As the project officer for Faith and Science, what are some of the efforts on which you’ve been working lately? Buttrey: The group I support is the Faith and Science Working Group of the WCC Commission of the Churches on Health and Healing. One of our priorities right now is AI, and our next few events are webinars talking about AI. The very next one we are doing in 2026 will discuss the “AI arms race.” We will have some interesting folks from different contexts consider whether we need to think of AI as more of a weapon, and whether we need an international arms treaty related to the use of AI. We will discuss the risks and the potential risks. What drew you to serve the WCC in this way? Buttrey: I wonder that myself sometimes! I guess things began with my bachelor of arts in science. I studied genetics for my undergraduate degree, worked at a lab, then switched to theology, and went to a seminary. My passion was bioethics. That kind of led me through my doctorate, then I started work for the Canadian Council of Churches. A couple years ago the general secretary of the Canadian Council of Churches was in contact with my boss, Dr Manoj Kurian, the director of the WCC Commission of Churches on Health and Healing, and Dr Kurian wanted more work done in this area, so the Canadian Council of Churches seconded me to the WCC. I believe that, on a global stage, we are all basically talking about the same things. I didn’t really realize this where I’d end up. It seems to have fit quite well! What are one or more of your hopes or visions for the ecumenical movement when it comes to faith and science? Buttrey: Two things: one is that, it turns out once we start having these conversations, many of the churches describe having different ethical positions on this issue or that issue—but new technologies seem to produce a consensus more easily. I think it’s fair to say that all the churches are concerned about AI. Everyone wants to learn more. Everyone wants to have more conversations. Everyone thinks we should should be discussing AI in a faith-based context. Practically, our final consultations and positions might differ, but we all want to have that conversation. The second issue is that there are very few churches that have enough people with expertise in this area. Churches can’t dedicate many people to these more niche questions. You’re lucky if you have one person who does faith and science, or two people who are interested in AI. That’s not enough people to have a conversation, and so with the work we are doing through the WCC, we can have a full room with different positions. Would you share an example of a such a “room?” Buttrey: Yes, in the fall of 2025, we produced a course on faith and genetics. We had about 20 students from all around the world—from Canada to Uganda to Sri Lanka, India, and Pakistan. We met for 10 weeks. We had eight guest lecturers. I was coordinating it—which was kind of complicated at times—and it felt truly international. It was a truly varied group of students and teachers, and it came off really well. People made some great connections. We are hoping to do that again. It’s a model of ecumenism on a smaller scale. | 
No comments:
Post a Comment