TheoTech Podcast

In this episode of the TheoTech Podcast, Rev. Dr. Andy Morgan, Director of Family Faith Formation at First Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee, introduces "Polity Pal," an AI bot he developed to assist with understanding and navigating the complexities of Presbyterian polity. The discussion explores the potential of AI as a tool to empower church leaders, alleviate administrative burdens, and foster deeper human connections. He also delves into the ethical considerations and the broader implications for digital citizenship and faith-based communities.

Check out Polity Pal. 

Connect with Rev. Morgan on Facebook.

If you would like to support the TheoTech podcast, become a patron at www.patreon.com/theotech

In this episode of the TheoTech podcast, the pastoral leadership team at Westminster Chapel in Bellevue, Washington, shares their journey to build an intercultural community and create belonging through translation and accessibility. Hear from the Senior Pastor, Executive Pastor, Outreach Pastor, and Production & Digital Innovation Director about their strategies for embracing Bellevue's diversity, including multilingual worship services in 9 languages, cultural events, and community engagement. They explore the challenges and blessings of leading a church that reflects the multicultural reality of their city and embodies God’s kingdom.

Guests: Ryan Falls (Senior Pastor), Matt Conrad (Executive Pastor), Chris Wilson (Outreach Pastor), and Brendan Erazo (Production & Digital Innovation Director)

Learn more about Westminster Chapel at www.westminster.org

Connect with Westminster Chapel on Facebook and Instagram

Learn more about spf.io at www.spf.io
If you would like to support the TheoTech podcast, become a patron at www.patreon.com/theotech

Dr. Jonathan Downie, founder and owner of Integrity Languages, joins this episode of the TheoTech podcast to delve into the dynamic world of multilingual church strategies. Drawing from his professional experience as an interpreter and consultant and his passion for enhancing church inclusivity, Dr. Downie discusses practical methods for integrating diverse linguistic communities. This discussion delves into the nuances of multilingual worship, the use of human vs. machine interpretation, and the profound impact of language on church unity and discipleship.

Watch the full video at www.youtu.be/ayooX7y5PDw

Learn more about Integrity Languages at www.integritylanguages.co.uk

Check out Dr. Downie’s latest book: Multilingual Church: Strategies for Making Disciples in All Languages

Connect with Dr. Downie on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn

Learn more about spf.io at www.spf.io

If you would like to support the TheoTech podcast, become a patron at www.patreon.com/theotech

In this podcast episode, Chris Lim and his wife Kathleen discuss their experiences as new parents and how technology has played a role in their parenting journey. They talk about creating an Amazon Echo skill that helps them track various aspects of their baby’s care, such as feeding, diaper changes, and pumping. This technology has proven to be a helpful hands-free solution for managing their busy schedules and staying organized in the midst of caring for their son, Athanasius (Athos). They also touch on the challenges of balancing technology use and human interaction for their child, emphasizing their choice to limit screen time and encourage more interactive and imaginative play. The episode explores their personal insights into how technology fits into their parenting philosophy and the ways they adapt to their baby’s needs and their own changing lifestyle.

In the decade since John Dyer published “From the Garden to the City” the cutting edge of technology has transitioned from hardware innovations like the iPad and the viral domination of social media platforms to new “fads” like VR, web3, bitcoin, and of course breakthroughs in Artificial Intelligence. As a software developer and professor of theology, John has had a front-row seat to how these shifts are affecting the Christian faith and vice versa. Listen in to hear his thoughts on the ways different generations are handling the captivating power of screens and innovative ways technological affordances can help us engage with and live out Scripture in the future.

Connect with John at:

https://j.hn/

@johndyer

Support the podcast:

www.patreon.com/theotech

Should Christian products and services be free? What can churches learn from the open source movement? Listen in as Conley Owens, author of The Dorean Principle shares the story behind his book and makes a biblical case for colabor instead of reciprocity in ministry financing. In this episode, Chris and Conley discuss theological challenges with different fundraising models, the ministry problems posed by existing copyright law, the distinction between the sacred and the holy and its interaction with money (cf simony), and ultimately dream of a future where the blessings of the Gospel are exchanged freely instead of for a price.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Read the book: The Dorean Principle

Join the Facebook group: Dorean Discussions

If you would like to support the TheoTech podcast, become a patron at www.patreon.com/theotech

A Christian perspective on AI Ethics and its true Telos.

AI and Faith

Jon Edmiston is the creator of RockRMS is a church management system centered on people. In collaboration with more than 650 churches worldwide and his team at the Spark Development Network, Jon has created an open-source community that can level the playing field so churches of all sizes can benefit from digital transformation.

Listen in to hear about the unique funding model and open-source network effects that enable wealthier churches to fund the development of features they need in a way that can benefit many other congregations as well. Learn more about how Jon views data privacy and the need for pastors to know their flock as well as a vision for what excellent church technology could look like in the future.

(Bonus: speculations on a dystopian metaverse future ;-) )

To learn more about Spark Development Network, visit www.sparkdevnetwork.com.

Subscribe and become a TheoTech Patreon at www.patreon.com/theotech

If people spend 7 to 8 hours a day on digital platforms, how can they make the most of that time for the Gospel? #HACK is an Indigitous hackathon bringing Christians together to answer that question. In collaboration with organizations like the American Bible Society, Coalition of the Willing, and World Vision, participants from more than 46 countries developed projects to increase Bible engagement, build multilingual mapping tools for unreached people groups, and create trust-building donor apps. Listen in to learn more about the experimental mindset it takes to serve the global body of Christ with technology.

To learn more about #HACK visit https://hack.indigitous.org/

Subscribe and become a TheoTech Patreon at www.patreon.com/theotech

How might Christians think about bitcoin? Amidst all the hype, Tripp Parker shares his thoughts with Chris about why Bitcoin could be "Christian money" and the ways it aligns/may not align with God's Kingdom. This episode looks at the differences between Bitcoin, fiat currency, and our existing monetary system. Listen in to hear about its resilience to manipulation as well as criticisms of its energy consumption and why ultimately like Tolkien’s “Leaf by Niggle”, the evolution of this cryptocurrency may simply be a pointer to a more beautiful future.

If you would like to support the podcast, become a TheoTech Patron at www.patreon.com/theotech.