A recently released survey from the evangelical research firm Barna Group found that most pastors are using artificial intelligence in their ministry, with sermon writing assisted by AI use nearly doubling since 2024.
Fifty percent of pastors said they use AI for brainstorming or idea generation, 37% for graphic design, 36% for biblical or theological research and 34% generating discussion questions or administrative tasks such as scheduling and emails.
What’s more, 24% of pastors said they use AI in writing or editing sermons, up from 12% in 2024, Barna found in its ongoing State of the Church initiative.
However, even as pastors said they are using AI more often, 71% expressed hesitation and 40% said they feel conflicted about the technology.
“Pastors are predominantly using AI for behind-the-scenes work — as a thought partner, a visual aid,” says Daniel Copeland, Barna’s vice president of research. “They’re using it to prepare for ministry, not to replace what happens when they’re actually with people.”
The Barna survey was conducted online in December among 442 U.S. Protestant pastors. The pollster did not provide a margin of error.
Art DeBruyn, lead pastor of Center Grove Church in Greenwood, Indiana, says AI helps him write sermons but the essence of his ministry — preaching and pastoral counseling — remains untouched by the technology.
“It’s a tool, not a shortcut, and it doesn’t give us permission to abdicate our own knowledge, our own wisdom, our own experience,” said Mr. DeBruyn, 65.
Stacie Marie Ruff, a retired nurse who manages the church’s food pantry, said she isn’t surprised by the church’s use of AI in emails or to create images.
“I think we’ve all come to the realization, whether we think it’s positive or negative, that it’s going to be a part of our lives,” said Ms. Ruff, 56, adding that she doesn’t think small uses of AI need to be disclosed.
Fellow congregant Jody Veldkamp, 67, disagrees, saying he thinks Mr. DeBruyn should disclose his AI use — though, like Ms. Ruff, he isn’t surprised by it since he often uses AI himself.
Conversely, Father John Thomas Lane said he doesn’t use AI in his preaching or writing because “I just don’t think it’s authentic to our name.” The Catholic priest is moving from Highland Heights, Ohio, to St. Jean Baptiste Church in New York City in August.
Father Lane, 62, said AI’s real value lies in facilitating parish operations: He pointed to managing energy costs and building systems at a church with a staffing shortage.
“To have an artificial intelligence feature to a system in your parish would be so valuable and so helpful, but not to replace a teacher or not to replace someone, but to add to the existing people you need,” he said.
Episcopal pastor Kurt Gerhard of Christ Church Bronxville in New York says he uses AI to summarize resumes, review sermon drafts and look over interview summaries — but not to replace his ethical or spiritual judgment.
“If I’m using AI to do what I really feel like I was called to do, it seems like I’m not acknowledging that I have these gifts,” Mr. Gerhard said.
Meanwhile, Jennifer Holloran, president and CEO of the American Bible Society, said her organization has found that 32% of “Scripture-engaged” Americans use AI for biblical insights at least monthly. She said that’s typical among people already serious about study, but she cautioned against AI replacing pastoral mentorship or in-person church community.
“If there are cases where people are turning to AI and that’s causing them to step away from community and from the church, that can be a really unhealthy thing,” Ms. Holloran said. “Whereas if it’s a supplementing tool that they’re using alongside other things, that could be a great resource.”
