To Reject Use of Sermons Created by Artificial Intelligence

Official Workbook overture source text

4-52 
To Reject Use of Sermons Created  
by Artificial Intelligence 
WHEREAS, The capabilities and regular use of Artificial 
Intelligence (AI) and Large Language Models (LLMs) have 
dramatically increased in recent years; and 
W
HEREAS, These tools are being experimented with and are now 
commonly used in many industries and across many vocations; and 
WHEREAS, These tools are advertised to pastors as time-saving 
devices for the writing of sermons; and 
WHEREAS, Pastors are called to spend more time in God’s Word, 
not less; and 
WHEREAS, Biblically based and doctrinally sound resources are 
readily available as reference tools utilized by pastors; and 
WHEREAS, It has pleased God to call flesh -and-blood men, 
created in His image, baptized and redeemed in the blood of Jesus, 
to search for lost sheep, to call sinners to repentance, to announce 
forgiveness of sins in Jesus’ name, and to be His preachers and 
teachers in this world (Matt. 28:18– 20; John 20:19 –23; Acts 1:8; 
AC V; AC XIV); and 
WHEREAS, It is contrary to God’s establishment of the Office of 
the Ministry and His design and plan for His Church to be served 
by an artificial intelligence created in the image and likeness of men 
(Eph. 4:4–15); and 
W
HEREAS, AI is unguided by the power of the Holy Spirit and 
susceptible to the influence of the devil (the wolf in technological 
clothing) and can be used to deceive God’s people (John 8:44); and 
W
HEREAS, The primary duties of the called and ordained pastor 
are the in -person preaching of the Lord’s Word to the 
congregation(s) entrusted to his care, the visitation of the sick and 
dying, and the administration of the Lord’s Sacraments according 
to the Lord’s institution (2 Tim. 4:1–5); and 
WHEREAS, No AI can replace this incarnational, relational, in -
person work; and 
WHEREAS, Those pastors who would use AI and LLMs to craft a 
complete sermon are turning away from the very work of the 
ministry to which they have been called; and 
W
HEREAS, Those pastors who would use AI and LLMs to craft a 
complete sermon espouse—knowingly or unknowingly—a 
functional view of the Office of the Ministry, deny the incarnational 
reality of the Lord’s ministry among His people, and do not walk in 
concord but apart from their brothers in the Office of the Ministry 
who labor at faithful preaching and administration of His 
Sacraments; therefore be it 
Resolved, That the president of the Montana  District develop a 
communication tool that can be sent out to all congregational boards 
of elders; and be it further 
Resolved, That the elders and other leaders of each congregation 
in the district recognize the “wolf in technological clothing” and 
discuss with their pastor the great dangers of the use of AI for 
creating a complete sermon; and be it further 
Resolved, That the elders and other leaders of each congregation 
in the district declare without equivocation that the congregation 
will not accept AI -created sermons preached from their pulpits 
under any circumstances; and be it further 
Resolved, That each pastor in the district reject every public and 
private temptation to make use of this and other such tools in the 
delivery of God’s Law and Gospel to His people; and be it finally 
Resolved, That the district  in convention ask the Synod in 
convention to adopt and make this resolution their own, that the 
Synod may walk together on this issue. 
Montana District 
Ov.