Barnabas File

  We have reflected on how learning and research from adjacent fields of study have impacted the core theory and methodology of coaching and the growing awareness of inclusivity and relationships in the application of coaching.  Now we turn to what I will term the emerging frontiers of coaching.     These topics are growing areas of interest among practitioners—the impact of artificial intelligence, the recognition that neurodiversity requires focused attention, and the role of faith-based or spiritual coaching.   Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Coaching   It’s here and it is not going away.  The role of AI in coaching is both energizing and controversial.  It means different things to different people.   Using AI in one’s practice may range from assigning administrative tasks to a virtual assistant to using a programmed avatar to do intake interviews.   The integration of AI technologies (such as conversational...

In a recent post, I shared a brief book review of  Project Maven , an account of a program  initiated within the Pentagon in 2017 to use AI not only for battlefield surveillance but to target people and resources.  The author points to the evolution of this project to the ultimate goal—removing humans from the decision-making process.   On May 25, Pope Leo XIV released  Magnifica Humanitas, or  “Magnificent Humanity,” the Catholic Church’s first major theological statement about artificial intelligence. No matter your tradition, this document deserves your close attention.   In response to the encyclical, Cameron Trimble, CEO of  Convergence , cited several key considerations, but here is one of special note:   “He [Pope Leo] declared ‘just war’ theory outdated, which is a major theological step. One of the encyclical’s most striking points is about AI in warfare. Leo says clearly that the Catholic Church’s centuries-old ‘just war’ ...

In a recent call with a clergy group, I shared a survey from Exponential NEXT which found that 93.5% of church leaders used or explored using AI in 2025; 78% used it daily or weekly.     One of the participants pointed out that if one uses the Internet, you are using AI whether you want to or not!     It is probably true that everyone uses AI unintentionally!    The finding of the survey, however, was that AI was intentionally used by most clergy leaders in the US.   While AI can assist with sermon research, administrative drafting, and data applications, where do we draw the line to ensure that our teaching remains "God-breathed" and born of human experience, rather than just being an optimized synthesis of existing data? How do we safeguard the integrity of inspiration in our use of AI? How do we continue to nurture the human connection?   Here are some tension points church leaders are currently navigating with AI:   Authenticity. ...