The Gutenberg Moment: Why the Church Must Lead on AI

"This is our Gutenberg moment. If the Church cares about the redemption of society, then AI simply cannot be ignored."

When Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press in 1440, he fundamentally altered the trajectory of human civilization. The democratization of knowledge that followed reshaped education, governance, theology, and society itself. The Church faced a choice: lead this transformation or be left behind by forces that did not share its values.

Those who embraced the printing press—like Martin Luther, who used it to distribute his 95 Theses—shaped theology and society for centuries. Those who resisted found themselves increasingly irrelevant to the most important conversations of their age.

Why AI is Different (and More Urgent)

Artificial Intelligence represents an even more profound shift than the printing press. Unlike Gutenberg's invention, which distributed information, AI creates information, reasons with it, and makes decisions based on it.

Consider the implications:

• Governance: AI systems already influence judicial decisions, welfare distribution, and law enforcement
• Labor: Entire categories of human work face displacement or transformation
• Truth: AI-generated content blurs the lines between authentic and synthetic
• Security: Autonomous weapons and surveillance systems raise existential questions
• Dignity: Algorithmic bias and data exploitation threaten vulnerable populations

The Church cannot afford to be passive observers of these transformations.

The Policy Window is Closing

Right now—in 2025 and 2026—lawmakers in Washington, Brussels, London, and at the UN are drafting the frameworks that will govern AI for decades to come.

Without theologically informed, ethically grounded voices at the table, secular frameworks will dominate by default. This isn't a matter of imposing Christianity on policy; it's about ensuring that transcendent values—human dignity, the Imago Dei, justice, and the common good—inform how society governs its most powerful technologies.

What Leadership Looks Like

At The ReformAItion Institute, we believe the Church's leadership must be:

1. Theologically Grounded: Rooted in mainstream evangelical ethics and the conviction that every human bears God's image
2. Technically Informed: Understanding AI's capabilities and limitations at a deep level
3. Policy-Focused: Engaging directly with lawmakers through testimony, briefs, and advisory relationships
4. Evidence-Based: Conducting rigorous research (like our Double Edged AI Study) to inform recommendations
5. Practically Implementable: Offering actionable frameworks, not just philosophical positions

The Cost of Inaction

If the Church remains silent:

• Vulnerable populations will bear the brunt of AI harms without advocacy
• Human dignity will be subordinated to efficiency and profit
• The Imago Dei will be absent from the most important ethical conversations of our time
• Future generations will ask why we failed to steward this technology wisely

The Path Forward

The Double Edged AI Study (launching January 2026) represents our commitment to evidence-based policy engagement. Over three years, we'll produce the research, frameworks, and recommendations that will inform lawmakers in the US, UK, EU, and UN.

But research alone isn't enough. We're actively building relationships with congressional staff, parliamentary groups, EU commissioners, and UN agencies. We're testifying, publishing, convening, and advocating.

This is the Church's Gutenberg moment. The question isn't whether AI will transform society—it already is. The question is whether the Church will help shape that transformation toward human flourishing or watch from the sidelines.

---

About the Author: The ReformAItion Institute leads research and policy development on ethical AI governance.

Get Involved: If you're interested in supporting this work or partnering with us, visit our support page or contact us.