Develop a Discipleship System
Why Ministry Leaders Can’t Ignore AI
By Scott Hughes
Consider this: even if current AI tools never become any smarter than they are now, it would still take us years to fully grasp and thoughtfully integrate them into our daily lives and ministries. AI isn’t a distant dream; it’s already a powerful part of everyday life. Recently, my 98-year-old grandmother watched someone in her retirement community use AI-powered smart glasses to identify potential obstructions on her way to her room and read a menu to her. This technology isn't just for younger generations; it's for everyone.
Why Should the Church Care About AI?
AI is already an integral part of our daily lives, even if we are not aware of it. We encounter AI on our phones and in smart technologies in our homes. Some people are using AI tools at work, with or without authorization. Others are being asked to learn it in their jobs. This raises important questions: Is it ethical? Will AI take my job? What does my faith say about this?
As church leaders, it’s our role to provide guidance, even though the technology is advancing quickly and is challenging to understand.
Facing Concerns and Seeing Opportunities
Feeling uncertain about AI is understandable. Concerns about job security and the impact of AI in the future are valid. Ministry leaders need to talk about how AI not only poses risks for job replacement but also threatens to replace genuine human relationships with artificial interactions through sophisticated web bots. Highlighting this danger helps congregations recognize the unique value of human connection being made in the image of the Trinitarian God. Additionally, AI is a unique tool, unlike anything we’ve used before. In a previous article (Relating to a Machine: The Paradox of Using AI), I talked about how AI is different from traditional tools because it can teach us how to use it! When used wisely, AI can help us serve our communities more effectively.
Ministry leaders need to have conversations about AI with their churches now. Leaders can help congregants think about using AI through the lenses of Scripture, church teachings, and guidance from the Spirit. We should explain that AI offers powerful pattern-matching tools and note that people are uniquely created in the image of God. We should be talking about what makes humans distinct and the importance of relationships. We should talk about how AI can assist as a brainstorming partner, how it offers great promise for science and medicine, AND how it raises serious ethical concerns, including its environmental impact and issues like plagiarism.
Once we acknowledge both the promise and peril of AI, we can begin to explore its potential to impact lives across all generations.
Ministry leaders need to have conversations about AI with their churches now. Leaders can help congregants think about using AI through the lenses of Scripture, church teachings, and guidance from the Spirit.
Helpful for Every Generation
AI provides practical help to people of all ages. Older adults will benefit from its improvements in healthcare and communication. Church staff can find assistance with administrative tasks. Smaller churches gain practical support in worship planning, devotionals, and ministry activities.
Discussing AI is more than keeping up with technology trends. It’s about recognizing what's already here and thoughtfully choosing how it can be used to love God and our neighbors more faithfully.
Taking the Next Step
This article is one in a series of articles aimed at helping ministry leaders guide thoughtful conversations about AI. We’ll continue discussing the common worries, limits, creative uses, and theological questions in ways that are practical and clear.
If you are interested in learning more, join our upcoming webinar series, which includes three different options. Click here to learn more.
You'll learn how to engage with AI as a ministry leader, guide conversations in your church, and start using these tools wisely and faithfully.
Also, sign up for our mailing list to learn about the denominational survey we’re developing to gather opinions and build the direction for how we respond and engage in this new age.
From smart glasses guiding our elders to tools shaping our sermons, AI is already in the hands of your members, even if you don't see it in the sanctuary (yet). Let’s make sure our leaders are equipped to engage with what is emerging all around them.
Scott Hughes is the Executive Director of Congregational Vitality & Intentional Discipleship, Elder in the North Georgia Conference, M.Div. Asbury Theological Seminary, D. Min. Southern Methodist University, co-host of the Small Groups in the Wesleyan Way podcast, creator of the Courageous Conversations project, and facilitator of the How to Start Small Groups teaching series.
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