AI Trends
As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly part of our daily lives, we are naturally considering the ethical implications. Recent studies indicate that Christian leaders are cautiously optimistic about the opportunities with AI but remain vigilant about preserving human-led spiritual guidance.
According to a study by Barna, Christian leaders are wary of AI’s role in spiritual tasks such as sermon writing, prayer, and counseling. However, they are open to utilizing AI in administrative and outreach tasks.
This balanced approach highlights the importance of thoughtful integration of AI in faith-based spaces, ensuring it aligns with core values and enhances, rather than replaces, the human touch in ministry.
Here are some ways we are seeing Christian organizations utilizing AI today:
• Website and social media chatbots
• Sermon transcriptions
• Online content creation
• Language translation
Why This Matters
The introduction of AI challenges us to redefine the boundaries between technology and humanity, particularly within Christian communities. For Christian leaders, embracing AI responsibly means ensuring it complements spiritual and pastoral duties without undermining the intrinsic human connection that is vital to our faith and community interactions. It’s about leveraging innovation to serve and strengthen the mission of drawing others deeper in faith with God, without compromising the core values of compassion and human dignity.
Next Steps
1. Create an AI Council: Assign a small group within your organization to be responsible for determining which AI tools your organization will use, researching new opportunities, and being available to take questions from the team around the use of AI.
2. Develop AI Guidelines: Have the AI council create guidelines that reflect your organization’s values and mission and share it with the team.
3. Stay Informed: Keep updated on the latest research and discussions around AI’s role in faith contexts.
To delve deeper into how AI is influencing both secular and religious industries, read Barna’s full article on AI ethics here.
What ways are you considering utilizing AI within your organization?
Shauna Goodison
Director of Communications | shauna@eaglecom.ca