New guidance has been published to help Christians and church leaders reflect on how AI is used in ministry.

It has been developed by the AI Christian Partnership (AICP), whose members include the Christian think tank Theos, the Faraday Institute for Science and Religion, Youthscape, ECLAS - Equipping Christian Leaders in an Age of Science, and the European Evangelical Alliance.

The guide acknowledges that "AI may be a powerful tool for ministry, but only when used in a way that is consistent with Christian values".

The AICP says AI is increasingly used in churches and Christian charities, often without conversation about how to use it, when to avoid it, or where it could lead.

Setting out ethical principles and guidelines for good practice, it urges Christians to use AI to “release” thinking rather than “replace” thinking and says that while there are many benefits of using AI, some concerns are “specifically Christian”. They include a “compromised spiritual formation”, “losing a sense of the Holy Spirit”, as well as a loss of critical thinking and inaccurate information.

The resources urge churches and Christian leaders to remember that “AI is not just another resource like a website or a new app: AI introduces new dynamics, from intense flattery to pseudo-relationship, and at a velocity and scale we have not seen before. AI demands new thinking”.

The founder of AICP, Chris Goswami said: “AI can be a great asset for ministry, or it can leave us with a fast-food version of ministry. As with social media it may only be much later, with hindsight, that we understand the impact of AI - therefore, we encourage churches with foresight to give serious consideration to this now.”