AI, Agency, and the Church: A Crossroads Crossover

In this special crossover episode with the Crossroads podcast, Peter and Mercedes are joined by The Rev. Jo Nygard Owens and Dr. Sonia Coman of Washington National Cathedral. Together, they explore what it means to engage AI thoughtfully and faithfully—from theological reflection to digital strategy, from ethical caution to spiritual curiosity.The conversation invites listeners to embrace imagination, resist fear, and reclaim human agency in a rapidly shifting digital landscape.Topics CoveredDefining intelligence, agency, and the Imago Dei in a world of machine decision-makingWhat “authenticity” means in the age of machine-written textsDiscernment, formation, and critical thinking across age groupsThe risk of opacity in automated systems and importance of transparencyPausing before automation: reclaiming intention, emotion, and spiritual groundingWhy we need shared vocabulary—and shared discernment—across the ChurchResources MentionedSearches: Selfhood in a Digital Age by Vaushini VaraNexus by Yuval Noah HarariCrossroads Podcast from Washington National CathedralResearch on AI interpretability by AnthropicHomeworkReach out to us and let us know how you’ve found generative AI to be useful in church ministry. You can email at [email protected]. We’d love to share ideas in our final episode of the season as we consider a round-up of our topics and how things are evolving.