Kia ora e te whanau
We seem to have stepped into what promises to be an ‘interesting’ year. The world faces significant challenges: The level of international uncertainty – provoked largely by the current president of the USA; deep concerns around the Middle East and Africa; a cooling of commitments to mitigating the effects of Climate change; a consistent and alarming assault on what constitutes ‘truth’; the effects of polarisation driven by social media algorithms turning friends and neighbours into enemies; and potentially what ultimately may be the most transformative (for both good and ill) the mainstream embrace of AI.
It’s this last one that I have resisted giving too much thought or energy to. Microsoft have offered me a refund for sticking with their ‘classic’ passage rather than the full ‘Co-pilot’ version of their software. I accepted the $50 refund – not for the money, but because the Luddite in me (with apologies to the original Luddites) has a real concern about the long term effects of AI on the everyday.
I have colleagues, friends, family members – enthusiastically extolling the virtues of Co-pilot and ChatGPT. They wax lyrical on how much time and energy it has saved them, and how beautifully and fulsomely it has written reports and presented papers – seemingly in seconds and potentially saving them weeks of slog. I accept that this is so. I’m also seeing some of my favourite political commentators now being broadcast by AI facsimiles purporting to represent their thought, all the while (when I check their ‘about’ info) in the small print claiming to be fan pages with no connection to the person they are actually imitating/representing. They are easy to identify – too perfect, following the same basic formula, yet they are also compelling listening/watching.
I also have heard at least one brilliant sermon, composed ‘on-the-fly, in the pressure of an afternoon, and delivered in the evening. It was so clever, and well-constructed, that I really struggled to believe that it was actually done by the person delivering it. I knew that I could not have done it with anything like the insight and polish of this presentation – it may have simply been projection on my part – imputing my aging limitations onto a younger colleague.
I’m left with a big ‘No thanks’. I fear the ultimate consequence may well be dumbing us all down. I could be wrong. I hope I am.
Whatever, this year ahead looks to hold much uncertainty, opportunity, and challenge.
Leadership & Personal Development Resources
Why Leadership Communication Is Shifting From Thought Leaders To Change Makers
One of the challenges I have faced in Parish leadership was best summed up by the title of a book on my shelves titled The Knowing/Doing Gap. It identifies that challenge that we face in translating what we know into action. This Forbes article suggests that, especially with the effects of AI, we are awash in knowledge and insight, yet we are not making the changes and implementing the strategies that our thinking says is required of us. This article offers some useful tips in moving from thinking to doing. Even raising the issue is helpful. It can be accessed here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/cherylrobinson/2026/01/14/why-leadership-communication-is-shifting-from-thought-leaders-to-change-makers/
How the ‘Rule of 3’ framework simplifies tough decisions
I found this one quite ‘novel’. I’m not too sure what to make of it – as one who has tried to discern God’s path for my life, I found this approach intriguing. The author suggests that rather than providing ourselves with a binary, this or that, A or B, choice – we stretch ourselves and come up with 3 alternative possibilities (leaving the status quo as option 4) and then following his process to come to the best outcome – recognising that there is no perfect answer – we’re simply looking for the one that will work best for us. The article can be accessed here: https://www.fastcompany.com/91471361/decisions-rule-of-3-framework
Controversial Theory Says Consciousness Might Be a Fundamental Field of the Universe
Now for one from ‘out of the box’. I’ve had a number of articles flow into my ‘feed’ considering that consciousness may be built into the fabric of the Universe – that its not something that has evolved when our brains have reached a certain level of complexity, but that it is discovered, when our brains are able to tune in. I’ve selected the article which gave the best overview – one that I find myself quite drawn to. Make of it what you will. It can be accessed here: https://discoverwildscience.com/controversial-theory-says-consciousness-might-be-a-fundamental-field-of-the-universe-1-382902/
Homilies and Preaching Resources
My response to the lectionary for the 25th of January is titled ‘The Bigger Picture’ – reflecting on what, on its face, seems like the simple account of Jesus relocating from Nazareth to Capernaum following the arrest of John the Baptist, and the calling of 4 fishermen to follow him. Yet behind this simple story as found in Matthew 4 vs 12-23 there is a lot going on. The homily can be engaged with here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hchqQMHrFwI
Gospel Conversations – out of the Dunedin Anglican Diocese. They host a conversation of 4 Theologians / Practitioners around the Gospel lectionary text for the coming Sunday. The site with all its options can be accessed here: https://www.calledsouth.org.nz/gospel-conversations/. Throughout January they are offering ‘Chats’. At time of publication of this newsletter, their latest ‘chat’ is yet to appear. Keep an eye open on their website above.