AI, Ethics, and Empathy: A Conversation with Rev. Lauren Grubaugh Thomas

In this episode, Peter speaks with the Rev. Lauren Grubaugh Thomas, founding vicar of Holy Companion Episcopal Church and creator of A Soulful Revolution. Together, they explore the ethical and pastoral complexities of generative AI—its creative potential, its risks, and how the church can faithfully engage with this rapidly evolving technology.

Lauren draws on insights from Octavia Butler’s Parable of the Sower, shares stories from her ministry, and reflects on how spiritual formation, agency, and justice intersect with digital tools. From AI’s inherent bias to the dangers of false intimacy, this episode invites listeners to bring curiosity and caution as they shape change in an AI-shaped world.

Resources Mentioned

• Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
• Roots and Wings at VTS Center
• A Kid’s Book About AI Bias by Dr. Avril Epps
• “A Soulful Revolution” by Lauren Grubaugh Thomas (Substack)
• Brittany Hartley

Homework

• Lauren invites listeners to reflect on their own use of AI with questions such as:
  • Does this output reflect a just world?
  • Does it reinforce an unfair hierarchy?
  • Does it promote the agency and power of children (and others) to shape the world?