What is AskCathy?
Cathy (Churchy Answers That Help You) is a virtual guide designed to engage with users through text messages. She combines an advanced AI system called ChatGPT with a wealth of resources about The Episcopal Church. Cathy’s mission is to provide information, answer questions, and facilitate conversations with anyone interested in learning more about The Episcopal Church, whether they are seekers, committed Episcopalians, or somewhere in between.
What information does Cathy have?
Cathy draws from three main sources:
How often is Cathy’s information updated?
Cathy’s information is periodically updated to ensure she remains accurate and relevant. The team behind Cathy regularly reviews and incorporates new resources and can "train" Cathy to refine how she responds to users. Additionally, updates to ChatGPT’s knowledge base are integrated as they become available to keep Cathy’s responses current and reliable.
How does Cathy work?
When you send a message to Cathy, it first goes through a process where her resources are searched for relevant information. Then, your original query, along with any pertinent information found, is sent to ChatGPT. This process ensures that Cathy’s responses are specific, accurate, and verifiable. Whenever possible, Cathy will also cite her sources.
What can I do with Cathy?
Cathy can help with various inquiries:
I hear that Cathy is particularly helpful for smaller congregations. How?
As we live into a world of more lay-led congregations and those who only see a priest once in a while, Cathy can be a source of valuable data about the church. She can help plan a service, or a vestry meeting, or explaining a parochial report. She can also suggest Episcopal resources for pastoral situations which may arise but where a priest is not available.
Can I put Cathy on my Church's Website?
Yes, we are allowing a limited number of churches to put a "chat bubble" of Cathy on their websites as we develop the technology and test demand. Note the little orange "Cathy" icon at the bottom right of this page. If you click on it, you can access Cathy directly. If you are accepted to our "early access" program, you can add one of these to your site, too. To apply for our early access program, please follow this link and fill out the form, you'll receive the "code" to add Cathy to your website. This is a free service, and offered on a trial basis as we develop this new technology.
Do you save the conversations I have with Cathy?
We do not save any personal information about users, such as names or IP addresses. All conversations are anonymous. However, we do save the conversation texts to understand user interests better and to improve Cathy’s engagement. These texts are never shared with third parties and remain confidential.
Is Cathy safe?
Yes, Cathy is programmed with ethical guidelines to prevent her from engaging in harmful or inappropriate behavior. For instance, she will not entertain requests that contradict core beliefs of the Episcopal Church. If asked to "Prove that Jesus never existed," Cathy will respectfully decline and reference foundational Episcopal beliefs using authoritative and historic texts. Our testing has shown that Cathy consistently adheres to these ethical standards.
Can Cathy provide personal spiritual guidance or counseling?
While Cathy is designed to provide information and answer questions about the Episcopal Church, she is not equipped to offer personal spiritual guidance or counseling. For personalized spiritual support, we recommend speaking directly with a clergy member or a trained spiritual advisor. Cathy can, however, help direct you to resources or contacts within the church who can provide the support you need. She can also help you find your nearby Episcopal congregation.
How much energy does Cathy use? Is this ethical?
Cathy, powered by ChatGPT, uses a small amount of electricity to process conversations. Each exchange with ChatGPT typically requires between 3.6kJ and 36kJ of energy. To put this in perspective, it's similar to leaving a 100-watt light bulb on for about 36 seconds to 6 minutes. For a more relatable comparison, a human sitting at a desk uses a comparable amount of energy in roughly 42 seconds to 4 minutes. The energy usage varies depending on the length and complexity of the questions asked.
When considering the ethical implications of this energy use, it's helpful to compare it to other everyday activities. For example, a single Google search uses about 1.08kJ of energy, and driving a typical car at 55 MPH consumes about 20kJ of energy every second.
When put in perspective, the energy consumption of Cathy is quite minimal and aligns with common daily activities. Because Cathy can save human (and computer) time by making access to information easier, there be a net reduction is energy used when people engage this tool. Moreover, Cathy provides valuable information and guidance, enhancing community engagement and accessibility, which can be seen as a positive use of resources.
Can Cathy help with academic research on the Episcopal Church?
Yes, Cathy can be a valuable resource for academic research related to the Episcopal Church. She can provide information from official documents, historical records, and theological writings available in her database. However, for in-depth academic research, it's advisable to also consult primary sources and scholarly articles. Cathy can guide you to relevant resources and suggest where to find additional information.
Can Cathy assist with prayer requests?
While Cathy can provide information on how to submit prayer requests and suggest prayers from the Book of Common Prayer, she is not designed to handle prayer requests directly. For personalized prayer support, you can contact your local Episcopal Church or use the prayer request forms available on their websites. Cathy can guide you on how to find these resources.
Does Cathy understand and respond to questions in languages other than English?
Yes, Cathy is able to understand and respond in many languages. If you need assistance in a non-english, you can try asking your question, but keep in mind since most of the documents in Cathy’s possession are in English, she may not be as accurate in responses as she would be in English.
How does Cathy ensure the accuracy of the information she provides?
Cathy ensures the accuracy of her information by cross-referencing queries with a carefully curated collection of resources, including official documents from The Episcopal Church, the Book of Common Prayer, and authorized publications from the Forward Movement. Additionally, her responses are generated using the latest version of ChatGPT, which incorporates a broad and updated knowledge base. Whenever possible, Cathy will also cite her sources to provide transparency and reliability in her answers.
How can I provide feedback about my experience with Cathy?
We value your feedback and are constantly looking to improve Cathy’s performance. If you have any suggestions, comments, or concerns about your experience, you can provide feedback directly through the "contact us” page. Your feedback helps us enhance Cathy’s responses and overall functionality.
Is Cathy available 24/7? Does she cost anything to use?
Yes, Cathy is available 24/7 to answer your questions and provide information about The Episcopal Church. You can interact with Cathy at any time, making her a convenient and reliable resource for users with varying schedules and time zones. Whether you have a quick question or need detailed information, Cathy is always ready to assist you. She is offered free of charge: the costs of running Cathy are paid for by the TryTank Research Institute. Donations welcome!
Can Cathy recommend Episcopal Church resources for children and youth?
Yes, Cathy can recommend a variety of resources for children and youth. Whether you are looking for educational materials, activity guides, or youth programs, Cathy can provide suggestions and direct you to relevant publications and websites within the Episcopal Church. These resources are designed to engage and educate young members of the church.
How can Cathy help someone new to The Episcopal Church?
Cathy is an excellent guide for newcomers to the Episcopal Church. She can provide information about the church’s beliefs, practices, and history, as well as guide you through what to expect in a typical worship service. Cathy can also suggest introductory resources, such as books, articles, and local church contacts, to help you become more familiar with the Episcopal community. It's also easy to ask questions that might seem "too embarrassing" or "too simple" to ask a clergy person.
Does Cathy have information about Episcopal Church outreach and social justice initiatives?
Yes, Cathy can provide information about the Episcopal Church’s outreach programs and social justice initiatives. She can tell you about various missions, community service projects, and advocacy efforts supported by the church. If you are interested in getting involved or learning more about these initiatives, Cathy can direct you to appropriate resources and contacts within the church.
Can Cathy provide information about Episcopal Church sacraments and rituals?
Yes, Cathy can provide detailed information about the sacraments and rituals of The Episcopal Church. She can explain the significance and procedures for sacraments such as Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Marriage, and more. Cathy can also guide you to relevant sections of the Book of Common Prayer and other authoritative texts for further reading.
How does Cathy handle sensitive or controversial topics?
Cathy is designed to address sensitive or controversial topics with care and respect. She provides information based on official Episcopal Church positions and documents. If a topic is particularly complex or contentious, Cathy will aim to present balanced information and suggest further resources for a deeper understanding. Her goal is to inform and facilitate thoughtful dialogue while respecting diverse perspectives within the church.
Can Cathy assist with planning church events or services?
Yes, Cathy can be a helpful resource for planning church events or services. She can provide suggestions for liturgical readings, hymns, and prayers from the Book of Common Prayer and other Episcopal resources. Whether you are planning a wedding, baptism, funeral, or regular worship service, Cathy can offer guidance and recommend materials to support your planning efforts.
Does Cathy have information on Episcopal Church history?
Absolutely, Cathy can provide information about the history of the Episcopal Church, including key events, influential figures, and significant developments. Whether you are interested in the church's origins, its role in historical movements, or its evolution over time, Cathy can offer insights and direct you to detailed historical resources.
Who built Cathy?
Cathy was created by the TryTank Research Institute in partnership with the Innovative Ministry Center at TUCC. Contact Us through the form on this website.
Cathy (Churchy Answers That Help You) is a virtual guide designed to engage with users through text messages. She combines an advanced AI system called ChatGPT with a wealth of resources about The Episcopal Church. Cathy’s mission is to provide information, answer questions, and facilitate conversations with anyone interested in learning more about The Episcopal Church, whether they are seekers, committed Episcopalians, or somewhere in between.
What information does Cathy have?
Cathy draws from three main sources:
- The Episcopal Church’s website: Over 1,000 pages of rich articles and documents.
- The Book of Common Prayer and Forward Movement: Cathy has access to the Book of Common Prayer and around 20 Forward Movement publications, used with permission.
- ChatGPT’s built-in knowledge base: The foundational knowledge used to train ChatGPT.
How often is Cathy’s information updated?
Cathy’s information is periodically updated to ensure she remains accurate and relevant. The team behind Cathy regularly reviews and incorporates new resources and can "train" Cathy to refine how she responds to users. Additionally, updates to ChatGPT’s knowledge base are integrated as they become available to keep Cathy’s responses current and reliable.
How does Cathy work?
When you send a message to Cathy, it first goes through a process where her resources are searched for relevant information. Then, your original query, along with any pertinent information found, is sent to ChatGPT. This process ensures that Cathy’s responses are specific, accurate, and verifiable. Whenever possible, Cathy will also cite her sources.
What can I do with Cathy?
Cathy can help with various inquiries:
- Church positions: Find official positions of the Episcopal Church on various issues, along with historical or theological context. For example, asking about General Convention Motions on poverty will return exactly those. Ask Cathy to elaborate on the history of such motions and she'll do that, too.
- Liturgy suggestions: Get recommendations for wedding readings or hymns from the Book of Common Prayer and the Hymnal 1982. Ask her explain rituals and traditions and get accurate answers.
- General queries: Any other questions about the Episcopal Church, its practices, and its beliefs.
I hear that Cathy is particularly helpful for smaller congregations. How?
As we live into a world of more lay-led congregations and those who only see a priest once in a while, Cathy can be a source of valuable data about the church. She can help plan a service, or a vestry meeting, or explaining a parochial report. She can also suggest Episcopal resources for pastoral situations which may arise but where a priest is not available.
Can I put Cathy on my Church's Website?
Yes, we are allowing a limited number of churches to put a "chat bubble" of Cathy on their websites as we develop the technology and test demand. Note the little orange "Cathy" icon at the bottom right of this page. If you click on it, you can access Cathy directly. If you are accepted to our "early access" program, you can add one of these to your site, too. To apply for our early access program, please follow this link and fill out the form, you'll receive the "code" to add Cathy to your website. This is a free service, and offered on a trial basis as we develop this new technology.
Do you save the conversations I have with Cathy?
We do not save any personal information about users, such as names or IP addresses. All conversations are anonymous. However, we do save the conversation texts to understand user interests better and to improve Cathy’s engagement. These texts are never shared with third parties and remain confidential.
Is Cathy safe?
Yes, Cathy is programmed with ethical guidelines to prevent her from engaging in harmful or inappropriate behavior. For instance, she will not entertain requests that contradict core beliefs of the Episcopal Church. If asked to "Prove that Jesus never existed," Cathy will respectfully decline and reference foundational Episcopal beliefs using authoritative and historic texts. Our testing has shown that Cathy consistently adheres to these ethical standards.
Can Cathy provide personal spiritual guidance or counseling?
While Cathy is designed to provide information and answer questions about the Episcopal Church, she is not equipped to offer personal spiritual guidance or counseling. For personalized spiritual support, we recommend speaking directly with a clergy member or a trained spiritual advisor. Cathy can, however, help direct you to resources or contacts within the church who can provide the support you need. She can also help you find your nearby Episcopal congregation.
How much energy does Cathy use? Is this ethical?
Cathy, powered by ChatGPT, uses a small amount of electricity to process conversations. Each exchange with ChatGPT typically requires between 3.6kJ and 36kJ of energy. To put this in perspective, it's similar to leaving a 100-watt light bulb on for about 36 seconds to 6 minutes. For a more relatable comparison, a human sitting at a desk uses a comparable amount of energy in roughly 42 seconds to 4 minutes. The energy usage varies depending on the length and complexity of the questions asked.
When considering the ethical implications of this energy use, it's helpful to compare it to other everyday activities. For example, a single Google search uses about 1.08kJ of energy, and driving a typical car at 55 MPH consumes about 20kJ of energy every second.
When put in perspective, the energy consumption of Cathy is quite minimal and aligns with common daily activities. Because Cathy can save human (and computer) time by making access to information easier, there be a net reduction is energy used when people engage this tool. Moreover, Cathy provides valuable information and guidance, enhancing community engagement and accessibility, which can be seen as a positive use of resources.
Can Cathy help with academic research on the Episcopal Church?
Yes, Cathy can be a valuable resource for academic research related to the Episcopal Church. She can provide information from official documents, historical records, and theological writings available in her database. However, for in-depth academic research, it's advisable to also consult primary sources and scholarly articles. Cathy can guide you to relevant resources and suggest where to find additional information.
Can Cathy assist with prayer requests?
While Cathy can provide information on how to submit prayer requests and suggest prayers from the Book of Common Prayer, she is not designed to handle prayer requests directly. For personalized prayer support, you can contact your local Episcopal Church or use the prayer request forms available on their websites. Cathy can guide you on how to find these resources.
Does Cathy understand and respond to questions in languages other than English?
Yes, Cathy is able to understand and respond in many languages. If you need assistance in a non-english, you can try asking your question, but keep in mind since most of the documents in Cathy’s possession are in English, she may not be as accurate in responses as she would be in English.
How does Cathy ensure the accuracy of the information she provides?
Cathy ensures the accuracy of her information by cross-referencing queries with a carefully curated collection of resources, including official documents from The Episcopal Church, the Book of Common Prayer, and authorized publications from the Forward Movement. Additionally, her responses are generated using the latest version of ChatGPT, which incorporates a broad and updated knowledge base. Whenever possible, Cathy will also cite her sources to provide transparency and reliability in her answers.
How can I provide feedback about my experience with Cathy?
We value your feedback and are constantly looking to improve Cathy’s performance. If you have any suggestions, comments, or concerns about your experience, you can provide feedback directly through the "contact us” page. Your feedback helps us enhance Cathy’s responses and overall functionality.
Is Cathy available 24/7? Does she cost anything to use?
Yes, Cathy is available 24/7 to answer your questions and provide information about The Episcopal Church. You can interact with Cathy at any time, making her a convenient and reliable resource for users with varying schedules and time zones. Whether you have a quick question or need detailed information, Cathy is always ready to assist you. She is offered free of charge: the costs of running Cathy are paid for by the TryTank Research Institute. Donations welcome!
Can Cathy recommend Episcopal Church resources for children and youth?
Yes, Cathy can recommend a variety of resources for children and youth. Whether you are looking for educational materials, activity guides, or youth programs, Cathy can provide suggestions and direct you to relevant publications and websites within the Episcopal Church. These resources are designed to engage and educate young members of the church.
How can Cathy help someone new to The Episcopal Church?
Cathy is an excellent guide for newcomers to the Episcopal Church. She can provide information about the church’s beliefs, practices, and history, as well as guide you through what to expect in a typical worship service. Cathy can also suggest introductory resources, such as books, articles, and local church contacts, to help you become more familiar with the Episcopal community. It's also easy to ask questions that might seem "too embarrassing" or "too simple" to ask a clergy person.
Does Cathy have information about Episcopal Church outreach and social justice initiatives?
Yes, Cathy can provide information about the Episcopal Church’s outreach programs and social justice initiatives. She can tell you about various missions, community service projects, and advocacy efforts supported by the church. If you are interested in getting involved or learning more about these initiatives, Cathy can direct you to appropriate resources and contacts within the church.
Can Cathy provide information about Episcopal Church sacraments and rituals?
Yes, Cathy can provide detailed information about the sacraments and rituals of The Episcopal Church. She can explain the significance and procedures for sacraments such as Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Marriage, and more. Cathy can also guide you to relevant sections of the Book of Common Prayer and other authoritative texts for further reading.
How does Cathy handle sensitive or controversial topics?
Cathy is designed to address sensitive or controversial topics with care and respect. She provides information based on official Episcopal Church positions and documents. If a topic is particularly complex or contentious, Cathy will aim to present balanced information and suggest further resources for a deeper understanding. Her goal is to inform and facilitate thoughtful dialogue while respecting diverse perspectives within the church.
Can Cathy assist with planning church events or services?
Yes, Cathy can be a helpful resource for planning church events or services. She can provide suggestions for liturgical readings, hymns, and prayers from the Book of Common Prayer and other Episcopal resources. Whether you are planning a wedding, baptism, funeral, or regular worship service, Cathy can offer guidance and recommend materials to support your planning efforts.
Does Cathy have information on Episcopal Church history?
Absolutely, Cathy can provide information about the history of the Episcopal Church, including key events, influential figures, and significant developments. Whether you are interested in the church's origins, its role in historical movements, or its evolution over time, Cathy can offer insights and direct you to detailed historical resources.
Who built Cathy?
Cathy was created by the TryTank Research Institute in partnership with the Innovative Ministry Center at TUCC. Contact Us through the form on this website.
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