Diocese of Wellington communications manager and long-time tech enthusiast David Cross realised he should share his enthusiasm for Artificial Intelligence with the church after Archbishop Justin Duckworth leaned forward during a meeting and said to him, “You know, David, this is the most excited I’ve seen you all day.” 

David had been reviewing the past year’s communications with his bishop —what worked, what didn’t, and where to focus next. He had shared how AI was transforming his work and saving weeks of time while producing higher quality work.

"I realised the way I was using AI wasn’t just a tool — it felt like a way forward for church communications. That’s why I created 'The Smart Parish', a weekly email newsletter designed to help church leaders, administrators and volunteers use AI in practical, real-world ways."

David says the Smart Parish e-newsletter aims to unpack the time-saving benefits of AI so that ordinary churches can focus on what truly matters—their people, their communities and their mission.

'The Smart Parish' bulletin aims to help churches unlock the practical benefits of the growing world of AI with:
- No tech jargon
- No hype, and
- Simple, effective tools that save time and improve ministry work

Working in the Anglican Church of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia, David knows that church leaders juggle big workloads, often with limited time and resources. He says AI can help by:
- Saving hours on admin – by automating meeting notes, drafting emails, and organising tasks effortlessly.
- Enhancing communication – improving newsletters, social media posts, and sermon preparation.
- Boosting creativity – creating worship presentations, and developing Bible study materials.

Some of the first 'The Smart Parish' bulletins will look at:

- Clear, practical insights on using AI for church operations
- Real examples to apply in a parish
- Ethical discussions on using AI responsibly in ministry
- Stories from Anglican leaders already using AI to lighten the load 

Any parish or individual can sign up for the online bulletin from 'The Smart Parish' with the first edition due out next week. 

Sign up to The Smart Parish bulletin here.