XchangeFest Summit: Can the Church influence the trajectory of the 4IR?

ABOUT

Introduction

The summit is our effort to contribute towards the engagements and debates currently underway to redefine the future South Africa, whilst determining how future proof the nation is from the technological disruptions ushered in by the 4IR.

We want to expose those who are outside the core of the debates taking place in closed spaces, boardrooms and inaccessible thought leadership events - to moral and ethical debates, threats, opportunities, trends, disruptions, future skill in the world of work and entrepreneurial opportunities availed by the 4IR in the various sectors and industries.

The event is also premised on the backdrop of the acceleration of the 4IR technologies, fuelled by a combination of innovations related to artificial intelligence-which refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think like humans and mimic their actions;  the Internet of Things (IoT) or of everything really , which refers to the interrelation of everything connected to the internet; 3D printing, robotics and  genetic engineering- which refers to the direct manipulation of one or more genes in organisms.

As you know the term “the fourth industrial revolution” was coined by Klaus Schwab, the founder and chairman of the World Economic forum in 2016. The organisation argues that the next 50 years- even the very next 25 years, will present a moral test for humankind as they will show how well communities, societies and the global community at large succeed in collectively defining their priorities, engaging crucial questions about values and ethics, and aligning technological development properly. The task of regulation is to set moral values and standards to inform not just what, but how governments and businesses create technologies. In this regard, the moral role of technologies that concerns the values and ethics of the technological development process must be addressed at this critical moment in history, and according to the World Economic Forum, the Church is central in those engagements.

We believe that faith as the source of moral and ethical guidance for individuals and communities is the most powerful force guiding societal and economic interactions. Governments, regulators and entrepreneurs need to appreciate the complex doctrines that link religion, technology and society, and intentionally engage in constructive conversations with religious leaders and congregants about the ethical standards that should apply to emerging technological innovations.

Rethinking the processes of technological development is therefore needed, asking first what long-term future is wanted, and then how to position technological development towards achieving it, putting the human being at the centre.

Goals of the event

• The Church’s response historically to the disruptions that were ushered in by the preceding Industrial Revolutions.
• The role the Church can play in the preservation of Christian values and morals through the design of societally aligned technologies.
• How will South Africa ensure that the human being remains central in the innovation process across industries and sectors in the digital technological race fuelled by the 4IR era?
• Values and ethical issues related to gene editing, gene therapy and bio banks.
• A future fuelled by 4IR technologies-what can we expect? 

Our speakers

• Pastor Louis Kotze, Senior Pastor, Hatfield Christian Church
• Dr Tanya van Wyk, Senior Lecturer in Systematic Theology, Christian Ethics and Spirituality at the Faculty of Theology and Religion, University of Pretoria(UP) 
• Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana, General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches
• Professor Daniel Mashao, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment at the University of Johannesburg (UJ). 
• Dr Camille Castelyn, PhD in Health Sciences-Values and ethics about gene editing
• Ms Rebatho Madiba, Digital Transformation IT Strategist.  

The topics

• The Church’s response historically to the disruptions that were ushered in by the preceding Industrial Revolutions.
• The role the Church can play in the preservation of Christian values and morals through the design of societally aligned technologies.
• How will South Africa ensure that the human being remains central in the innovation process across industries and sectors in the digital technological race fuelled by the 4IR era?
• Values and ethical issues related to gene editing, gene therapy and bio banks.
• A future fuelled by 4IR technologies-what can we expect? 

DIRECTIONS