The Gathering

Twice a year, Presbytery Central holds their Gathering. This is an opportunity to learn, fellowship, and grow together. We welcome all members of Presbyterian and Uniting churches in the Central region, along with anyone else interested, to join us for a meaningful and engaging weekend.

Living in an Age of Disruptive Technologies

Our world is rapidly changing, and technology is reshaping how we connect, communicate, and engage with faith. At this Gathering, we will explore how the Church can navigate and respond to these changes while remaining grounded in our mission.

This Gathering will take place at St Albans Church in Palmerston North. We encourage ministers to join us for fellowship and learning on Friday, and invite everyone who can to be part of our full-day program on Saturday.

Keynote Speaker

Prof. Neil Dodgson

“Living in an Age of Disruptive Technologies: AI and What It Means to Be Human”

AI is much in the news now, but computer scientists have been working on AI for seventy years. So why is it so big so suddenly? What has happened, is happening, and will happen? This talk will summarise the history of AI and explain the current technology of deep learning that has led to generative AI systems that can do things we once thought were the sole purview of human beings. Neil will speak about the positive and negative potential of AI, how we respond to the ethical problems it raises, and how the church might engage in the debate. He will leave plenty of time at the end for questions and answers.

Neil Dodgson is Professor of Computer Graphics and Dean of Graduate Research at Victoria University of Wellington. He has spent 30 years working across mathematics, engineering, and computing, including twenty years as co-leader of the Graphics and Interaction Research Group at the University of Cambridge. His current research students use a range of AI techniques to achieve novel results in image processing. He has previously spoken on AI to NZCIS, New Zealand Christians in Science (NZCIS), and at a number of events run by ISCAST, the Australian Institute for the Study of Christianity in an Age of Science and Technology. He was keynote speaker at ISCAST’s Conference on Science and Christianity in Sydney in November 2024.

Get Involved

Keep scrolling to find out more about the content of the weekend and register your place for the Gathering. This is a great opportunity for people from all corners of our Presbytery to get together, load up a car, and bring a cohort from your parish to come away revitalised and engaged. We’d be delighted to have you take advantage of this opportunity. Register today.

Schedule

Join us for the Minister’s Gathering on Friday afternoon, where ministers will have the opportunity to connect, reflect, and discuss ministry in today’s changing world.

Saturday begins with worship at 10:30 AM, followed by our keynote address from Prof. Neil Dodgson.

The day continues with engaging workshops and discussions, including:

• The ethics of using AI and other technologies in the church, led by Neil Dodgson
• EfM on Theological Reflection (Limited to 10 participants)
• Brainstorming technology for helping congregations, facilitated by Kyle Hastelow
• Ministry feels tough these days: A conversation on ministry in today’s (secular) world, led by Seb Murrihy of KCML
• The Drama of Worship, with Peter MacKenzie

After lunch, we will gather for business matters, storytelling, a presentation from participants of the Council of Assembly Hui and a CWS presentation.

The afternoon will continue with more workshops before concluding with a final blessing and communion.

We look forward to seeing you there!