AI-Generated Sermons Spark Debate Among Church Leaders
The Danish Priest Association is reassessing its guidance on artificial intelligence (AI) tools for sermon writing after acknowledging it provided overly specific instructions, raising concerns about the potential for diminished human connection in religious services. The debate highlights a growing tension between leveraging technological advancements and preserving the spiritual core of religious practice.
A tool utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged, capable of producing complete sermon drafts for clergy, effectively allowing priests to bypass the traditional sermon-writing process and receive a pre-written version in seconds. This practice has ignited a debate centered on whether the use of such tools compromises the authenticity and personal touch of a sermon.
Concerns Over Authenticity and Spiritual Connection
One prominent critic, a theology student and former deputy leader in Denmark, expressed strong reservations about the practice. “I think it is very problematic, and I actually think the name they use on the sermon helper is a bit misleading,” she stated. “I think it smells more like a temporary priest, because it can write funeral words, sermons and wedding speeches.”
She voiced fears that relying on AI for core pastoral tasks could fundamentally alter the relationship between the church and its congregation. “If you continue in this way, I do not understand why it ultimately makes sense for people to come to church if they could just as well have led their own sermon at home,” she added.
Organization Admits to Overly Detailed Guidance
Director Lars Qvistgaard of the Danish Priest Association acknowledged the concerns, stating that the organization’s initial guidance may have been too prescriptive. “We want to show what the tool can do. But we have been too specific when it comes to showing end results, when it is really the process that is important for us to show,” Qvistgaard explained to Danish Radio. He assured that the guidelines will be reviewed this fall to address these issues.
Despite the concerns, Qvistgaard dismissed the idea that priests would simply hand over the entire sermon-writing process to AI. He likened the technology to existing research tools used by clergy. “Today, priests sit and use books and of course also encyclopedia when he or she is going to create his text. And I see KI a bit like that. It is a little more advanced, but in my opinion it is an auxiliary tool,” he said.
AI Sermon Tools Gaining Traction in Norway
The use of AI in sermon preparation is not limited to Denmark. According to reports from Nettavisen, several Norwegian priests are already utilizing AI tools. Espen Andreas Hasle, a leader in Nordre Follo prosti, stated, “Something else would amaze me,” indicating the widespread adoption of the technology.
Hasle acknowledged both the advantages and disadvantages of AI-assisted sermon writing. He emphasized that priests have always relied on external resources for sermon preparation. “A sermon is not just out of nothing from his own head. In that sense, KI can be a good tool for extracting professional material that you can base your sermons on,” he explained. However, he cautioned against using AI to generate complete, finished products, stressing the importance of a “spiritual dimension” that a computer cannot replicate. “Then it requires a man who listens to the spiritual dimension. It’s nothing a computer can do,” he said.
Ethical Considerations and Memorial Speeches
Discussions surrounding the ethical implications of AI in pastoral care have already begun. Hasle described a recent conversation regarding the use of AI to process notes taken during conversations with grieving families for memorial speeches. After careful consideration and guidance from church officials, it was determined that utilizing AI for this purpose was permissible, provided it adhered to strict privacy protocols.
“Thus, the conclusion was that it is okay to use KI to write memory speeches. Sermons consist of a greater degree of messages that the individual must stand for and own itself,” Hasle clarified, highlighting the distinction between the more formulaic nature of memorial speeches and the deeply personal and theological nature of sermons.
The evolving role of AI in religious practice presents both opportunities and challenges. As technology continues to advance, the church faces the crucial task of discerning how to integrate these tools responsibly, ensuring that the core values of faith, authenticity, and human connection remain at the heart of worship.
