The Living Church Podcast

AI and the Church with Arlie Coles and George Sumner

How should Anglicans feel about AI? But first: what the heck is it? Our guests today tackle one of the toughest topics of our time head on, from both a theological and technical perspective. What is AI? Is it unprecedented? What can AI currently, actually, do? Should Christians accept, or resist?  As Christians, it’s often hard to know whether to embrace new technology. If we get worked up or freaked out, is it about the right things? Where might we still need to fill in gaps in our knowledge or our discipleship? Are we living in The Matrix? Or can we let the robots help, sometimes, and still insist on fully human lives? Our guests today are Arlie Coles and the Rt. Rev. Dr. George Sumner. Arlie is a lay Anglican from the Diocese of Dallas who writes about modern Episcopal history and polity. She is also a machine-learning researcher serving on General Convention’s Task Force on Artificial Intelligence and Intellectual Property and a reporter for the Living Church. Bishop George is retired Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas and former Principal of Wycliffe Theological Seminary. The Rev. Dr. Matthew Olver, Executive Director of the Living Church, joins Amber Noel as co-host. We talk about: * How AI taps into our instincts for communication, mystery, and relationship. * How this both increases its usefulness and gives us the creeps. * What AI is good for and not good for (spoiler, not writing sermons). * Pastoral concerns about spiritual influence, addiction, and human dignity. * Whether we need an Anglican “Prayer Before Using AI.” * Why you might want to go full Star Trek and rename your Alexa “Computer” so you’re less likely to mistake a tool for a person. The forms and capacities of human tools are not neutral— a steak knife, an AR-15, and a Ouija board do not carry the same potential for moral or immoral use— but, like the idols of old, do AI tools, which have “screens but see not, algorithms but feel not,” receive the power and significance they have only from the power and significance we give them? One of the biggest dangers of AI comes from one of humanity’s greatest gifts: language and its use in relationships. We hope you enjoy the conversation. From this episode: Living Church articles on AI [https://livingchurch.org/tag/artificial-intelligence/] “AI as Normal Technology” by Arvind Narayanan and Sayash Kapoor [https://kfai-documents.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/0ee1da899a/AI-as-Normal-Technology---Narayanan---Kapoor-Final.pdf] Against the Machine by Paul Kingsnorth [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/756181/against-the-machine-by-paul-kingsnorth/] Interview with Paul Kingsnorth and Ross Douthat about AI [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5wdJqJ708U] Find Nathan Jennings’ 6-part preaching series on our online journal, Covenant [https://livingchurch.org/author/njennings/] From the ads: Advertise with TLC: advertising@livingchurch.org [advertising@livingchurch.org] Email us with a proposed "Prayer Before Using AI": ambernoel@livingchurch.org [ambernoel@livingchurch.org] Livingchurch.org/resources [https://livingchurch.org/resources] Give to support this podcast [https://livingchurch.org/give] Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands [https://redcircle.com/brands]

Neuroscience in the Pews with Rod Wilson

In this episode, we learn from neuroscience to explore questions in theology and ministry. When we talk about the brain, we think of the intellect, private processes, perception—even as the center or source of the self. And the brain is one important place where “self” happens. But what if all our private, individualized function, in fact our very life, depends much more on exterior factors, like eye contact and physical touch? What if the center of what it means to be human, or even to be yourself, is not in your head but very much outside it? How can what scientists are learning about the brain open up theological anthropology, pastoral care, and how we read Scripture? Our guest today is Dr. Rodney Wilson. Rod is associate professor of psychology at Covenant College, Lookout Mountain, GA, with a specialty in clinical neuropsychology. He also works in hospitals and with patients who have dementia syndrome and their families, with one foot in the classroom and one in the clinic. We talk today about neuroplasticity and the “renewing of the mind”; how we’re never so much “in our heads” as in relationships; how the temperature of your coffee or the smell of a charcoal fire can affect your ability to know truth and build trust; and what the brain teaches us about our limits and the mystery of love. If this episode piques your interest, and you have further questions about the brain and Christian life or leadership, Rod welcomes you to get in touch with him. Please see the link to his website below. Now hold on to your hats, and we hope you enjoy this enlightening conversation. From this episode: Curt Thompson’s books [https://curtthompsonmd.com/books/] Dan Siegel and interpersonal neurobiology [https://drdansiegel.com/interpersonal-neurobiology/] Get in touch with Rod to learn more or with any questions [https://covenant.edu/academics/psychology/faculty/wilson.html] From the ads: Livingchurch.org/resources [https://livingchurch.org/resources] Give to support this podcast [https://livingchurch.org/give] Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands [https://redcircle.com/brands]

The 1662 and You with Drew Keane

How does the 1662 Book of Common Prayer hold Anglicans together today? What book of common prayer book do you use? And why? Whichever it is, and however you relate to other Anglicans, all of our common prayer books share one ancestor which still binds us together today, more closely than we might realize. Today we’re going back to the roots of your Anglican prayer book: the great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandaddy of all Anglican prayer books, the 1662 Book of Common Prayer. The 1662 wasn’t technically the first book of common prayer in England. So why is it the standard by which so many Anglicans today measure and revise their prayer books? Where did it come from? What makes it stand the test of time? How was it controversial, even divisive, in its own day? And how has it helped bring Christians together since? Our guest is Dr. Drew Nathaniel Keane. Drew is a lecturer in English at Georgia Southern University and managing editor of The Anglican Way. He is the co-author, along with Samuel Bray, of How to Use the Book of Common Prayer and co-editor with the same of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer: International Edition. He’s also currently co-authoring a commentary on the 1662 Book of Common Prayer with IVP Academic. Now let’s get down the family album, blow off the dust, and hear some tales from a fascinating and crucial chapter in our Anglican story. Family is indeed stranger than fiction. We hope you enjoy the conversation. This episode is made possible in part by a special bequest from the Anglican Fellowship of Prayer [https://livingchurch.org/news/news-episcopal-church/anglican-fellowship-of-prayer-passes-the-baton-to-tlc/]. From this episode: More about Drew's work [https://www.drewkeane.com/] How to Use the Book of Common Prayer: A Guide to the Anglican Liturgy [https://www.amazon.com/How-Use-Book-Common-Prayer/dp/1514007479] 1662 Book of Common Prayer: International Edition [https://www.ivpress.com/the-1662-book-of-common-prayer?srsltid=AfmBOoob_Ssic2XQWXZ7fJiKqxBIkejjZ5isvieuoNTCd7j8hpAfFoaE] From the ads: Livingchurch.org/resources [http://livingchurch.org/resources] Give to support this podcast [http://livingchurch.org/give] Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands [https://redcircle.com/brands]

Live in the Studio with Jon Guerra

Today, musician Jon Guerra joins us for a conversation about music, theology, and life—and a few live tunes. We talk about his musical influences and about the formation (and deformation) that happens through Christian music. We talk about creating and speaking in difficult times, working in the shadow of the cross, and, as he puts it, “the dialectic struggle between the call and your ability to meet it.” We also talk about the importance of vulnerability and play, telling your story, and learning to be a Holy Fool. Our executive director, Matthew Olver, joined us for this chat and mini-concert. Our set list includes “In the Beginning Was Love,” “Where Your Treasure Is,” “Kingdom of God,” and “I See the Birds,” with great conversation in between. Jon Guerra is a singer-songwriter who writes devotional music, “music for attending to the soul.” He’s based in Austin, Texas, and his albums include Keeper of Days, Ordinary Ways, and his latest, Jesus, among others. He also composed music for Terrence Malick’s 2019 film, A Hidden Life. We hope you enjoy the music and the conversation. From this episode: Jon’s website, album, merch [https://www.jonguerramusic.com/] Jon’s tour schedule [https://www.bandsintown.com/a/4896719] Poet Robert Lax [https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/robert-lax] From the ads: Get the Living Church for $9.95 [https://sub.livingchurch.org/sub/?f=intro995AR&p=LCM&s=] Give to support this podcast [https://sub.livingchurch.org/sub/?f=donate&p=LCM] Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands [https://redcircle.com/brands]

Preaching and Politics

How should ministers of the gospel engage politics from the pulpit?  Today’s episode is from a panel at the RadVo 2025 conference on politics and preaching: the if, why, and how. Panelists discuss discernment, formation, and what preaching is for, and give examples of how the gospel of Jesus forms people who can be both responsive and resilient to political challenges and change. Panelists include: The Rev. Dr. Annette Brownlee, professor emerita of pastoral theology and the former chaplain at Wycliffe College at the University of Toronto. She has served the life of the church widely in both the academy and in parish ministry, and she's the author of Preaching Jesus Christ Today: Six Questions for Moving from Scripture to Sermon as well as “The Responsibility of the Church to the State in an Era of Mass Migration.” The Rev. Tish Harrison Warren, writer and priest in the Anglican Church in North America. She's the author of several books, including Liturgy of the Ordinary and Prayer in the Night, which won Christianity Today's book of the year awards (2018 and 2022). She has also been a columnist for the New York Times and Christianity Today, and is a senior fellow at the Trinity Forum. Dr. Joe Mangina, professor of theology at Wycliff College at the University of Toronto. He is the former editor of Pro Ecclesia, the ecumenical journal of theology, and has served on the Anglican-Roman Catholic Dialogue for Canada. He is the author of several books, including a commentary in the book of Revelation with Brazos Theological Commentary series. The panel is moderated by the Rev. Dr. Matthew Olver, executive director of The Living Church. Thanks to RadVo and Church of the Incarnation in Dallas who hosted this panel. From the Bible, to the ballot box, to meditating come-to-Jesus meetings between parishioners fighting on Facebook, we hope you enjoy the conversation. -- From this episode: RadVo 2027 [https://www.radvoco.org/] From the ads: Get 85% off a Living Church subscription [https://sub.livingchurch.org/sub/?f=intro995AR&p=LCM&s=] Give to support this podcast [https://sub.livingchurch.org/sub/?f=donate&p=LCM] Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands [https://redcircle.com/brands]