This article was featured in the ‘AI and the Church‘ summit proceedings document. Click here to learn more.
In August of 2024, Epiphany Parish of Seattle became the epicenter of an unprecedented dialogue about Artificial Intelligence (AI) as it now sits at the intersection of faith and technology.
The AI and the Church Summit bore the unmistakable imprint of the Holy Spirit. What began as a simple question about how to connect with Father Paolo Benanti, the Pope’s expert on Artificial Intelligence who was spending the summer in Seattle, quickly evolved into a full-fledged summit.
This was more than just an academic exercise; it was a manifestation of the necessity for mainline churches to be involved in the ongoing discourse surrounding AI.
An Ecumenical Gathering
With TryTank at the helm, this summit brought together leaders and thinkers from The Episcopal Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the Presbyterian Church (USA), and representatives from the Methodist Church.
This ecumenical assembly marked the first time such a diverse group from mainline denominations convened to deliberate on AI’s ethical, moral, and spiritual implications.
The pieces of the summit quickly fell into place as leaders from AI and Faith joined the planning committee and tapped into their extensive networks within the technology industry to bring forward speakers and panelists. Epiphany Parish enthusiastically agreed to host the gathering.
Discerning the Church’s Role
The summit was not just about discussing technology; it was about discerning the Church’s role in shaping a future where AI is likely to be a dominant force. Participants applied and were accepted into the summit, committing to an ongoing conversation as part of a cohort group that will convene monthly and re-gather annually.
The charge to these groups is simple yet profound: to continue to wonder together as a community about the role of AI in the spiritual journey of the Christian Church.
Diverse Voices and Urgent Questions
To inform and, indeed, compel this discussion, a range of speakers and panels were convened:
- theologians and tech workers,
- futurists and AI platform builders.
Together, they explored essential questions, such as:
- What is the role of the Church in a rapidly changing world?
- How can we ensure the development and use of AI align with Christian values and the common good?
The conversations were as diverse as the participants. Some advocated for a future where humans are fully augmented by AI; others voiced serious concerns about AI’s impact on humanity’s moral and ethical framework.
Topics ranged from environmental impacts to economic dislocation, from the ethical distribution of resources to the pressing question of regulation; who will implement it, and how will it shape our collective future?
Perhaps most crucially, participants grappled with the question:
How will AI change not only us, but also future generations?
A Theological Reckoning
One of the summit’s most profound moments was the recognition that AI’s influence extends far beyond technology. It touches the fundamental question of what it means to be human.
As we develop a technology that can exceed human capabilities in some domains, we are forced to ask:
Who are we? And what is God’s intention for our existence?
If we are to help well-form AI for the good of all, we must first know ourselves and know God.
One scholar noted that the world today is brittle, anxious, nonlinear, and often incomprehensible. Yet, the Church offers a counter-narrative—one that is bendable, attentive, neuroadaptive, and inclusive.
In this chaotic world, the Church remains a place where we practice being human, where we connect with our Imago Dei, and where we are reminded of the core principles that must guide the development of AI.
The Journey Ahead
As the summit concluded, it was clear this was only the beginning of a much larger conversation. The cohorts were sent out to continue their discussions, charged with exploring what had been learned, developing new insights and practical applications for the Church.
They will reconvene in a year to share their discoveries and further explore how to bring the broader Church into this vital and unfolding conversation about AI and its implications for humanity.
A Call to the Church
This introduction marks the start of a journey. It is a call to the Church to engage deeply with AI, to ensure that this powerful technology is developed in ways that benefit all of humanity.
Guided by the Holy Spirit, the Church is uniquely positioned to offer wisdom and moral guidance in this new and uncharted territory.
“The glory of God is human beings fully alive.”
—St. Irenaeus
This is our response to the emergence of AI.
Yours in Christ,
The Rev. Doyt L. Conn, Jr., MDiv, MBA
10th Rector of Epiphany Parish, Seattle