AI, the Church, and the Road Ahead: Wisdom for Pastors in a Rapidly Changing World

Some of our pastors recently gathered on Zoom to learn about artificial intelligence with Kenny Jahng of AI for Church Leaders. We host these monthly conversations to learn together, sharpen our leadership, and think faithfully about what’s next for the church. Below are a few takeaways from that call. These are key insights pastors are wrestling with as AI continues to shape ministry and culture. 

If you would like to watch the full Zoom conversation, you can find FULL ZOOM VIDEO HERE

Artificial intelligence is no longer a distant idea or a futuristic concern. It is already here, already shaping how people work, communicate, create, and even seek counsel. And whether pastors are ready or not, AI is already showing up in churches, sometimes thoughtfully, sometimes carelessly, and often quietly.

That reality was front and center during our recent conversation. The goal was not hype or fear mongering. It was discernment. How should pastors think about AI? What is it actually good for? Where are the dangers? And how do we lead faithfully without drifting into the ditch?

One story captured the tension perfectly. A ministry leader recently posted a heartfelt call to prayer, only to forget to remove the telltale ChatGPT language at the bottom of the post. It was a small mistake, but an instructive one. AI is powerful, but when it is used carelessly, it can quietly undermine trust, credibility, and pastoral integrity.

The challenge before the church is not whether AI exists. It is how we will steward it.

Why Waiting Is Not a Faithful Strategy

Historically, the church has not always been first to embrace new technology. Sometimes that caution has been wise. But AI is different. This is not a niche innovation or a passing trend. AI has universal relevance because it began with language, text in and text out, and ministry runs on language. Sermons, emails, discipleship resources, counseling notes, leadership communication, and pastoral care all depend on words.

More importantly, AI is reshaping how people feel about the future. The cultural mood has shifted from fear of missing out to something deeper, a fear of becoming irrelevant. Many people are quietly wondering if their skills, careers, or contributions will still matter in a world increasingly shaped by machines.

That fear, sometimes described as fear of looming obsolescence, creates both a pastoral challenge and a gospel opportunity. The church has something no technology can offer, a coherent vision of human dignity, purpose, calling, and hope rooted in a biblical worldview. But to speak credibly into that moment, pastors need to understand the tools shaping the culture around them.

AI Will Not Replace Pastors, But It Will Change Pastoral Leadership

One of the most clarifying insights from the call was this. AI is not going to replace you. But someone who knows your role and knows how to use AI might.

That does not mean pastors need to become technologists. It does mean pastors need to engage AI thoughtfully enough to lead well. Ignoring it does not protect the church. It simply shifts decisions to staff members, volunteers, or outside platforms without pastoral guidance.

A helpful way to understand AI is to stop thinking of it as a machine and start thinking of it as an intern. A very fast intern. One who has read an enormous amount, never gets tired, and is eager to help, but who does not know your church, your theology, your tone, or your people unless you train it.

When pastors treat AI like a vending machine, type a prompt, press a button, and accept whatever comes out, they often end up disappointed or uneasy. But that is not how leadership works. Interns require coaching, feedback, examples, and guardrails. AI works best the same way. It can accelerate ministry work, but it still needs human wisdom, discernment, and oversight.

Where AI Can Serve the Church Well

Used wisely, AI can be a genuine gift to pastors and church teams. It can help leaders move faster without cutting corners, clarify thinking that feels tangled, and reduce administrative load so more time can be spent on relationships.

AI is particularly helpful for drafting first versions of content, outlines, emails, social posts, planning documents, and summaries. It can help pastors take the chaos of ideas in their heads and turn them into something coherent. It can help churches repurpose the enormous amount of content they already produce every week instead of letting it disappear after Sunday.

In that sense, AI does not replace creativity or leadership. It amplifies what is already there. Strategic leaders often become more strategic. Clear communicators often become clearer. Churches with strong vision can often express that vision more consistently.

Where Pastors Must Draw Firm Boundaries

At the same time, there are places where AI does not belong at the center of ministry.

Pastoral care is one of them. AI cannot replace presence, discernment, or spiritual authority. It cannot sit with grief, notice unspoken pain, or respond wisely in moments of crisis. When the stakes are high, counseling, abuse situations, emotional distress, or spiritual direction, AI must never replace human shepherds.

Ethics is another boundary. AI does not carry moral responsibility. Pastors and leaders do. That is especially important when it comes to data privacy. Churches handle deeply sensitive information, and pastors must be clear that personal identifiable information, names, counseling details, donor data, or anything involving minors, should not be entered into AI tools. This is not about fear. It is about stewardship and trust.

Why Every Church Needs an AI Policy

One of the clearest takeaways from the conversation was the importance of naming expectations out loud. Many leaders assume their staff and volunteers share their views on AI. In practice, that is rarely true. When expectations are not clear, people make their own decisions quietly, and surprises follow.

An AI policy does not need to be complex. But it should articulate boundaries, expectations, and values. It should clarify what tools are acceptable, what data is off limits, and how AI fits into preaching, communication, and ministry workflows. Even a simple policy creates alignment and invites healthy conversation.

The Bigger Picture: Scaling Relationships, Not Replacing Them

At its best, ministry is about life change, and life change happens through relationships. That is the lens pastors should use when evaluating AI. If a tool helps remove unnecessary friction, clarify communication, or free leaders to be more present with people, it can be a gift. If it replaces presence, shortcuts integrity, or distances leaders from their people, it becomes a liability.

AI will continue to get faster, smarter, and more capable. The question for the church is not how powerful the technology will become. The question is whether pastors will lead the conversation with wisdom, courage, and clarity.

Pastors do not need to be AI experts. They need to be faithful shepherds who help their churches navigate a rapidly changing world without losing their soul. Used wisely, AI can serve that mission. Used carelessly, it can quietly erode trust.

The road ahead will require discernment, but it is a road the church can walk with confidence, grounded in the truth that no machine can replace the calling to know, love, and follow Jesus.

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