October 21, 2026

Wednesday Word . . . AI

I received an email from Gregory McGann of the University of Oxford yesterday morning wanting to discuss how we were using AI, and the email had a link to schedule a video call with him. After doing a little research I felt safe (as in, it wasn't a scam) to participate and I set up a time for yesterday afternoon (wanting to get this over with as soon as possible).

I am not an expert on AI, but I'm pretty sure there are at least two things I can confidently claim: 1) AI is unreliable, dishonest, and mechanistic; and, 2) AI is probably here to stay.

You can read story after story of AI giving unreliable (and sometimes downright wrong) advice, of students at all levels running search parameters through AI and turning in papers with wrong and humorous (sort of) results, of AI scrubbing the internet for information without crediting sources and/or blatantly stealing creative content, and of AI providing spiritual guidance to anyone who asks.

But as with all new technology, it's not going away. The speed with which technology is advancing is, by all accounts, moving at a pace we can't cope with.

Using AI to help install a ceiling fan is one thing (but make sure it tells you to disconnect the electricity before beginning the install). Using AI for spiritual guidance or relationship advice will ultimately be harmful to your well-being. AI will give us the answers we desire. It will give us forgiveness without repentance. It will give us the illusion of relationships without actually being in a relationship and without allowing us to mature and grow. Pope Leo has (basically) said that AI sees faith as a problem to be solved by ourselves, while faith in community allows for collective development, over time, with God and each other.

Gregory and I had a good discussion. He promised me he'd keep in contact and let me know when his research paper was published.

I suppose that, in the end, the question isn't whether or not we are using AI, the question is whether or not people are willing to do the hard work of faith building and being humanly present with each other, or if we will enter the wide gate and take the easy road that give us the answers we want to hear.

“Open the pod bay doors, HAL.”

Blessings,

Todd+

October 14, 2026

 

Wednesday Word . . . The Gift of Creation

“Instead of taking the Earth for granted, I began to see it as a gift . . .” – Jason A. Fout

I'm reading a book called, Wisdom, Knowledge, and Faith: New Essays on the Future of Theology and the Episcopal Church (I know . . . thrilling stuff). It's a series of short essays by various theologians in the church that discuss how they got into the field of theology and its importance for the people of the Episcopal church – both lay and ordained. To be honest, I'm not sure it lives up to all the accolades given on the back cover, but that's another story.

In Fout's essay, he talks about coming into the church and theology through, of all things, Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. He says that “through the absurd writing of Douglas Adams, I was able to come to imagine the world as creation,” which then led him to see all of creation as a gift of God. There is no quid pro quo in creation, there are no demands, there is only creation given as a gift.

What would happen if we, both individually and universally, actually viewed creation as a gift? Instead of seeing resources to be used solely for profit, could we begin to see resources as something to be treasured and cared for so that future generations could enjoy them? Instead of driving animals to extinction in our pursuit of land, trophies, or our insatiable appetites, could we begin to see all living things as vital to the health of the planet and work to preserve for tomorrow the gift we enjoy today?

These are but a few questions that popped into my head while reading this essay.

This coming Sunday we celebrate the Feast of Saint Luke, our patron saint. Tradition holds that he was a physician and healer. Using Luke as our anchor, can we begin to see the world as a gift from God that needs us to participate in its healing?

Blessings,

Todd+

October 7, 2026

Wednesday Word . . . Discernment

At the September Vestry meeting I brought up the topic of discernment. I reminded the Vestry that part of their job was to be looking for how the people of the parish could better use their gifts and talents. Within that context, all of us have been made “a kingdom and priests unto God,” and the parish, led by the Vestry, should be a place where everyone is supported, encouraged, and challenged to grow in the life and ministry of Christ.

As it just so happened, discernment was also a topic of conversation at Diocesan Convention. Our keynote speakers were the Rev. Nandra Perry and the Rev. John Lewis, both leaders in the Iona Collaborative (a program which should be familiar to the people of Saint Luke's), and everyone in attendance received a copy of Fr. Lewis' book Discernment in the Early Church and Today.

In that book Fr. Lewis defines discernment as, “determining the best course of action, given the situation.” Discernment can be used when determining a new career path, how we might rework our personal budget, whether or not we offer to serve on a vestry or larger church committee, how we might use our talents and skills for the benefit of the parish, or what actions a vestry might pursue. While “discernment” is most often thought of as leading to ordained ministry, it really has to do with anything in which we try to gain insight into the will and work of God in our lives and in the world.

As we come to the end of 2026 and begin to look forward to 2027, spend some time in personal discernment prayerfully considering how you can offer your gifts for the benefit of Saint Luke's and Christ. And knowing that discernment is best done in community, invite others to be part of your discernment process, either with a group of friends, fellow parishioners, or in meeting with me.

I believe the people of Saint Luke's, individually and corporately, have many gifts to share with the parish and with the people of Buffalo. May we all work to discern where God is calling us.

Blessings,

Todd+