Lead your people wisely through AI
Your kids and your congregation are already using AI. Here is what to say, what to set up, and what to watch for, from someone who builds it.
Five things to set up this week
Ask what they use
Ask, do not interrogate: which AI apps, for what, and what surprised them. Let them show you.
Keep accounts age-appropriate
Most AI chat tools require 13+ and a parent's permission for minors. Under 13: use AI together, on your account.
Hold a family safe word
Voice-cloning scams can sound exactly like your child. Pick a word only your family knows; anyone asking for money must say it.
Check homework rules
Ask each teacher what AI use is allowed. Help your child follow it, and credit AI when it helped.
Keep talking
Make it normal to say “something weird happened online.” Thank them when they tell you.
How we handle ages in class
| Age | In our classes |
|---|---|
| 10–12 | AI Lab on this site and instructor demos only. No accounts on AI tools. |
| 13–17 | May use public AI tools in class with a signed parent permission form, on supervised devices. |
| 18+ | Full workshops, including the ministry-leader track. |
The Artificial Intelligence Honor class is open to Pathfinders 10 and up. Most public AI chat tools require users to be at least 13 and minors to have a parent's permission, so in our classes students under 13 never create accounts: they use the AI Lab on this site, which runs in the browser and sends nothing anywhere, plus instructor-led demonstrations on the instructor's screen.
Conversation starters
- “Show me the coolest thing you made with AI this week.”
- “Has AI ever told you something that turned out to be wrong?”
- “Would you know if a video of me was fake? How?”
- “What is something you would never type into an AI app?”
- “Do you think AI can be your friend? Why or why not?”
AI for ministry: the workshop
A practical session for pastors, elders, Pathfinder and youth leaders, and church office staff. Real demonstrations, honest boundaries.
- Save hours on admin: bulletins, schedules, sign-up emails, meeting notes
- Reach more people: translation and captions for visitors and members with hearing loss
- Study, then write: using AI as a research assistant, never a substitute for prayer, study and your own voice in the pulpit
- Protect your flock: never paste member data, counseling notes or prayer requests into public AI tools
- Spot the scams: fake donation appeals and cloned voices of church leaders
A simple church AI policy
Adapt it for your board. This is a starting point for discussion, not legal advice.
| Use | Guidance |
|---|---|
| Announcements, schedules, admin drafts | OK A person reviews before anything is published. |
| Translation and captions | OK A fluent speaker spot-checks important messages. |
| Sermon and Bible study research | Care Verify every verse and quote. The message is the speaker's own. |
| Images of real people | Care Never alter photos of members; no AI images of real people without consent. |
| Member data, counseling, prayer requests | Not allowed Never entered into public AI tools. |
| Children's ministry | Not allowed No AI accounts for under-13s; no children's photos or names in AI tools. |