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Remaining Human in the Age of AI
October 15th - 18th, 2026 Featuring the 41st Ames UCC Annual Theologian-in-Residence speaker Dr. Meghan Sullivan Co-Hosts: Ames United Church of Christ Iowa-Nebraska-South Dakota UCC Tri-Conference Iowa Conference UCC Central Association of the Iowa Conference UCC Free and Open to the Public Available in-person and online through Ames UCC zoom Purpose: The purpose of the Theologian in Residence program is to stimulate thinking, dialogue and action concerning issues of interest to faith communities. Registration InstructionsOur Theologian-in-Residence event is open to everyone without charge. Whether you choose to attend in person or online, we ask that you register for the event so that you can receive reminders and so that we can adequately plan for you.
Click here to register for the 2026 Theologian-in-Residence program. Please register each person attending separately.
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Schedule of Events
Thursday, October 15th: "Is Learning Dead? How AI is Changing Our Assumptions about Human Achievement" Public lecture, Iowa State University Memorial Union, 7 p.m. Friday, October 16th: Continuing Education session for Faith Leaders Ames United Church of Christ 12 p.m. - 3 p.m. Saturday, October 17th: "Remaining Human in the Age of AI" Ames UCC church Click here to Register! Registration: 8:30 - 9:00 a.m. Morning Session 1: 9 - 10:30 a.m. "AI and Our Personal Lives" Morning Session 2: 10:45 a.m. - 12 p.m. "AI and National Implications" Lunch: 12 - 1 p.m. Afternoon Session: 1 - 2:30 p.m. "Opportunities for Faith Communities to Shape AI for Human Benefit" **Saturday sessions will be available via Zoom Sunday, October 18th: Question & Answer Session (In-Person Only): 9:00 a.m. Preaching at Ames UCC (Available via Zoom): 10:00 a.m. |
Program DonationsAll Theologian in Residence events are free and open to the public. However, if you are able, we request that you consider making a donation to help support the costs of our program. The cost to us is approximately $30 per family attending. We would welcome donations of any amount. If you make a donation, you will receive a receipt for any amount contributed. Thanks in advance for your help!
Options for donation:
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About the Speaker
Dr. Meghan Sullivan is the Wilsey Family Professor of Philosophy at the University of Notre Dame, and Director of Notre Dame's Institute for Ethics and the Common Good. Dr. Sullivan currently directs a $50 million grant with the Lilly Endowment to build a network of educators, faith leaders, technologists, journalists, and others to consider what human formation looks like in the era of powerful AI (artificial intelligence).
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Previous Theologians in Residence
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Year
2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1985 1984 |
Theologian
Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III John Pavlovitz Rev. Miguel De La Torre Rev. Brooks Berndt Karen L. King Not Held Due to Covid-19 David Vasquez-Levy Dave Csinos Harry T. Cook Barry Lynn Ruth Duck & Cynthia Wilson Phyllis Tickle Gary Dorrien Marva Dawn Ingrid Mattson Peter Sawtell Walter Brueggemann Diana Butler Bass Randall Balmer Christine M. Smith Amy Jill Levine Norman Jackson Dale Bishop Doug Adams John Shelby Spong John Dominic Crossan Karen Jo Torjesen Tex Sample George A. Drake Rita Nakashima Brock Robin Scroggs Marcus Borg Donald White Marty McMane & Alan Johnson Brian Wren Charles Hambrick-Stowe John Bolen Keith G. Schrag Andre LaCoque Wilson Yates Henry Gustafson |
Theme
"Spiritual Lessons for Thriving in Turbulent Times" "Finding Courage and Compassion When Cruelty is Trending" "Confronting Hopelessness in Immigration" "The Faith of Prophets: Lessons for the Climate Crisis" "The Challenges of Truth in Our Time" Not Held Due to Covid-19 "Immigration Matters: Joined Together, Finding Solutions" "Will our Faith Have Children?" "God, Christ, and Religious Action: A Challenge to Your Beliefs and Actions" "God and Government: Are Religious Liberties Crumbling?" "Stirred by the Spirit: Spirit-filled Worship and Spirit-filled Congregational Singing" "Being Christian and Church in 21st Century America" "The Crisis and Necessity of Progressive Theology" "Worship When God Seems to Be Absent" "Islam: Rumor and Reality" "Biblical Faith and Ecological Hope: Rethinking Theology for the Health of Creation" "The Good News of Alternative" "The Practicing Congregation: Imagining a New Old Church" "Perspectives on American Evangelicalism" "Resurrection: Fidelity to Life...in This Life" "Jesus, Gender, and Judaism" "Is God's Justice Irrelevant or Central to Our Faith?" "Building Bridges" "Bringing to Life the Humor in the Bible" "A New Christianity for a New World" "The Historical Jesus and the Birth of Christianity" "Rethinking Gender: Masculinity and Femininity in Early Christianity" "Christian Faith and Cultural Diversity: Doing Ministry in Oral, Literate, and Electronic Cultures" "Puritanism" "Who Do You Say That I Am?" "Exploring the Theology of Paul" "Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time" "The Church and the Environment: Modernism and Post-Modernism Views" "Good News" "The Language of Worship" "Spiritual Roots and Spiritual Growth" "Ethics in the Bible" and "Faith Development and the Church" "Creating a Just Peace in Home and Church" "The Church and the Environment" "Art and the Journey of Faith" "A New Vision of the New Testament" |