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From Your Synod Executive...

During this Advent season of waiting, I received unexpected news.  Back in October, the Synod applied for a grant from the People-First AI Fund from the @OpenAI Foundation to explore the opportunities and perils that church leaders need to navigate when ministry and Artificial Intelligence (AI) come together.  I imagined that we might not hear back for months, but I learned last Tuesday that we received a $94,000 grant!  Thanks be to God!

 

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You can read more about the grant and other grantees here:  Announcing the initial People-First AI Fund grantees | OpenAI.  In short, they received nearly 3,000 applications and awarded grants to 208 nonprofits.  From the looks of the list, only 7 of the grantees are religious organizations.  We will deepen our partnership with Science for the Church (www.scienceforthechurch.org) to administer the grant and we’re very excited about how it will expand our leadership equipping in your churches and presbyteries.

 

You can find our application here:  (link to SOC People-First AI Fund Grant Request--Submitted.pdf).  Here are a few quotes from it that might help illustrate our hopes with the grant.


  • Our interest in AI is two-fold. First, there is almost no conversation about it among our 630 churches. We want to help churches to initiate conversations about AI, to consider it within our Christian tradition, and to develop a nuanced appreciation of it. Second, we are looking for ways AI can contribute to efficiencies in ministry, either contributing directly to innovation and congregational vitality, or as a tool to simplify some ministry tasks so more of pastors’ time can be focused on their congregation’s aspirations for social change.

  • [To date] there is little discussion of AI throughout the Synod. While some church leaders are dipping their toes into AI, they rarely do so with significant technological, sociological, ethical, or theological reflection.

  • Together we plan to consider programs on topics such as:  AI’s promises and limitations; theological frameworks and guidance for understanding AI; ethical dilemmas with the use of AI; tactical help in the tasks of ministry (administration, preaching, congregational care, etc.); strategic guidance with structural challenges (anti-racism, aging membership, decreasing societal interest in religion, Christian nationalism, etc.); · · the faithful use of AI in all spheres of life; and enhancing church communication with the outside world

 

Our first step with this new ministry will be to survey leaders throughout the Synod to see what you will find most valuable.  Some time in the first quarter of 2026, you can expect to receive a survey that will be the first step toward understanding how we can most helpfully support your ministry as you think about AI.

 

One note:  I will be doing some traveling and using up my remaining vacation for the year during most of December, so please understand if I’m slower to respond to emails than is typically the case.  Because this time of year is so busy for your churches, it’s a slower time at the Synod.  God bless you this month as the Spirit brings the great good news of God-With-Us to your communities!

 

Grateful to be your partner in ministry,

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Rev. Charles B Hardwick, PhD                                            

Executive                            

309-530-4578

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