WCC NEWS: WCC central committee moderator addresses human dignity and artificial intelligence

During an address to the World Council of Churches (WCC) executive committee on 8 June, WCC central committee moderator Bishop Prof. Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm reflected on the WCC’s solidarity with Palestine, the common ecumenical witness against the misuse of Christian religion, and the opportunities and challenges of artificial intelligence.  Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC 08 June 2026 “This is a time in which the common ecumenical witness to the world for the God given dignity of every human being and the duty of governments to respect this dignity in their own countries and between countries is more important than ever before,” said Bedford-Strohm. “The most urgent reason for such witness is the unscrupulous misuse of Christian religion to legitimize political actions that are in deep contradiction to fundamental biblically based orientations.” Bedford-Strohm also reflected on the opportunities and risks associated with artificial intelligence.  “We have seen the steep rise of data corporations, which have taken on the character of monopolies,” he said. “Through their governance of algorithms, they have developed a tremendous amount of power not only over the communication patterns of a large part of humanity but also about the knowledge which drives the different sectors of economy and society.” He asked: “How can we shape the development of AI responsibly by using its life-affirming potential and limiting the risks connected with it?” Responding to this question and others, he offered ten theses on artificial intelligence, reflecting that AI is neither to be simply condemned nor enthusiastically embraced. He reflected that the rapid development of new technological instruments has not been accompanied by an equally rapid development of the rules necessary to deal with them responsibly. “We urgently need a vivid discussion on these rules in global civil society. Responsibility is the central characteristic of human handling of AI,” Bedford-Strohm said. “It is an indispensable dimension of our relationship to God.” The WCC executive committee is convening online from 8-12 June to conduct the regular business of the first half of the year, review programme reports and audited financial results for 2025, and review proposals for a new structure for delivering work.   Read the full text of the Moderator's Address   Slides of WCC Moderator's Address   WCC executive committee to convene for mutual exchange in time of transformation (WCC news release, 28 May 2026) See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 356 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland