--- title: Ministry Resources 2026 - WELSTech --- - - - - - - - - - [![tunein-svgrepo-com (1)](https://welstech.wels.org/hubfs/tunein-svgrepo-com%20(1).svg) ](https://tunein.com/podcasts/Technology-Podcasts/WELSTech-Audio-p1206615/) - [![Groups-2-Fill--Streamline-Rounded-Fill-Streamline-Material](https://welstech.wels.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Groups-2-Fill--Streamline-Rounded-Fill-Streamline-Material.png?width=16&height=16&name=Groups-2-Fill--Streamline-Rounded-Fill-Streamline-Material.png) ](https://groups.google.com/a/groups.wels.net/g/welstech) - [Stitcher icon ](https://app.stitcher.com/browse/feed/22792) - - - # ![](https://welstechmulti.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/WELSTech-AI-Summit-300x300.png)WELSTech AI Summit ### Divine Savior Lutheran, Doral, FL | February 21-23, 2025 The first WELSTech Summit will gather AI experts and thought leaders, as well as influencers from across the synod, to explore the place and practice of artificial intelligence within WELS. This will be an invitation only event. Participants are selected based on nomination. Deliverables from the summit could include recommendations for synod agencies, churches, and schools related to the use of AI, best practices, policies, and more focused study. The recommendation for and creation of subsequent working groups in specific domains is likely. --- ## Objectives 1. **Explore ways to educate and prepare**: Introduce educators to AI technologies and their potential applications in Lutheran education, helping them understand the “what, why, and how” of AI in the context of their faith-based teaching. 2. **Discuss ways to enhance teaching and learning**: Showcase AI tools and strategies that can augment classroom instruction, improve student engagement, and support personalized learning experiences. Discuss how to equip students with the necessary skills and knowledge to thrive in an AI-infused ministry while maintaining their faith perspective. 3. **Explore ethical considerations and concerns**: Discuss the ethical implications of AI use in Lutheran churches and schools, aligning its implementation with Christian values and principles. Provide a platform for called workers to voice their concerns about AI and collaboratively develop strategies to address challenges such as ministerial and academic integrity and responsible use. 4. **Promote AI literacy**: Equip pastors, teachers and administrators with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively integrate AI into their ministry, curricula and administrative processes. 5. **Create an AI collaboration space to foster best practices and innovation**: Create an AI collaboration space to encourage exploration of innovative ways of incorporating AI into various teaching practices while maintaining the core values of Lutheran education. Seed a repository for creating AI usage policies and guidelines, share best practices, experiences and ideas related to AI implementation. --- ## Schedule | ### Friday, February 21, 2025 | | | --- | --- | | **TIME** | **EVENT** | | 4:00 PM - 4:15 PM | Registration | | 4:15 PM – 4:45 PM | Welcome & Devotion | | 4:45 PM – 5:45 PM | Keynote Address - ["AI, Robotics, and the Future of Humanity: Navigating Faith in our Rapidly Changing World," presented by Thomas Frey](https://welstechmulti.wpenginepowered.com/ai-summit-keynote-frey/) | | 5:45 PM – 6:45 PM | Keynote Panel Discussion | | 7:30 PM | Dinner | | ### Saturday, February 22, 2025 | | | **TIME** | **EVENT** | | 8:00 AM - 8:45 AM | Continental Breakfast | | 8:45 AM – 9:45 AM | Morning Keynote - ["AI’s Practical Place in Spreading the Gospel" presented by Nathan Lasnoski](https://welstechmulti.wpenginepowered.com/ai-summit-keynote-lasnoski/) | | 9:45 AM – 10:00 AM | Starter #1 "Educating and preparing" | | 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM | Working Group Breakouts | | 10:45 AM – 11:00 AM | Break | | 11:00 AM – 11:15 AM | Starter #2 – “Exploring ethical considerations and concerns” | | 11:15 AM – 12:00 PM | Working Group Breakouts | | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | Lunch | | 1:00 PM – 1:15 PM | Divine Savior Ministry Overview - Pastor Steve Mueller | | 1:15 PM – 2:15 PM | Afternoon Keynote: [*"*AI in Education: A Look at Some Exciting Possibilities" presented by Michael Plocher & Dr. James Carlovsky](https://welstechmulti.wpenginepowered.com/ai-summit-keynote-carlovsky-plocher/) | | 2:15 PM – 2:30 PM | Break | | 2:30 PM – 2:45 PM | Starter #3 – "Enhancing teaching and learning" | | 2:45 PM – 3:30 PM | Working Group Breakouts | | 3:30 PM - 3:45 PM | Closing and departure | | 5:00 PM - 6:00PM | Bilingual worship at Divine Savior Lutheran | |   | Dinner (on your own) | | ### Sunday, February 23, 2025 | | | **TIME** | **EVENT** | | 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM | English worship at Divine Savior Lutheran | |   | Lunch (on your own) | | 1:00 PM – 1:15 PM | Starter #4 & #5 – “Promoting AI Literacy” & "Collaboration for best practices and continued innovation" | | 1:15 PM – 2:00 PM | Working Group Breakouts | | 2:00 PM – 2:15 PM | Break | | 2:15 PM – 2:30 PM | Introduction to Retrospective | | 2:30 PM – 3:15 PM | Retrospective Breakouts | | 3:15 PM – 4:00 PM | What's Next? | | 4:00 PM - 4:30 PM | Closing Devotion | Note: Agenda subject to change --- ##### We look forward to a time of learning, fellowship, and envisioning the future of AI in our synod! ---   ### Ministry Resources Archive [ 2008-2016 ](https://welstech.wels.org/ministry-resources-archive?hsLang=en) | [ 2017 ](https://welstech.wels.org/welstech/tag/ministry-resource?hsLang=en) | [ 2018 ](https://welstech.wels.org/ministry-resources-2018?hsLang=en) | [ 2019 ](https://welstech.wels.org/ministry-resources-2019?hsLang=en) | [ 2020 ](https://welstech.wels.org/ministry-resources-2020?hsLang=en) | [ 2021 ](https://welstech.wels.org/ministry-resources-2021?hsLang=en) | [ 2022 ](https://welstech.wels.org/ministry-resources-2022?hsLang=en) | [ 2023 ](https://welstech.wels.org/ministry-resources-2023?hsLang=en) | [ 2024 ](https://welstech.wels.org/ministry-resources-2024?hsLang=en) | [ 2025 ](https://welstech.wels.org/ministry-resources-2025?hsLang=en) | [ 2026 ](https://welstech.wels.org/ministry-resources-2026?hsLang=en) ### About WELSTech exists to explore the use of technology to further the spread of the gospel. Audio episodes are released biweekly. This show is sponsored by the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS). ![WELSlogo_fullcolor_web_minsize](https://welstech.wels.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Welstech/WELSlogo_fullcolor_web_minsize.webp?width=150&height=71&name=WELSlogo_fullcolor_web_minsize.webp) ##### Upcoming Show Topics [![Subscribe](https://welstech.wels.org/hubfs/45057981/wtButnSubscribeEnewsContent-300x164.webp) ](https://welstech.wels.org/e-news-subscription/?hsLang=en) ## Latest Episodes ![777 - From Wagon Train to Airplane](https://welstech.wels.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Welstech/WELSTech%20777%20(1080%20x%201080%20px).png?width=500&name=WELSTech%20777%20(1080%20x%201080%20px).png) ### 777 - From Wagon Train to Airplane Eighteen and a half years. 777 episodes. And one unforgettable farewell. In this milestone WELSTech episode, Martin Spriggs and Sallie Draper mark the end of an era as Sallie shares that she will be retiring from WELS — and from WELSTech. Episode 777 is their final show together as co-hosts, and they spend it doing what they do best: looking back, laughing, and pointing to the God who blessed every episode along the way. [Read More](https://welstech.wels.org/2026/06/01/777-from-wagon-train-to-airplane?hsLang=en) [Read More](https://welstech.wels.org/2026/06/01/777-from-wagon-train-to-airplane?hsLang=en) ![776 - Wholly Unauthorized](https://welstech.wels.org/hs-fs/hubfs/WELSTech%20776%20Wholly%20Unauthorized.png?width=500&name=WELSTech%20776%20Wholly%20Unauthorized.png) ### 776 - Wholly Unauthorized What happens when you feed years of podcast transcripts into an AI and ask it to roast your long-time guest hosts, Dr. Rachel Renno and Jason Schmidt? WELSTech episode 776, that's what! You won't want to miss the standout phrase that should be cross-stitched on a pillow and lots more WELSTech goodness! [Read More](https://welstech.wels.org/2026/05/14/776-wholly-unauthorized?hsLang=en) [Read More](https://welstech.wels.org/2026/05/14/776-wholly-unauthorized?hsLang=en) ![775 - Cough Drops and Use Cases](https://welstech.wels.org/hs-fs/hubfs/775%20Cough%20Drops%20and%20Use%20Cases.png?width=500&name=775%20Cough%20Drops%20and%20Use%20Cases.png) ### 775 - Cough Drops and Use Cases Sallie's voice may not be at 100%, but the show must go on! In this episode of WELSTech, Martin and Sallie power through to explore one of the most practical questions in this Season of AI: what does AI actually look like in your ministry context? [Read More](https://welstech.wels.org/2026/04/30/775-cough-drops-and-use-cases?hsLang=en) [Read More](https://welstech.wels.org/2026/04/30/775-cough-drops-and-use-cases?hsLang=en) WELS.net | [Privacy Policy](https://wels.net/privacy-policy/) - - - - - - - - - [![tunein-svgrepo-com (1)](https://welstech.wels.org/hubfs/tunein-svgrepo-com%20(1).svg) ](https://tunein.com/podcasts/Technology-Podcasts/WELSTech-Audio-p1206615/) - [![Groups-2-Fill--Streamline-Rounded-Fill-Streamline-Material](https://welstech.wels.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Groups-2-Fill--Streamline-Rounded-Fill-Streamline-Material.png?width=16&height=16&name=Groups-2-Fill--Streamline-Rounded-Fill-Streamline-Material.png) ](https://groups.google.com/a/groups.wels.net/g/welstech) - - - -