Join Us for a Hybrid Seminar on Artificial Intelligence and Ethical Use in Churches and Faith-Based Organisations

A Hybrid Seminar on Artificial Intelligence and Ethical Use in Churches and Faith-Based Organisations

Date: Thursday, 13th March 2025

Time: 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Location: Free Churches House, 27 Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9HH

We’re excited to invite you to an engaging and thought-provoking seminar exploring the ethical use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) within churches and faith-based organisations. This event will address how AI can transform faith-based work, from organising services and social action to optimising resources and improving outcomes for vulnerable and marginalised groups.

Keynote Speakers

We’re honoured to welcome:

Revd Professor David Wilkinson – ECLAS (Equipping Christian Leadership in an Age of Science)

Sara Speicher – World Association for Christian Communication (WACC)

What to Expect

The integration of AI offers immense potential for churches and faith-based organisations. However, with these opportunities come critical ethical questions:

• How can AI be harnessed to uphold the values of human dignity and justice?

• What risks does it pose to vulnerable communities?

• How can faith-based organisations develop guidelines for ethical AI use?

Organised by Eurodiaconia, the Free Churches Group, and the World Association for Christian Communication (WACC), this seminar will provide a platform for:

• Exploring the risks and opportunities of AI in faith-based social action.

• Discussing its implications for vulnerable communities.

• Reflecting on how churches can integrate AI ethically in their mission-driven work.

This seminar marks the beginning of a series designed to foster a shared understanding of AI and its implications for faith-based organisations.

Spaces are limited, so secure your place today! Join us in person or online for this timely discussion on the future of AI and ethics in faith-based contexts.

We look forward to seeing you there and building a collective vision for ethical AI in service to communities.

Revd Paul Rochester

General Secretary

Photo by Pixabay.

Nourishing Roots - at Oriel College Oxford, with Rev. Grace Allick on 19th March 2025, 10:00-16:00

A day of reflection , restoration and retreat for chaplains with Rev Grace Allick, held at Oriel College, Oxford.

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 10:00 - 16:00

Oriel College, Oriel Square Oxford OX1 4EW

Please join us on Wednesday 19 March 2025 in Oxford for a day of reflection, retreat, and recharging at Oriel College, Oxford University. The day will be led and facilitated by Rev. Grace Allick, who is a member of the Free Churches Group Healthcare Chaplaincy Steering Committee and who leads on Healthcare Chaplaincy for the Assemblies of God denomination. Grace has a wealth of healthcare chaplaincy experience and will lead us in reflection and encouragement around our chaplaincy roles.

To learn more about Grace: Hello. I’m Grace Allick — Free Churches Group

Tickets cost £15 for FCG Chaplains or £25 for non-FCG Chaplains. Please note that refunds can be issued up to 7 days beforehand but for catering reasons, not beyond that date.

For more information, please contact Mark Newitt at mark.newitt@freechurches.org.uk

The First CoNNECT Day

Chaplaincy: opportunity for Networking, Nurturing, Encouragement and Community Together.

Thursday 13th February 2025: 10:30 to 16:00. 27 Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9HH.

The day includes input from Mark Birch – Chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons, Sarah Lane Cawte, Mark Newitt and Bob Wilson Free Churches Group.

This is a day aimed at those with lead responsibilities for chaplaincy, particularly those who work in non-traditional sectors, to come together, share stories, network, and be encouraged. There will be the opportunity to talk with chaplaincy education providers about training needs. If there is other input into the day that you would value, please let us know to help shape our planning.

Booking is to come, but an expression of interest can be made to Thandar Tun at thandar.tun@freechurches.org.uk or 02036518338.

Cost: £30 (including lunch and refreshments).

This event poster is available to download here.

Nourishing Roots - with Rev. Narinder Tegally at St Michael's Church, Bath, 13th Nov 24

Join us for a day of reflection and spiritual renewal with the Free Churches Group, led by Rev. Narinder Tegally

Date and time: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 10:00 - 16:00 GMT

Location: St Michael's Church, Broad Street Bath BA1 5LJ

Price - Free Church Chaplains £10 / Non- Free Church Chaplains £22.38

Join us in the centre of the historic City of Bath for a a day of reflection and spiritual renewal with the Free Churches Group, led by Rev Narinder Tegally, held at St Michael's Church.

Nourishing Roots days are organised for Chaplains in healthcare, prisons, education and beyond, to allow us time to reflect, recharge, and reinspire for our work and ministry.

The day will include a buffet lunch and refreshments throughout the day.

Bio for Narinder:

Narinder was born in the Punjab, India as a Sikh. She became a Christian in her 20's. Her husband converted from Islam to Christianity, and they have three grown up daughters and three grandchildren.

Before her Ordination in the Anglican Church, Narinder was a Registered Nurse working in Palliative Care and Mental Health. She is a qualified Psychodynamic Counsellor and Intercultural Psychotherapist, Counselling Supervisor and Spiritual Director.

God’s calling as a priest has led Narinder to serve in parishes in St Albans, Beaconsfield and in Bath & Wells Diocese. Currently, she is the Lead Chaplain of Royal United Hospitals Bath (RUH), Staff Governor and as part of my role Narinder sits on various groups such as the Ethics Group, End of Life Steering Group, Health and Wellbeing Group, Equality and Diversity Group representing the UKME staff, patients and their families and leading Reflective Practice Groups for colleagues at the RUH.

Travel: The church is a short walk from Bath Spa train station and on major bus routes. Parking is available all day at the Podium (a minute's walk from the venue) or at Southgate Shopping Centre, or you can use Bath Park and Ride.

Nourishing Roots - with Nicola Slee, 2nd July 2024 at Queen's Foundation, Birmingham

Photo by Dawn McDonald on Unsplash

A day of reflection and retreat for chaplains with Nicola Slee at Queen's Foundation, 18 Somerset Road Birmingham B15 2QH on 2nd July 2024, 10:00-16:00

Please join us on Thursday 2nd July in Birmingham for a day of reflection, retreat and recharging at the Queen's Foundation. Our day will be led by Prof. Nicola Slee. A two-course meal and refreshments for the full day will be provided.

Professor Nicola Slee is Director of Research at the Queen’s Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education, and Professor of Feminist Practical Theology at Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam. She has wide ranging interests in theology, spirituality, poetry and literature, and is a regular speaker at conferences and leader of retreats. Her most recent publications are Fragments for Fractured Times: What Feminist Practical Theology Brings to the Table (SCM, 2020) and Abba Amma: Improvisations on the Lord’s Prayer (Canterbury Press, 2022).’

Cost: £10 for FCG chaplains and £20 for all others (including lunch and refreshments).

For more information and a discount code for Free Church Chaplains, please contact Mark Newitt at mark.newitt@freechurches.org.uk