Holy Innovation

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a revolutionary technology, impacting diverse sectors of society. Within the realm of religion, specifically Christianity, leaders are presented with both opportunities and challenges as they navigate the potential integration of AI into their pastoral roles.

Eight areas where AI may help with the execution of ministry:

1. Data Analysis and Insights: AI can assist church leaders in analysing data related to congregation demographics, attendance patterns, and engagement levels. This information can guide decision-making processes regarding outreach programs, event planning, and resource allocation.

2. Pastoral Care and Support: AI-powered chatbots or virtual assistants could offer 24/7 support to congregation members seeking spiritual guidance, prayer, or general assistance. These tools could provide resources, offer comforting words, and help manage the logistics of coordinating pastoral care.

3. Sermon Preparation: AI could aid pastors and preachers in researching and crafting sermons by suggesting relevant Bible verses, historical context, and theological insights. It could save time by summarizing relevant content from various sources.

4. Language Translation: In churches with diverse congregations, AI-driven translation tools could assist in breaking down language barriers during services and events, ensuring that everyone can understand and participate.

5. Content Creation: AI could help create written content for church publications, websites, and social media platforms, making it easier to keep the congregation informed about events, news, and teachings.

6. Resource Management: AI can assist in managing church resources such as budgets, facilities, and volunteers. It could optimize schedules for various events, allocate resources efficiently, and predict maintenance needs.

7. Personalized Spiritual Growth: AI-powered apps or platforms could provide personalized recommendations for spiritual growth resources, books, podcasts, or study plans based on an individual's interests and needs.

8. Virtual Worship Experiences: During times when physical gatherings are limited, AI could play a role in creating immersive virtual worship experiences, including interactive elements and dynamic visual content.

It's important to note that while AI has the potential to enhance various aspects of church leadership, there are ethical considerations and potential challenges to address. Privacy concerns, the need for genuine human connection, and maintaining the integrity of spiritual teachings are just a few factors to consider when integrating AI into church leadership practices.

As technology continues to evolve, church leaders may explore innovative ways to incorporate AI in alignment with their values and mission, ensuring that it complements rather than replaces the essential human elements of pastoral care, community building, and spiritual guidance.

Ok, I'm going to come clean. All of the above was written by Chat GPT. This is me writing now, 'hey, I hope you're well.' Some of you who know me well may have already been on to me as it doesn't quite sound like me. I simply went on to open AI and asked it, 'in what areas might AI help with the execution of Christian ministry in the future?' And Bob's your uncle, in a matter of seconds, all of the above is what appeared and more, I simply cherry picked. What could have taken a hour or two in research was reduced to a 30 second activity. The AC legend Phelim Doherty, when he found what I'd be writing on for this newsletter offered me a dissertation he wrote on AI back in 1987. I was surprised that this was necessary considering he trained as a veterinarian until I discovered that in his world AI stood for Artificial Insemination. You'll be pleased to know that I will not be writing about that kind of AI but rather the AI that seems to be provoking conversation in every sector of society right now and that is the matter of artificial intelligence. I want to be upfront at this point, this will not be a Biblical perspective on AI, neither will it be an academic exercise of exploring the ethical challenges of AI, neither will it be a devotional 'pick me up,' it will simply be me sharing my experience of using AI in ministry to provoke some thinking and hopefully some conversation.

The topical question of our time is, 'Does AI present a problem or an opportunity to society?'

Ultimately, that question is too big for my brain to process and I don't understand what the full potential of AI is and how it could affect how we live, work, relate, exist etc. So the question I want to deal with more specifically is 'Does AI in the form of ChatGPT present a problem or an opportunity to ministry leadership?'

I'm sure everybody lands differently on this, but as a church locally we have enlisted the help of ChatGPT in three different ways: risk assessments for church events, questions for Small Group sessions, and social media content creation for church promotion. Some of you may think we have lost the plot but before you judge too quickly or too harshly, hear me out….

AI essentially scours the internet for information relating to your search/questions and presents its findings in a way like a person would if they had done the same task. The difference is, a person would take a day, AI takes 10 seconds…literally. Granted it may not present the information in the way you would if you did it yourself but without doubt it is able to do some of the heavy lifting. We have found generally that the AI's offering helps speeds up tasks considerably and that approximately 70% of what it finds is genuinely helpful. Previously cynical about AI, I could see how it might aid the pragmatic and non-people facing aspects of ministry, however, last week for the first time I tried to enlist its ability to aid my preach preparation.

Here are five things I learned:

1. Obvious but still worth stating - nothing replaces the need to meditate on the Bible text before doing preparation.

2. AI's offering should only serve as another source, like reading a chapter in a book on the subject matter you are preaching about rather than a 'hail Mary' preach.

3. Resist requesting, ‘write me a sermon on……….’ and instead use it for specific aspects of the message. Illustrations, jokes, sermon titles etc. For example, my message last Sunday was called ‘Mega Church Exposed’ and the passage I was using was Acts 4:29-37. My objective was to expose what makes church Mega in God’s eyes. So, I asked Chat GPT a series of questions, 'How do you define a mega church?' 'What are the benefits of being a mega church?' 'What are the pitfalls of being a mega church?' *See the bottom of the document for what chatGPT came up with for the last question as an example. You might ask, surely you could just type these questions into a google search bar and you will get some results, which is true, but you would have to compile and consolidate all the information you have found and seen as though this is only an aside to my message, spending less time on this is better. Granted, I may not use it all, but it will serve to get the ball rolling of a thought process which is helpful to the end goal.

4. It is best considered a research assistant rather than a sermon servant. The difference? I don't want it to write my sermon for me, instead I want it to offer me helpful insights that can aid my preparation. I know of preachers/pastors who due to the demands on their time have employed research assistants to help them with research and preparation for messages and talks they must give. I can see ChatGPT being mine.

5. My favourite aspect to using ChatGPT for preparation last week was the ability to get it to ask me questions about the topic I was speaking on. This really helped my thought process as it got me thinking more broadly about the subject matter.

Now I assume you’re thinking, 'Dom! Part of the beauty of preaching a sermon is the part of the process that nobody sees. The graft of study that uncovers the treasure that inspires the message you write.' It's a fair challenge, however, as I write this, I have a vast list of things I need to prepare. It's 1pm on a Tuesday and in two hours I'm speaking at a funeral, tomorrow morning I’ll be filming some social media posts, on Thursday night I’ll be sharing a brief message to inspire some of our key volunteers, Saturday night I'm preaching the opening message of our church Summer Camp on the theme of consecration and on Sunday morning I'm preaching a message at our all in Summer Sunday celebration on the value of discomfort. As well as all this, I need to write this article, lead a Zoom meeting this evening with leaders from another AC church I give cover to who are facing some ministry challenges currently, moreover I must do the usual day to day ministry tasks of pastoring a local church, raise 3 boys and be a good husband. Make no mistake, the last two items on my to do list are the MOST important. Therefore, anything that helps with the rest of the list is a welcome addition to my life.

However, I want to draw a distinction between the message and the messenger. As a messenger, my personal life with God fuels the fire of my public life with God. In other words, personal prayer, worship and Bible study and meditation cannot be outsourced as they are integral to uncovering the treasure I need to flourish personally as a Jesus follower. Without doubt, these things also prepare me as a messenger to preach the messages necessary to ‘equip the saints’ and build the church. One component is about building the preacher, the other is about building the preach. AI can help with the latter.

All things said, by its own admission, AI is artificial. As Christians not only are we called to not be artificial, but we are called to be beyond natural; we are supernatural in fact. Preparation for preaching, along with all other aspects of ministry, is primarily a supernatural business. Yes, it affects the physical matter around us, but we are led, inspired, and influenced in a supernatural way by the Holy Spirit. If you like, spiritual/supernatural intelligence is what we should be pursuing. This is where the power, impact, breakthrough and life is.

In my opinion, AI should be considered in the same league as money. It is neither good nor bad in and of itself. It is not money that is evil, it is the love of money that is evil (1 Tim 6:10). Something that is neutral becomes evil when held in the wrong way. It can be used to build, and it can be used to destroy. The factor that determines its redemptive qualities is the hands that are using it. And I say 'using it' intentionally. Like money, I believe AI can be used as a tool that helps build the church. AI can be a brilliant servant but a terrible master.

You will struggle to find a bible verse that clearly states, 'thou must not use AI under any circumstances', neither will you find one that says, 'Apostles, Prophets, Teachers, Pastors, Evangelists and AI are given to equip the saints for works of service.' As Christians we love clarity and knowing whether something is 'right' or 'wrong'. However, in Romans 14, the Apostle Paul goes to great lengths to talk about 'disputable matters.' Specifically matters that appear to be up for grabs. There is not always a rule to follow but rather a personal conviction or conscience to be respected. Maybe for you the thought of using AI to aid your ministry may fill you with concern, in which case, don't. However, if you are interested in harnessing it for the benefit of your ministry, I would encourage you to create some user rules for yourself so that you ensure it serves you rather than leads you.

As I said, this is not a Bible unpacking on AI or an academic thesis of its benefits vs risks but rather it's a rambling of thoughts based on my own experience of using it to serve my ministry. I offer you these thoughts in the hope that they will provoke you to reflect on your own stance on such a technological development and whether it can aid what God has called you to do.

Hope you enjoy the rest of your Summer if that's what we can call this season.

Many blessings,

Dom :-)

P.S After concluding this article, I wasn't sure what title to give it, surprise surprise I asked ChatGPT to come up with a name that summarised my content. Holy Innovation: Exploring AI's transformative effects on local church ministry.'

**** The extract below is Chat GPT's response to my question, 'What are the pitfalls of being a mega church?'

While mega churches have the potential to do a lot of good, they can also face several pitfalls and challenges due to their large size and influence. Here are some common pitfalls associated with mega churches:

1. Spiritual Superficiality: With a large congregation, it can be challenging to provide personalized spiritual guidance and discipleship. As a result, some members might experience a lack of deep spiritual growth and connection.

2. Focus on Numbers: Mega churches can become preoccupied with metrics such as attendance, donations, and social media followers. This emphasis on numbers might shift the focus away from genuine spiritual transformation.

3. Dependency on a Charismatic Leader: Many mega churches are associated with charismatic leaders who are often the face of the church. If these leaders face moral failures or step down, the congregation may struggle to maintain unity and direction.

4. Financial Transparency: Due to their substantial budgets and resources, mega churches might face increased scrutiny about how funds are managed and spent. Lack of transparency can lead to trust issues within the congregation.

5. Limited Community Engagement: Despite their size, mega churches can sometimes struggle to create a strong sense of community and individual connection among members, leading to isolation and a lack of genuine relationships.

6. Consumerism and Shallow Faith: The seeker-friendly approach of some mega churches can inadvertently foster a consumerist attitude among attendees, where individuals come to receive services rather than actively participate in the life of the church.

7. Doctrinal Dilution: In an effort to appeal to a broader audience, mega churches might water down or avoid discussing certain controversial or challenging biblical topics, potentially compromising the depth and accuracy of their teachings.

8. Leadership Hierarchy: The hierarchical leadership structure in mega churches can create distance between the leadership team and the general congregation. This can lead to power imbalances and limited input from regular members.

9. Scandals and Public Perception: Due to their visibility, any scandals or controversies within a mega church can attract significant media attention, potentially tarnishing the reputation of both the church and Christianity as a whole.

10. Overemphasis on Prosperity Theology: Some mega churches embrace prosperity theology, which teaches that financial success is a sign of God's favour. This emphasis on material gain can distort the true message of Christianity and place undue pressure on members.

11. Competition and Isolation: The presence of multiple mega churches in a single area can lead to a competitive mindset, where churches vie for attendees. This can isolate churches from working together for the common good.

12. Burnout of Leaders: Managing a mega church requires significant time and effort from the leadership team. This can lead to burnout among leaders who might struggle to balance their personal lives with the demands of the church.

It's important to note that not all mega churches fall into these pitfalls, and many are actively working to address these challenges. Every church, regardless of size, has its own unique strengths and weaknesses, and it's essential for leaders and congregants to be aware of these potential pitfalls and actively strive for a healthy and balanced approach to ministry.