The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rt. Rev. Dr. Abraham Nana Opare Kwakye, could not have chosen a more timely moment to speak about the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence. The Monday, 14th September 2026 edition of the Daily Graphic aptly captures his caution on AI and its usage.
His warning, delivered at the 26th General Assembly in Abetifi–Kwahu, comes at a time when AI is dominating international news headlines, with governments and tech companies debating its risks, promise and place in human society. The Moderator’s call resonates not only with the ministers he addressed, but also with those of us who have spent decades writing, editing and shaping public discourse long before AI.
Some people now see AI‑assisted writing as a sign of laziness or intellectual weakness. They disrespect colleagues who use digital tools, forgetting that some of us have written reams of newspaper pages and editorials for over 20 years, long before AI’s emergence.
We must not cede our writing passion to AI, nor must we apologise for using AI tools to enhance productivity. What matters is not whether we use AI, but whether our final work reflects truth and responsibility. That is what the Moderator spoke about.
His warning was clear: AI is reshaping ministry, communication and administration. Churches worldwide now use digital tools to connect, teach and preach. But AI, the Moderator said, must never replace pastoral care or spiritual discernment. “AI can process information, but it cannot shepherd hearts,” he stated. In other words, AI can assist, but it cannot love. It can analyse, but it cannot pray. It can generate text, but it cannot preach.
The Moderator called for ethical guidelines, truthfulness and the rejection of falsehood. In the West, increasing concerns about AI‑generated misinformation, deepfakes and political manipulation have triggered parliamentary hearings and regulatory proposals. The church cannot afford to be naïve. If governments are worried, the Body of Christ must be vigilant.
Platforms such as Facebook, YouTube and WhatsApp have created what the Moderator terms as a “church without walls,” expanding participation for example. However, these apps can also be used to propagate false doctrines and cause reputational harm, and some are already in that ungodly business. AI amplifies this misuse.
It makes misinformation travel faster and more difficult to detect. This is why the Moderator’s call for responsible digital discipleship matters. As he said, Presbyteries, therefore must train leaders to verify information, recognise AI‑generated content and apply sound judgment before sharing anything online.
We must remain disciplined, alert and guided by Scripture, ensuring that technology enhances ministerial work rather than distorting it. The Moderator’s call invites us to examine how we see ourselves in this digital age, whether as ministers or would‑be ministers. The disrespect some people show toward AI users is misplaced.
AI is a tool, use it wisely. Those of us who have written for decades know that writing is a passion and every good writer will not sublet his/her voice to a robot. AI can assist, but it cannot replace the writer’s voice or the editor’s critical judgment. Writers, publicists, journalists, ministers, etc. must not allow AI to kill their passion.
The Moderator’s message is therefore not a rejection of AI, but a call to responsible integration of AI in ministry. So, use AI but be wise. AI must support ministry, but it must never define ministry. There is no question about AI’s place in today’s Christianity. The question is whether Christians of today will use AI responsibly and with spiritual maturity. On that, the Moderator has spoken clearly and wisely. Thank you, Papa Moderator.
By Jerome Otchere
