AI and the Church, A Brave New World: My Interview in Outreach Magazine
Dec 27, 2023Interview · Outreach Magazine · December 20, 2023 · Story by Lora Schrock
TL;DR
Outreach Magazine interviewed me for a feature on a survey of 1,573 people about AI and the Church. The results show leaders know little about AI and worry about its risks. Over half also think the church should use AI in ministry in some way.
What the article covers
The story opens with an AI-led church service held in Germany in June 2023. Then it walks through a survey that ran from June 22 to July 26, 2023. Of the people who took it, 83% were church leaders.
A few numbers from the survey:
- 62% rarely or never use AI in their work.
- 43% feel somewhat to very uncomfortable with AI in the local church.
- 26% have no plans to write an AI policy.
What I told Outreach
"As with many innovation fronts, AI often evokes fear at first. ... But whenever I start to demonstrate practical applications [of AI] to the church leader, intimidation usually turns quickly into inspiration."
"I believe that every [church], whether they support the use of AI tools or are opposed to them, should have a policy to clarify the church's expectations for staff and volunteers."
I also encouraged pastors to go through training with their staff and to join peer communities like the AI for Church Leaders Facebook group.
Read the full article on Outreach Magazine
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