February 28, 2024

I meet with a local group of pastors monthly for encouragement, prayer and discussion of issues we are facing in our congregations. Next month’s topic is on the anticipated influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on Ministry. This was not an issue that ever came up when I was in seminary nor was it ever imagined. But AI is becoming a large presence and is expected to grow. But there is a dark side and it is very dark. How do you know if something is actually real?

I was researching a product that is built in another state. While I was considering making the purchase, I began to wonder. How do I know if this company truly exists? Could someone ask AI to develop a website, with product information, pictures, videos, 1,258 5-star reviews and a believable story about how this company was founded? Certainly. How could I know whether or not any of this real? I could call and a chatbot could answer. I could write and a chatbot could write a response. I suppose in order to really know I would have to go in person and see for myself.

Maybe brick and mortar stores are not all going to go out of business after all. Maybe the only way for people to know whether or not something is actually true is to step back from a virtual life to a real one. If scammers can write emails that convince people to send them thousands of dollars, imagine what AI can do under the direction of the more nefarious ones. If AI can imitate the voice of the president, it can imitate the voice of your boss, your CFO, your daughter or son who “needs you to wire money to them for an emergency.”

A few months ago, I made a humorous sidenote toward the beginning of the sermon assuring you that this sermon was written by me and not AI. That afternoon, a member of the church sent me two sermons from the same text written by AI. I thought they were rather lame, but there they were.

If you went with me to this meeting next month, what do you anticipate the influence of AI to be on the ministry of a local church? My guess is that as more and more of our world is governed by what is artificial, there will be a growing need to be part of something that is real. If someone stays home and watches church on-line, how do they know that is real? Could an on-line church (oxymoron, btw) present itself with a website, social media presence, videos of services, complete with “live prayer partners” and be a scam? Yes. In fact, it is probably already happening. How do you know if a church is real or not? It sounds like you have to find the old-fashioned and right way. You actually have to be part of it.

Grace and peace,

Bob

Sunday’s text: Luke 4.1-13 Pt.2

If you do have some thoughts on how AI may influence ministry, I would love to hear them. You can write me at bob@cbcroseville.org.