Next on ‘AI for UUs’: Peter Bowden

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PETER BOWDEN

While ChatGPT never nails the exact tone I want when I’m writing a piece, it usually comes pretty close. So it is with the introduction I asked it to write for our upcoming meeting of AI for UUs this Tuesday, July 9, at noon EDT.

We’ll meet at this recurring link in Zoom.

Our featured guest will be Peter Bowden, Unitarian Universalist speaker, trainer, and coach specializing in congregational growth, outreach, and media. He’s a prodigious producer of web content, which makes it easy to assemble raw material on which ChatGPT can chew.

I fed it the following:

Here’s what I got. Hope you can join us!

Join us this Tuesday at noon EDT for a compelling installment of "AI for UUs" featuring Peter Bowden. Raised as a Unitarian Universalist and deeply rooted in the First Unitarian Church of Providence, RI, Peter brings decades of experience and passion to our community. He has dedicated his life to helping congregations thrive in our rapidly changing world, leveraging his expertise in digital media, community building, and ministry innovation.

Peter Bowden's message is clear: Unitarian Universalists must experiment, learn, and implement new strategies quickly to stay relevant and impactful. As he puts it, "Our world is changing so quickly, we're not keeping up." Peter has been at the forefront of congregational growth, outreach, and media for over 20 years, and he recognizes the urgent need for rapid change and innovation within our faith.

We’ll talk to Peter about his vision for the UU Growth Lab, a dynamic online platform designed to facilitate active, proactive learning communities. The Growth Lab will serve as a hub for sharing content, discussing social media strategies, and collaborating on innovative ministry models. With dedicated spaces for specific topics and a robust training center, the Growth Lab aims to help Unitarian Universalist leaders integrate digital tools and strategies into their congregational life.

Peter's extensive background in television production and digital media has uniquely positions him to guide congregations in using video and other digital tools to amplify their reach and impact. He envisions a collaborative media component within the Growth Lab, where UUs can produce and share valuable content, from "meet the minister" videos to collaborative projects that showcase the breadth and depth of our faith.

Peter's dedication to Unitarian Universalism shines through in his commitment to fostering innovative conversations and designing new ministry models. He believes in the power of our community to adapt and thrive by embracing an experimental and learning mindset.

In addition to discussing the UU Growth Lab, Peter will delve into the implications of rapid advancements in artificial intelligence. He recently led a clergy summit in New York, exploring the impacts of technology on healthcare, spiritual care, and religious leadership. Peter emphasizes the urgent need for congregations to address AI's ethical implications and its potential to reshape our sense of meaning and purpose.

Peter states, "We are on a trajectory where within the next year to three years, we should expect artificial intelligence to be able to replicate the work of any human being. This poses profound questions about our sense of meaning and purpose if machines can perform many tasks currently done by humans."

He encourages congregations to engage their communities in meaningful conversations about these issues, suggesting the formation of community groups that explore the ethical, social, and spiritual dimensions of AI. Peter believes that Unitarian Universalist congregations have a unique role to play in organizing these crucial discussions and ensuring that ethical considerations are integrated into AI development.