The Church Has To Engage With Artificial Intelligence (AI)

The world is changing forever, and Christians need to be prepared for what's coming.

Artificial Intelligence will transform our lives in countless ways. For many of us—whether we realize it or not—it already has.

Most of us know the ubiquitous ChatGPT 4, the chatbot that exploded onto the scene faster than any other social media platform or app. We’re familiar with Siri, Alexa, and the possibility of self-driving cars, and we’ve probably seen countless conversations about AI in the news.

But as the Church, I’m concerned we’re missing the forest for the trees.

Here’s the problem.

I fear that, generally, we’re choosing collectively to see AI as a novelty and not an agent for utterly changing how we live, work, and minister in the world. There are important questions to answer that go far beyond “can ChatGPT write my sermon illustration for me?” Consider some of the following issues:

• How does AI affect church leadership?

• What does AI mean for pastoral care?

• What are the theological and philosophical implications of AI?

• What are the future economic and societal effects of AI? What does this mean for ministry?

• What are the ethics of AI in church?

• How can AI support day-to-day tasks?

• What are the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of AI for the Church at large?

• How does the Church respond to issues such as superintelligence and transhumanism?

• What does AI mean for Christian education?

These critical questions warrant thoughtful reflection, but there is so little for the believing community.

For that reason, I feel compelled to launch this Substack page, where we’ll explore Artificial Intelligence and its effects on the Church at multiple levels.

But who am I? And why should you trust me?

A little about me.

Honestly, I’m just figuring this stuff out like the rest of us. I’m definitely not an AI engineer. But here’s my background:

I have been in full-time ministry for the best part of 15 years and currently serve as pastor of a church in Red Deer, Alberta. I have undergraduate degrees in Leadership and Management and Biblical Studies and recently completed a Master of Divinity (MDiv), where I am undertook a fairly significant research project exploring the intersection of church leadership and artificial intelligence.

After an extensive study on artificial intelligence, I’m passionate about sharing what I’ve learnt with other believers.

Let’s figure this out together.

Subscribers will receive regular posts discussing an area or issue in which AI warrants consideration and an opportunity to engage with a community of like-minded individuals who are passionate about the future of the Church, as well as the proclamation of the unchanging Good News of Jesus Christ in a rapidly-changing world.

Would you join me on this exciting, astonishing, and occasionally terrifying journey as we explore the potential and challenges of this strange new world of AI together?