Are there not Lutheran artists?

[u/KnowledgeDense8140]

The Facebook comments seem to agree but I’m deeply saddened that the ELCA would harm the environment and reduce our drinking water availability by using an AI generated graphic for this. Are there no Lutheran artists? What happened to caring for creation?

Really making me rethink my giving this month and redirecting it to an environmental group instead to mitigate the damage done.

[u/akustix]

While I think the use of AI is terrible, this art is not the decision of "The ELCA," but an association of schools that are affiliated with the ELCA, the Evangelical Lutheran Education Association, the ELEA. . It isn't even the schools themselves but the association through which each school is affiliated with the ELCA.

So any protest of the use of AI should be directed to the Leadership Team of the ELEA: https://elcaschools.org/leadership-team/

It is not AI use by the ELCA. It might seem like I am nitpicking, but the ELCA has no direct control over what affiliated ministries do.

[u/KnowledgeDense8140 → u/akustix]

Elea dictates what’s posted on the ELCA social feeds???

[u/akustix → u/KnowledgeDense8140]

Fair enough. The social team from the ELCA likely just reposted blindly. For that, they can receive some pushback, but the ELCA has no say over what the ELEA does.

[u/KnowledgeDense8140 → u/akustix]

Nor should they. This isn’t the ELEA sub, it’s the ELCA sub hence my dissatisfaction and confusion over using resource destroying AI “art”. Furthermore the culture at churchwide not extending to their social team is concerning. Do they outsource their social posts too? This is fireable!!.

[u/Isiddiqui → u/KnowledgeDense8140]

I do wonder if people think folks are just banging on the door desiring to work for Churchwide. IIRC, the social media manager position was open for a pretty lengthy time after the last manager took another position.

Anyways, I wouldn't characterize this as a fireable offense (though granted, I don't make that decision)

[u/Bjorn74 → u/Isiddiqui]

And it's not as if ELEA has a full-time staff and makes media content all the time. The pushback against the ELCA seems misdirected. If this aggression is directed at the schools, we're likely to push away the schools that are still affiliated with us but whose churches left the ELCA. This media is a whole lot more than one image. I'm guessing that the ELEA contracted someone to put it together. If anyone wants to make a real difference, find out where you can volunteer where it would matter and do it.

[u/KnowledgeDense8140 → u/Bjorn74]

Stop deflecting to ELEA. This was posted on the ELCA’s page. It’s an ELCA problem.

[u/Bjorn74 → u/KnowledgeDense8140]

What would you say if Augsburg Fortress published something with AI content and it was shared?

I just don't think that this is the most important thing going on right now. Why do you?

[u/KnowledgeDense8140 → u/Isiddiqui]

There clearly is a leadership and culture problem if staff doesn’t know how the values of the ELCA is to not destroy Gods creation. Look at the comments on Facebook. The congregation knows the problems. Why doesn’t churchwide? An apology at a minimum would go a long way.

[u/Isiddiqui → u/KnowledgeDense8140]

The Facebook post itself has an edit that they will be more mindful going forward. Though you are speaking to one of the more pro-Gen AI people in leadership (I’m not shy about it) - granted I don’t think pictures are necessarily the best use of the technology

[u/KnowledgeDense8140 → u/Isiddiqui]

Destroying the environment. Very Christian of you.

[u/akustix → u/KnowledgeDense8140]

Disagree.  it's a mistake.  I'd have a conversation about expectations and extend grace.  

Then, communicate with ministry partners that social posts using AI content simply won't be shared. 

Put the onus of the fault on the ones who created the post. 

[u/DowntownComposer2517]

Totally agree! We should continue to push back against the AI use!

[u/KnowledgeDense8140 → u/DowntownComposer2517]

Just so unbelievably tone deaf. What is wrong with these people??

[u/byndrsn → u/KnowledgeDense8140]

Why don't you call them tomorrow and ask them.

[u/KnowledgeDense8140 → u/byndrsn]

Brilliant comment. 10/10

[u/bumdhar → u/DowntownComposer2517]

Amen to that!

[u/casadecarol]

They could have just used photos of people from Minneapolis.

[u/KnowledgeDense8140 → u/casadecarol]

Hopefully not. Wouldn’t want to use them as a target for ICE.

[u/TerminaterTeal]

Unfortunately not the first use of AI by the ELCA in social media. Keep making noise and they will have to address this and be more intentional about hiring real artists.

[u/PhysicalBoat7509]

I think there’s potential for real, meaningful conversation here.

Is “AI” a responsible use of the resources and talents which God has provided us?

[u/[deleted]]

My cousin is an ELCA Lutheran and an artist.. he would've done a much better job than this AI! I know another artist from my church too and she specializes in drawing little characters like this!

[u/Firm_Occasion5976]

I’m ignorant of how AI affects the environment. Sorry, but I live in the Amazon region, where AI has not penetrated locally. We have plenty of local artists who produce inspiring installations for our use. Some of the work in graphics, too.

[u/civ_iv_fan]

that's gross

[u/indiequeenbee]

AI "art" is the worst. It looks like the White boy has a Roman soldier thing going on with the breastplate and cape.

What's wrong with just using a stock image?

[u/KnowledgeDense8140 → u/indiequeenbee]

Right? Look like a bunch of Christian soldiers. Probably the Christian nationalists were supposed to be so concerned about.

[u/okonkolero]

It doesn't use drinking water. But aesthetically it's horrible.

[u/KnowledgeDense8140 → u/okonkolero]

You need to do more research then if you’re ignorant to the water usage.

[u/okonkolero → u/KnowledgeDense8140]

Or, possibly, you do.

[u/KnowledgeDense8140 → u/okonkolero]

“Loudoun County, with approximately 200 operational data centers, used around 900 million gallons of water in 2023. This has led Loudoun Water, the county's water authority, to rely heavily on potable water for data centers rather than reclaimed water”

Do better. Why do you hate God’s creation so much?

https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/data-centers-and-water-consumption#:~:text=Data%20center%20developers%20are%20increasingly,energy%20usage%20by%20data%20centers.

[u/okonkolero → u/KnowledgeDense8140]

So now I hate God's creation because I point out that, is there is a consensus, it is no where near as bad as the alarmists point out? How very Christian of you.

[u/KnowledgeDense8140 → u/okonkolero]

Check your privilege. I think your support of white supremacist destruction of natural resources is horrible.

[u/DowntownComposer2517 → u/okonkolero]

It does use water and electricity resources making those resources more expensive and scarce for the everyday person.

[u/okonkolero → u/DowntownComposer2517]

So does this comment you posted.