ABHMS awarded national grant to equip congregational leaders for ethical AI engagement

VALLEY FORGE, PA (07/21/2025)—American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS) is pleased to announce receipt of a $25,000 grant from the Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion (DoSER), a program of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), to implement a pioneering two-year project titled “Equipping Congregational Leaders for Science and Technology Engagement.” The grant period extends through December 2026.

ABHMS is among a select group of organizations nationwide to receive funding from AAAS DoSER through DoSER’s own grant initiative, “Science Engagement for Congregational Flourishing” (SECF), which supports continuing education providers in offering a variety of learning opportunities at the intersection of science and faith.

ABHMS Chief Technology and Information Security Officer Rev. Saeed Richardson, who oversees the organization’s new program, describes it as equipping congregational leaders—both clergy and laity—with the tools, knowledge, and ethical frameworks necessary to navigate emerging technologies, especially artificial intelligence (AI), and integrate them into ministry settings.

“At ABHMS, we recognize that today’s ministry environment is influenced not just by scripture and tradition, but also by rapid progress in science and technology,” said Richardson, adding that the American Baptist church must go beyond simply being aware of these changes to actively engaging with them through a lens of faith, justice, compassion, and ethics.

Noting how quickly AI is transforming society, he said: “ABHMS’ initiative program reflects our belief that pastors and ministry leaders must be equipped to lead congregations with wisdom and ethical insight in an AI-driven world. We are offering congregational leaders a thoughtful, structured way to learn, experiment, and guide their communities through these new frontiers.”

A three-tiered model for formation, practice, and innovation

The ABHMS project is organized into three progressive tiers, with the curriculum crafted to guide participants from foundational knowledge to direct application.

• The first tier, “Foundations,” introduces participants to the basics of AI and its moral and ethical implications, offering a foundational understanding through bi-weekly hybrid sessions that include guest speakers, ethical case studies, and theological reflections. Tier 1 can accommodate a cohort of over 50 learners.
• The second tier, “Skill Building,” will involve a select group of Tier 1 graduates participating in practical hybrid and in-person workshops. These sessions will focus on the responsible use of AI tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity AI, Make.com, Jasper, and Synthesia. Individuals in Tier 2 will learn how to use these tools responsibly for sermon preparation, congregational communication, administrative tasks, and online engagement.
• The third tier, “Innovation,” will empower a small group of up to 10 people selected from Tier 2 to develop practical AI tools, such as church health diagnostics, sermon preparation, or a theologian assistant, from a curated list. These projects will be showcased at a conference in fall 2026 and will serve as the foundation for a long-term ethical AI think tank hosted on ABHMS’ ministrElife online platform.

“Our project isn’t about embracing technology for its own sake,” said Richardson. “It’s about discerning how to use these tools in service of the Gospel.”

Meeting urgent needs with accessible, sustainable learning

ABHMS recognizes the increasing need for theological education that incorporates technology in practical and ethical ways. However, the church environment presents challenges. Many congregational leaders, especially those serving in small, rural, or bi-vocational settings, lack the time, resources, or training to keep up with rapid scientific and technological advancements.

With “Equipping Congregational Leaders for Science and Technology Engagement,” ABHMS offers a solution. The program is tuition-free during the grant period, strategically delivered in a hybrid format to reduce travel burdens, and accessible through ABHMS’ existing digital infrastructure. All materials will be maintained on the learning management system of the ABHMS Center for Continuous Learning, and ongoing community-building will continue through ABHMS’ ministrElife online platform, creating a sustainable learning network beyond the grant’s duration.

About AAAS and DoSER

AAAS is the world’s largest general scientific society and publisher of the Science family of journals. The nonprofit is open to all and fulfills its mission to “advance science and serve society” through initiatives in science policy, international programs, science education, public engagement, and more. Building upon its mission, AAAS established the Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion (DoSER) program in 1995 to facilitate communication between scientific and religious communities. For the latest information and news about AAAS DoSER and the SECF project, visit ScienceReligionDialogue.org, ScienceforSeminaries.org, and AAAS.org/DoSER.

About the SECF Project

The SECF initiative supports the development of continuing education and lifelong learning programs for pastors and Christian congregational leaders with an emphasis on bringing science and technology literacy and communication about science and society topics into the skillset of congregational leaders. This project is hosted by the AAAS DoSER program.

About ABHMS

American Baptist Home Mission Societies partners with American Baptists to promote Christian faith, cultivate Christ-centered leaders and disciples, and bring healing and transformation to communities across the United States and Puerto Rico. For more information about ABHMS and our mission to support ministry professionals, visit abhms.org.