Episcopal Church Embraces AI
A new AI chatbot called “AskCathy” has been introduced to provide information about The Episcopal Church. Developed through a collaboration between the Toronto United Church Council’s Innovative Ministry Center and the TryTank Research Institute at Virginia Theological Seminary, AskCathy was launched in June with the goal of offering accessible answers on various aspects of the Episcopal faith at any time.
AskCathy, an acronym for “Churchy Answers That Help You,” is built on the latest ChatGPT technology but comes with a specialized knowledge base. This database includes over a thousand sources related to Episcopalian and Anglican teachings, such as official church documents and resources from organizations like Forward Movement. As a result, AskCathy is capable of providing detailed information on theological concepts, church practices, and procedures.
The chatbot is designed to support both clergy and lay leaders by offering quick answers and resources. It can assist with church-related inquiries, suggest prayers from the Book of Common Prayer, and provide scripture passages. This tool is especially beneficial for lay-led congregations, which are becoming more common within the Episcopal Church, helping them with tasks like creating specific prayers and understanding church canons.
Rev. Lorenzo Lebrija, executive director at TryTank Research, highlights that AskCathy is intended as a supplemental resource rather than a replacement for personal interaction. The chatbot encourages users to consult with local clergy or spiritual advisors for further guidance, aiming to enhance engagement with the Episcopal faith while maintaining the value of human connection.
This effort follows a similar initiative by Longbeard, which launched Magisterium AI last year to answer questions about the Roman Catholic Church. With a rapid user adoption of approximately 180,000 within weeks, Magisterium AI was designed to provide accurate, church-aligned responses, distinguishing it from general AI tools.