Why We Need Adaptable Churches in an AI Era
A call to be technological semi-Luddites
Welcome to the third installment of our series on the Seven Guidelines for Church Leaders in an Increasingly AI-Driven World. Our previous discussions emphasized the importance of prioritizing relationships, community, and pastoral care (Guideline 1) and the need to foster congregational resilience (Guideline 2). These foundations set the stage for today's focus: Guideline 3, Building Adaptability into Church Structures.
Guideline #3: Build Adaptability Into Church Structures
Imagine millions of ordinary people plagued by a fear that technology is accelerating out of control. They worry that machines are coming to take away their jobs, erode their status, threaten their futures, and upend the order of their lives. Inequality is rampant, and power is wielded by those commanding wealth and new technologies. Every sign points to immense social and economic upheaval on the horizon. This could be today. It could also be two hundred years ago, in the early days of the Industrial Revolution, when the story of the rebellion against the use of those machines—and against the first tech titans—began.1
These are the poignant introductory words of Brian Merchant’s new book, Blood in the Machine: The Origins of the Rebellion Against Big Tech. Full disclosure: I am only a few chapters in so far, but it’s already a fascinating and thought-provoking exploration of the Luddite uprising and the sorts of fears around industry-shaping technologies that parallel our cultural moment.
The Luddites were a group of English textile workers who, in the early 19th century, violently protested against the change in their industry and the technological disruption that was wreaking havoc on the workforce.
It’s understandable, really. The Industrial Revolution changed just about everything.
The parallels are evident, but artificial intelligence might bring even more significant change.
Believers, here’s the question: is this the time to rebel like Luddites or adapt accordingly?
My answer? Yes.
As I’ve poured through thousands upon thousands of pages of research and tried to keep up with the latest news regarding AI—which, by the way, is like trying to swim up a waterfall—I’m increasingly convinced of the need to both resist and embrace the coming technological revolution to varying degrees.
Earlier this year, I proposed seven guiding imperatives for church leaders in an increasingly AI-driven world. Look closely, and you’ll see a call to adaptation sandwiched between some decidedly Luddite principles:
Build adaptability into church structures.
Embrace positive technological developements.
Stay informed in a rapidly changing environment.
Proactively pray for God-given wisdom.
Keep an undistracted focus on the mission of the church.
Guidelines 1-2 and 6-7 call believers to rage against the dangers of the machine and stand firm in immutable, God-honouring biblical principles. They are an appeal to resist the issues inherent in increasingly digitized pseudo-relationships and avoid letting a stodgy stew of AI-encouraged moral relativism overpower objective truth. A call to build on the rock, not the shifting sands of cultural, societal, and technological change (Matt. 7:24-27).
However, with those guidelines firmly established, guidelines 3-5 encourage embracing helpful, purposeful, and sometimes inevitable change when beneficial to the Gospel.
We must resist throwing out the baby with the digital bathwater.
This is a call to be technological semi-Luddites.
With that in mind, let’s discuss the need for building adaptability into our church structures to ensure congregations remain dynamic and responsive to the changes brought about by artificial intelligence.
Understanding the Need for Adaptability
One of the common misconceptions in this conversation is the assumption that AI-adaptability has one meaning: “incorporating AI into ministry life.”
This is a small part of it. But we need to think more broadly than this.
As the Church, we must adapt to our time's changing cultural contexts to minister effectively. Our message does not change, but our practice might. More on this later.
If this is the case, it therefore makes sense to understand how these contexts might change in the future. For the purposes of this article, we only have time for a snapshot.
How might a coming AI-filled world look?
As shared in a previous essay, some studies suggest that in the near future, 40% of all working hours could be augmented or supported by large language models like ChatGPT.2 Eventually, AI-enhanced technology (in manufacturing processes, self-driving cars, drones, etc.) might be able to “take over routine tasks and liberate us to do more stimulating or challenging jobs.” 3
If artificial intelligence achieves superintelligence, it will considerably surpass the capabilities of humans in all areas. Nick Bostrom, Oxford professor and founding Director of the Future of Humanity Institute, predicts that the technological achievements that follow superintelligence could make the human species “rich beyond the dreams of Avarice.”4 Others project that almost half of jobs are at risk of being replaced by AI in some nations, causing the gap between rich and poor to increase and causing vastly more social problems and civil unrest in the process.5
Artificial intelligence may be both a help and a hindrance to education: on the one hand, it can provide specialized tutors at negligible cost. On the other hand, as outlined in a previous article entitled “How Should the Church Navigate Increasingly AI-Driven Social Media,” the dangerously disruptive force of the social medium may be exacerbated by AI technology and, thus, be more distracting than ever.
Consider how AI-driven warfare, healthcare, and entertainment might also change the lay of the land. Space precludes us from delving deeper.
In the church setting, AI could transform worship services. For example, the combination of AR and AI may mean that our sanctuaries look fundamentally different; sermons may be translated into multiple languages in real-time (the technology is close), and Bible translation into every tongue may be achievable during this generation.6
As AI technologies proliferate, they will inevitably change communication, community engagement, and possibly even spiritual practices, although this is shaky ground that warrants significant conversation.
Churches cannot remain static in this evolving landscape; they must be agile and adaptable to minister effectively to their communities.
But how can we do this?
Regularly assess the effectiveness of your church’s practices
We Protestants are quick to challenge the traditionalism of the Catholic church but often hypocritically embrace watered-down or low-key versions of it in our own settings. It is tempting to make golden calves or sacred cows out of perfectly fine but non-essential elements of ministry. We ridicule those in those old days in the wilderness (Exodus 32) and yet do it ourselves all the time. If you don’t believe me, consider just a few of many questions:
Why is it so often an expectation that “good” churches serve coffee at a worship gathering?
Why is it standard practice (in Evangelical circles, at least) for a sermon to be between twenty and forty minutes?
Why is “contemporary worship” music a genre that the musically inclined could recognize without hearing a single word sung?
Why do we pass around offering baskets in an almost totally cashless society?
Why do we refer to people as “Pastor [name]” but not “Elder [name],” “Teacher [name]” (or pastor-teacher, depending on your preference), or “Evangelist [name]”?
Why do churches talk about being “free,” yet follow the same loose liturgies each week?
Trust me, I could go on!
While these issues are not inherently wrong, they gain a distinctly golden sheen and bovine silhouette when we make them immutable expectations.
Perhaps we don’t even realize we’re doing it.
Here’s why this matters: to respond to our changing world in a healthy way, we must start by recognizing the preference in our praxis.
Adaptability begins with a regular assessment of church processes and structures. It is wise for church leaders to continuously evaluate how ministries are conducted, how services are delivered, and how community engagement is facilitated. This evaluation should consider the changing cultural context, be prepared to assess the potential impact of AI technologies and seek healthy ways to integrate them beneficially.
Here are some potentially helpful diagnostic questions:
Is this ministry area or expression of church life a biblical imperative? (E.g. Communion: Absolutely. Coffee before the service: not so much. It’s just nice.)
Are we stuck in our ways or genuinely open to God-honouring change for the sake of the Gospel (1 Cor. 9:19-23)? Or, to put it another way, am I guilty of using the phrase “that’s just how we do it here” without actually considering if there’s a biblical foundation or a potentially better way?
Does our staffing structure best serve our congregation and surrounding community? If not, are we willing to make difficult calls to change it?
Are there unhelpful sacred cows in our thinking or practice?
Where are the fresh Gospel opportunities in this changing world, and are we well-equipped to respond to them?
Considerations for churches in a world of AI
Let’s start to pull these various threads together.
Irrespective of your position on AI inside the church, you cannot escape the fact that AI will dramatically affect the world outside of it.
To adapt to the changing needs of society, it is helpful to build a culture of adaptability into church structures.
In other words, leaders can begin to prepare ministries for the cultural, technological, and societal impact of AI now so that as culture is impacted, churches can respond accordingly. In other words, the church can appropriately contextualize its message to the community in which it is situated.
Before you spit out your coffee, allow me to let the late Timothy Keller explain (taken from Center Church):
Contextualization is not — as is often argued — “giving people what they want to hear.” Rather, it is giving people the Bible’s answers, which they may not at all want to hear, to questions about life that people in their particular time and place are asking, in language and forms they can comprehend, and through appeals and arguments with force they can feel, even if they reject them (Emphasis added).7
Contextualization is a precisely appropriate response to a changing world for the sake of the Gospel.
A preemptive rather than reactive church is better prepared to be effective in its mission.
Tear down those sacred cows if you need to.
Soften those Luddite hearts if you have to.
Inside the church, it is possible that artificial intelligence could be both a blessing and a curse. This is the crux of guideline number four. Let’s explore it just a little:
By adopting AI tools for scheduling, resource management, and even financial tracking, churches may be able to divert administrative costs toward pastoral care. In a world facing a radical relational deficit, adapting to elevate meaningful connections may be extremely wise.
Are we laying the groundwork for these positive changes in our churches?
On the other hand—mark my words—it is only a matter of time before a megachurch pastor of some form creates an artificial version of themselves to “pastor” their burgeoning flock.
The very thought makes me shudder.
As artificial intelligence drastically improves education, could traditional seminary education be rendered obsolete? The depressing reality of cost-prohibitive barriers to ministry in some circles could be greatly reduced or even eliminated altogether, opening the floodgates for genuinely “called” but financially struggling ministers of the Gospel to enter the pastorate. It’s possible that biblical literacy across the board could increase, and church leaders can give more attention to character rather than competency.
Are we laying the groundwork for these positive changes in our churches?
Of course, the opposite could be true, as the “so-called” could potentially depend on AI to write their papers for them, study for them, and give them all the appearance of competency without any of the character.
A new frontier of evangelism may open. Gospel opportunities may skyrocket as we encourage a culture of adaptive innovation, creative thinking, experimentation, and a willingness to try new approaches and explore the opportunities that arise from AI. By positioning the church to respond effectively to the changing societal landscape, we may see great fruit for God’s kingdom.
I’m particularly excited to see what this means for cross-cultural ministry and biblical translation.
Are we laying the groundwork for these positive changes in our churches?
Once again, there are challenges here. There are obvious risks in allowing a machine to translate the inspired Word of God. If it is biased or faulty, the consequences could be disastrous.
A critical aspect of adaptability is ensuring that church staff and volunteers are trained and equipped at least to understand, if not handle new technologies and methodologies. Regular training sessions, workshops, and resources on AI and digital tools will empower them to serve effectively in a rapidly changing environment. I’m in the early stages of putting a seminar or course of sorts together for just that purpose.
If that might interest you or your church, do let me know, as it is a great encouragement to keep pushing forward with it!
Finally, preparing the congregation for change is vital in building adaptability. Church leaders should communicate the benefits and challenges of integrating the positive aspects of AI into church life (Guideline 4), set realistic expectations, and foster an open-minded culture among the congregation. However, this can only come if there is an appropriately Luddite congregational resilience (Guideline 2) toward the more dangerous aspects of artificial intelligence.
Practical steps for becoming adaptable churches
There’s a lot here. If you’re still reading, thank you. In light of the above, here are some practical steps for becoming churches that can adapt to the coming changes that artificial intelligence will bring about:
Look for any unhealthy sacred cows in your church practices, and help the church recognize them for what they are. By doing this, you are preparing the church to focus on what matters and to release redundant practices should the need arise.
Foster a healthy sentiment toward change while remaining clear on what is unchangeable. John Kotter’s classic 8 Steps for Leading Change is invaluable here. Now is a perfect time to create a sense of urgency (step 1) and surround yourself with a guiding coalition to help instigate future change (step 2). Lay the foundations now. Be preemptive, not reactive. Take some time to assess the unchangeable focuses of the church (i.e. preaching the Gospel, meaningful connection, etc.)
Encourage the church (especially leaders) to be well-informed regarding culture and artificial intelligence. Keeping our heads in the sand and hiding from these encroaching changes is tempting. However, doing so is unhelpful as it potentially lessens our effectiveness for the Gospel and minimizes our opportunity to meet our communities’ needs proactively. Whether through seminars, videos, or even newsletters like this, encourage the church to engage with culture, not to shy away from it.
If necessary, be prepared to restructure the church now. If Noah ignored the Lord and started building the Ark when it began to rain, he would have been in trouble. The same applies to the wise man who built his house on the rock. Perhaps fundamental structural changes must be made to weather the coming AI storm and resulting cultural shifts. Now is the time to do it. For example, can you provide the pastoral care you will inevitably need? Do you have the teams and processes in place to foster congregational resilience? Can someone directly support your congregation as these cultural changes take hold, or use the opportunities they provide? There are so many questions here, and most of them are specific to your setting.
These questions are little more than a starting point. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this below.
Conclusion - Navigating the challenges of change
Change is often met with resistance, and transitioning to new ways of operating can be challenging. Church leaders must navigate these challenges with sensitivity and wisdom, providing clear communication, support, and guidance.
Be a technological semi-Luddite who prepares your church family for the inexorable changes that are on the way.
Building adaptability into church structures is critical for church leaders in the AI era. It’s not just about keeping pace with technology; it’s about faithfully stewarding the call of the Great Commission in an ever-changing world. By staying informed, being open to change, and equipping congregations to navigate the challenges of this new landscape, church leaders can play their small part in ensuring their ministries remain effective and impactful in an ever-evolving world while all the while remembering that God is ultimately the one who brings the growth.
Brian Merchant, Blood in the Machine (New York: Little, Brown and Company), 2023), 22.
Paul Daugherty, “A.I. Will Potentially Impact 40% of Your Working Hours, According to Accenture,” Fortune, last modified 2023, accessed July 21, 2023, https://fortune.com/2023/05/11/ai-impact-work-hours-accenture-careers-tech-paul-daugherty/;
Kai-Fu Lee and Chen Qiufan, AI 2041 (New York: Currency, 2021), Kindle loc. 132 of 7291;
Nick Bostrom, Superintelligence (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2014), Kindle loc. 1528 of 9985; Kai-Fu Lee and Chen Qiufan, AI 2041 (New York: Currency, 2021), Kindle loc. 132 of 7291;
Carl Benedikt Frey and Michael A. Osborne, “The Future of Employment: How Susceptible Are Jobs to Computerisation?,” Technological Forecasting and Social Change 114 (2017): 254–280; John C., 2084: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Reflective, 2020), 13.
Matthew Hutson, “Artificial Intelligence Goes Bilingual—without a Dictionary,” last modified 2017, accessed July 26, 2023, https://www.science.org/content/article/artificial-intelligence-goes-bilingual-without-dictionary;
This article cites two breakthrough papers that showed the viability for neural networks to recognize "word clusters" and thus decode new languages.
Timothy Keller, Center Church (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2012), Kindle loc. 2249 of 12795.