Did Jesus use His Tablet to Prepare for His "Sermon on the Mount"?

John Baiamonte, Ph.D.

Grace Memorial Parishioner, Vestry Member, and Christian Education Leader

The short answer is “No!” However, the Episcopal Church is actively exploring
Artificial Intelligence (AI) through tools like “AskCathy/EpiscoBot , which is a specialized AI chatbot for theological, liturgical, and administrative support and for developing ethical guidelines. “Cathy” can help draft sermons, give theological
answers, and even generate prayers. “Cathy” stands for “Church Answers That
Help You.”

It was created by the Toronto United Church Council’s Innovative Ministry Center and the TryTank Research Institute at Virginia Theological Seminary.

Before going any further, I must define what a “chatbot” is. In my layman’s terms it is a website to direct queries during research. For example, “Who won the World Series in 1965.” If you see the following on your webpage “Ask anything” followed by a microphone, you can click it and type in your inquiry or verbally make an inquiry. However, there is always the following warning: “AI can make mistakes, so-double-check responses.”

I have been using AI and other research tools to prepare these blogs, including this one. AI can be used to increase administrative efficiency by drafting documents, managing schedules, and for analyzing data for strategic planning. Some dioceses are forbidding the use of AI-generated content in publications while others endorse its use for administrative tasks.

Some Episcopal Churches see AI as a valuable tool for supporting overworked, smaller, or lay-led congregations. On the other hand, some churches express concern about the ethical implications, environmental impact, and the potential for AI to diminish the role of human empathy in pastoral care. There is evidence that some Christians prefer to use AI because they like hearing God speak to them!!

Before I go further into AI and its use by the Episcopal Church, let me say I am extremely cautious over the uses of AI in general society. I have seen some marvelous uses for the military, especially in logistics, and the medical field. However, I became very cautious when I saw on “60 Minutes” an AI generated robot attack its operator who had run away to escape from its anger. On that same
program it was reported that five AI-generated war exercises all chose the nuclear

option to solve a world-wide conflict. The final shocker was that the “grandfather” of AI, Geoffrey Hinton, warned that AI could outsmart humans, potentially taking control, causing mass unemployment, and posing a 10%-20% risk of humanity’s extinction.

Let’s let EpiscoBot serve as a positive tool for us. Suppose you want the upcoming scripture readings for The Seventh Sunday of Easter in Year A on May 17, 2026 immediately. This is what EpiscoBot will tell you:

• First Reading: Acts 1:6-14
• Psalm: Psalm 68:1-10, 33-36
• Epistle: 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11
• Gospel: John 17:1-11

You can also get the collect of the day, the full text of the readings, and the daily office readings. As you can see, all of this is available to us in our weekly newsletter, but AI can provide it to us much sooner.

Ok, let’s get back to AI and the Episcopal Church locally. Mother Liz uses AI for administrative purposes in the Church. She has used it to create job descriptions and interview questions. However, she has always ended up editing it heavily. You might remember that I have been using AI to do research on all the blogs I have written. However, there is a way you can use it daily in your Bible readings. After my Bible reading for each morning, I send the Gospel citation to AI and ask
for an interpretation. I get not only an AI generated interpretation, but, more importantly, there are usually several copies of homilies from real ministers. This gives me the perspective of other ministers on the same gospel reading which is helpful.

As I discover other beneficial ways in bolstering, communicating and increasing our love for God through AI, I will forward them through my blogs. In the meantime, let’s hope and pray God will protect us from creating an AI society that will destroy us.