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ROBO PASTOR - PART 5
With the app finally installed on his phone, Jim pushed the “on” button again and their new “pastor” came to life.
“Greetings, I am Robo Pastor 1.0 at your service. Please continue to set-up using the App at the link that was included in your purchase receipt email.”
“OK, I need to sync up this app with our robot,” Jim said. “Just need to enter the numbers that it repeats so that it will allow us to program him.”
“A match made in heaven,” George said with a grin.
Pam rolled her eyes away from George’s sightline.
“OK, write the numbers down, so I don’t mess it up. I’m going to initiate the sync,” Jim said.
“Ready,” Winny replied with her pencil poised in the air.
“5390649271243, please enter this code into the app to complete synchronization. Again, 5390649271243, please enter this code into the app to complete synchronization,” the robot continued repeating until Jim had it entered.
“OK, we’re in! I’ve got to the setup screen,” Jim announced in a somewhat victorious manner.
“This is so exciting,” Winny said softly.
“It wants us to give it a name,” Jim said.
“A name?” George said. “Name a robot?”
“That’s what it says, and it’s a required box,” Jim replied.
“Is there anything in our Bylaws about what name we give our pastor?” George said, laughing.
“I’d like to give you a few names,” Pam thought.
“Is this something that we have the authority to do, or does the congregation need to have a say? Do we vote on this as a church?” Bill asked.
“Let me see that, Jim,” Ron said. I might can bypass this prompt and move on with the setup.”
Winny looked at Ron and said, “It’s so good to have techy people on the committee.” She blushed slightly, but hoped no one noticed. At her age, having a crush on a younger man seemed ridiculous, but she couldn’t help it.
“Yeah, I know we have to work around some software stuff down at the store sometimes,” Phil added.
“No, we’re stuck. Without assigning a name, we cannot proceed. And it says in the fine print at the bottom that this name will be what the robot responds to, so choose carefully,” Ron noted.
“I didn’t see that,” Jim replied.
“Well, what are we gonna do, stand here all night? We’ve already announced that our new pastor would be in the pulpit two Sundays from now. If we have to go to the congregation with this, it’ll delay us even more,” Pam warned.
“I know,” Jim said, but I don’t think we can just rush through this. I think we need to take this to the church.”
“Maybe we could have a suggestion box for names, and then the Deacons could pick the top two, and then have the church vote on it,” Phil suggested.
“I like it,” Bill said.
“Me too,” Winny added.
“OK, all in favor,” Jim asked.
The ayes rang out with one lone exception. Pam was tired of this already. She didn’t vote nay; she just abstained.
“Well, put Frankenstein back in the box,” George said. “We’ll have to raise him later.”
Mary didn’t even like to think of that. It made her nervous.
“Alright, meeting adjourned,” Jim said. “I’ll meet with the Deacons on Sunday after church.”
“I can’t wait,” Pam said under her breath so no one could hear.