20 Nov 2024 WACC Europe board considers ethical use of AI, promotion of communication rights

The practical and ethical uses of AI and ways to raise awareness of WACC’s expertise and resources on communication rights were key topics when the regional executive committee (REC) of WACC Europe met last week in Wroclaw, Poland.

The REC announced that the region will host an online seminar on December 17 to support churches and ecumenical organizations in Europe in developing guidelines for the use of artificial intelligence.

The initiative aims to respond to both the rapidly increasing integration of AI tools and the low level of informed engagement, particularly in ecumenical networks in Europe, said WACC Europe President Ralf Peter Reimann of the Evangelical Church in the Rhineland. It builds on the region’s focus on the role of Christian communication in digital transformation and digital justice.

The seminar will launch a series of monthly online discussions intended to help network regional communicators and address critical topics, he added.

The REC also considered what could be learned from the polarization and disinformation that has marked the U.S. presidential campaign. Reimann said that European organizations needed to already be developing effective tools and awareness to build resilience to similar trends across the region.

He noted that WACC Europe plans to step up promotion of existing WACC Global expertise and educational resources including the online courses “Just Digital” and “AI, You and Your Organization” as part of these efforts.

The REC discussed some of the challenges in raising the visibility of WACC’s mission and work, especially when the “Christian communication” part of WACC’s name is misinterpreted as proselytizing or merely publicizing church work.

“WACC was founded on Christian values and principles of justice, dignity and equality,” said Reimann. “We need to find new ways to show how these principles are particularly relevant today for people of all faiths and none.”

The 13–14 November meeting was hosted by the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Poland.

Top photo: Members of the WACC Europe regional executive committee mark Thursdays in Black during their meeting on 13–14 November in Wroclaw, Poland. Credit: Sara Speicher. Insert: (l) “We are living in a time where it is easier to build walls than build bridges.” – Pastor Pawel Mikołajczyk of the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Poland. (r) WACC Europe board members in discussion. Credit: Agnieszka Tarnogórska