From Your Synod Executive...
- Chip Hardwick
- Feb 2
- 2 min read
At our February 3 Synod assembly, the commissioners will have a chance to brainstorm new ministries for 2026 in two areas: artificial intelligence (AI) and peacemaking. God has provided the financial means to expand our offerings to equip church leaders and to support congregations in these two areas, and the assembly is the first step toward shaping these opportunities.
Here's a little bit of background about these two areas. You may remember from my December column (From Your Synod Executive...) that we received a $94,000 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 AI come together. There are so many opportunities to offer in this arena (e.g., helping church members navigate the use of AI in their lives and professions; tips for the faithful use of AI in the tasks of ministry or church administration; exploration of AI’s guidance about the structural challenge the church faces in today’s culture; etc., etc.) We could offer these ministries through one-off webinars, through cohort groups, a conference, or through other means. We will work with our friends at Science for the Church (www.scienceforthechurch.org) and AI and Faith (www.aiandfaith.org) as these opportunities develop.
The Presbyterian Mission Agency defined peacemaking as “transform cultures of violence into communities of peace, responding with the community to inspire new approaches to active peacemaking, to equip God’s people to be compassionate and prophetic peacemakers, and to connect communities of peace to learn from each other in shared accompaniment and take action together for the transformation of the world.” Presbyteries and congregations regularly donate funds to the Synod for us to support these kinds of activities, and the Synod now holds ~$85,000. Again, the opportunities for how we might develop fruitful ministries using these funds are manifold (e.g., grants program, zoom webinars about pursuing peacemaking; a conference, etc.).
At the assembly (2/3/26 at 4:30 pm), commissioners will have a chance to brainstorm ideas to move us forward in both of these areas. If you’d like to be a part of the brainstorming, you’re welcome to come to the meeting as a corresponding member. (You can learn more and register here: Assemblies/Documents | Synod Of The Covenan).
Both of these ministry efforts will have steering teams to help guide the developing plans. If you’d like to participate in either of these steering teams, please let me know.
One more important item at our Assembly is that we will welcome our new controller, Joy D’Andrea! She has worked with congregations in Cincinnati Presbytery on their finances for decades, and comes very highly recommended! She will begin work (15 hours/week) on February 16, 2026.
Grateful to be your partner in ministry,
Rev. Charles B Hardwick, PhD
Executive
309-530-4578