known line from Jurassic Park, delivered completely by Jeff Goldblum: Simply because people can create one thing doesn’t imply they need to. That is merely an echo of the that means of the story of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11. A better studying of the primary chapters in Genesis tells us our Creator understood people can and would create—the power to make expertise is a part of our divine design. Merely put, Babel is about our humanity, not our expertise, whilst Cain and Abel’s sacrifice was about their faithfulness, not their sort of providing.
All of this raises questions on how, when, the place, and why pastors ought to use AI of their ministries, in addition to our personal sense of what it means for a pastor to work underneath the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
2. What are the probabilities (and perils) of AI at the moment?
One worth of AI at the moment is that customers can make use of AI to hurry up rudimentary duties and save time. If you’re a solo or bivocational pastor, there’s a proliferation of shortcuts already right here (and extra on the horizon) that may primarily give you a digital assistant—higher referred to as a copilot. An incredible place to study most of these slim AI makes use of is in your favourite ministry blogs and X. Gloo and Barna suggests various ways for church buildings to make use of AI at the moment, which might embody creating focused outreach ministries, providing digital help, occasion planning, and resourcing discipleship teams.
Utilizing two present examples, we are able to start exploring the possibilities and perils of AI.
1. Midjourney
AI has already remodeled one space of my ministry: the creation of paintings for presentation slides.
First visuals started with overhead projectors. Then got here presentation software program with full-color slides. Including visuals to a sermon or educating time was invaluable. After I was a pastor, although, it felt like most of my sermon prep time was spent scouring the web for simply the correct image to make my level. I by no means regretted it, as an image is price a thousand phrases.
That absolutely modified for me in 2023 once I found Midjourney, one of many new generative AIs. Now, at any time when I have to put collectively a presentation (which is on a regular basis), I inform Midjourney what I’m imagining and it “creates” it for me in a couple of minutes.
Though Midjourney sounds great, it has not come with out vital criticism. Since Midjourney can’t suppose—like a human, at the very least for now and maybe by no means—what it does isn’t “create.” As a substitute, utilizing deep studying, Midjourney mimics (or some would say, “steals”) the artwork of different human artists to assemble a picture primarily based on my prompts. Is that this the identical as asking ChatGPT to write us a paper for school? (I don’t suppose so.) Is that this the identical as asking ChatGPT to put in writing our sermons? (Once more, I don’t suppose so.)
However even when Midjourney can “create” artwork, and ChatGPT can “create” a sermon, ought to we use them to take action?
One of many issues is GIGO (Rubbish In, Rubbish Out). Within the early days of computer systems, this meant that if one put within the mistaken quantity in an equation, or made an error in code, the ultimate product could be nonsense. To ensure that at the moment’s deep studying to happen, knowledge scientists should prepare AIs on massive quantities of information—a proportion of which is “rubbish.” If I ask Midjourney to create a picture, having some “rubbish” within the design doubtless gained’t matter (and a picture that includes a six-fingered particular person will be humorous, additionally). Having some rubbish in my sermon arguments and functions, although, is an entire ‘nother matter.
2. Perplexity
All the things you will have simply learn was written by me, Douglas, a “actual” human being. At this level in 2025, although, readers can’t at all times guess whether or not it was me who wrote this. If I had requested AI to create this essay, it could have taken a couple of minutes for what’s taking me a number of hours to put in writing and a few days to edit and polish. I’d wish to consider my model is best—that it was a labor of affection. At this time? Sure. Tomorrow? Effectively, that is still to be seen.
As a substitute of asking AI to put in writing this weblog for me, I did ask Perplexity AI this query: “What are the three most vital issues a pastor must learn about synthetic intelligence?” Perplexity answered:
- AI can considerably pace up administrative duties to provide pastors extra time for interpersonal ministry and private examine time.
- AI may help pastors bridge cross-cultural divides that can broaden their ministry’s outreach.
- AI can analysis subjects and themes in biblical literature and supply concepts in addition to lay out sermons.
Whereas these three are undoubtedly true, and you may strive it your self at Perplexity.ai, the issue with this record is that Perplexity merely mashed up (although helpfully cited) 5 different blogs of various high quality written to reply this query. On this state of affairs, AI sped up my time however solely by a barely higher margin than an ordinary search engine search would have. It actually didn’t present me with any new info, thus falling into a kind of GIGO lure. That is the AI of at the moment—however not the AI of tomorrow.
3. What are the probabilities (and perils) of AI tomorrow?
Whilst AI has a number of accessible and highly effective makes use of for pastors at the moment, the sphere of AI is evolving extremely quick. If we take into consideration the technological shocks to society for the reason that Sixties, shocks which are presumably accelerating, we should always brace now for the impression of the following few years.
I can’t decelerate expertise proliferation for you, however I can counsel three forms of conversations to have along with your congregation that I consider will enable you to navigate the expansion of AI within the years to return.
1. Transparency
Many individuals are nonetheless hesitant about AI, for good and unhealthy causes. Many church attendees do not want their church to use AI. That is unlucky. It looks like the same cultural response to using e mail or web sites.
To no matter diploma you employ AI in your pastoral ministry, I consider it healthiest to be open and clear about your utilization. Higher mentioned, make a degree to convey it up along with your folks (who’re delicate to the state of affairs). Not solely does this assist to stop any surprises (or false accusations), it additionally helps your folks to see the worth in AI in no matter manner you selected to interact this tech. Over time, this could assist to lower any fears that these in your congregation might have—and likewise encourage them to speak with you overtly once they battle with expertise.
2. Boundaries
Share proactively your loved ones’s tech boundaries with different folks in your ministry.
For pastors, it is not uncommon to share boundaries of morality, time, and household, for instance. That is high-quality, however within the twenty-first century, expertise has develop into a good portion of our lives; and much more for our children (a lot of whom have already used AI, even in the event you haven’t). For instance, I might more likely let my tweens use Midjourney than TikTok.
Whenever you discuss boundaries, transcend the all-too-common instance of the smartphone. In spite of everything, “boundaries” is an on a regular basis solution to discuss theological ethics.
3. Instructing
In lots of church buildings, the one time expertise comes up within the pulpit is as a damaging illustration, corresponding to highlighting the hazards of smartphones. In distinction, take into account devoting an grownup elective or one sermon at the very least each two years to expertise.
When you do take into account this, don’t make it a caricature and spend the entire time critiquing smartphones. As a substitute, take into account how expertise “peacefully coexists” with people all through the Bible.
Instructing on AI gained’t be simple, because of stereotypes and lack of apparent references within the Bible, however it’s just like particular subjects corresponding to wholesome residing, happiness/success, and safety of harmless life that are typically talked about within the Bible obliquely greater than immediately. That is additionally an opportunity to assist your folks start to suppose biblically about how Christians ought to relate to quickly forthcoming expertise (particularly humanoid robots).
Conclusion
As AI continues to evolve, its function in ministry will solely develop extra advanced. Pastors and church leaders should have interaction in considerate conversations about how one can use AI ethically and successfully. By prioritizing transparency, setting clear boundaries, and actively educating on the intersection of religion and expertise, the church can navigate this new frontier with wisdom and integrity.
Beneficial assets on AI and ministry from Estes
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