FORT WAYNE, Ind., (BROTHERHOOD MUTUAL) — As generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools become increasingly integrated into daily workflows, ministry leaders are being encouraged to take a thoughtful and proactive approach to their use.

Brotherhood Mutual highlights both the opportunities and the risks associated with AI, offering four key considerations to help ministries align technology use with their mission and values.

Generative AI is already being used across ministry settings to support research, content development, and service planning. While these tools offer efficiency and convenience, risk management and IT professionals caution that responsible oversight is essential to ensure accuracy, integrity, and security.

Four Key Considerations for Ministry Leaders

1. Credibility & Accuracy Require Human

Oversight AI-generated content is created by synthesizing information from multiple sources, which may not always be disclosed or reliable. As a result, outputs can appear credible while containing errors or unverifiable claims. Ministry leaders are encouraged to verify sources and cross-check information to ensure accuracy before using AI-generated materials in ministry communications.

2. Potential Bias Requires Careful Prompting and Evaluation

The quality and objectivity of AI-generated responses are heavily influenced by how questions are framed. Leaders are encouraged to “stress test” responses by asking for alternative perspectives, rephrasing prompts, and identifying potential gaps. This approach can provide more balanced and thoughtful outcomes, particularly in situations involving pastoral care or complex decision-making.

3. Copyright Risks Demand Vigilance

Generative AI models are trained on large datasets that may include copyrighted materials. This increases the possibility that outputs could unintentionally resemble or replicate protected works. To reduce risk, it is recommended to use plagiarism detection tools, modify AI-generated content to reflect the ministry’s unique voice, and conduct reverse image searches to identify possible similarities to existing works.

4. Data Security & Privacy Must Be Protected

AI tools often process and store user inputs, which may include sensitive information. In some cases, this data may be used to improve AI models, raising potential privacy and security concerns. Ministry leaders are advised to avoid entering confidential or personally identifiable information into public AI tools. Where AI is central to operations, enterprise-level solutions with enhanced security controls may offer a safer alternative. Even when data-sharing features are disabled, users should remain cautious about the information they provide.

This article is provided by Brotherhood Mutual, a preferred partner of the Baptist Resource Network. Learn more about Brotherhood Mutual at www.brotherhoodmutual.com.