Dr. Mark Chironna on AI, Preaching, and the Future of the Church

In this episode of AI & the Church, host Michael Whittle talks with Dr. Mark Chironna — a bishop and pastor with over 50 years in ministry, holder of multiple doctorates including applied semiotics and future studies, and author of more than 40 books — about how technology has shaped his ministry across five decades, from cassette tapes and Christian television to podcasts, Substack, and now AI.

Drawing on Marshall McLuhan's "the medium is the message," Dr. Chironna offers a framework for understanding each technological shift: radio and tape extended the preacher's voice, television selected which voices got amplified, and AI generates voice outright — which he argues is a fundamentally different and more serious shift. He walks through his own AI workflow in detail: using it to organize research from theologians and church fathers, stress-test his arguments, and refine phrasing, while drawing a hard line against letting AI write in his voice or replace his own critical thinking. He also shares a memorable story of a subscriber accusing him of using AI to write, only to find the "AI-detection" tool flagged decades-old personal writing habits as machine-generated.

The conversation turns serious around AI's limits: Dr. Chironna is direct about refusing to use AI for pastoral counseling or therapeutic purposes, citing the risk of people mistaking a responsive program for a real relationship. He also discusses training younger staff and pastors under his oversight to use AI wisely without letting it replace their voice or critical thinking. The episode closes on a note of hope, as Dr. Chironna reflects on the global growth of Pentecostal and charismatic Christianity — particularly what he's witnessed firsthand in Brazil — and why he believes the next generation is positioned to steward both their faith and new technology well.