Pastors Concerned That AI Might Take Over Guidance in Churches

The Growing Role of AI in Church Leadership

Interestingly, recent research from Barna indicates that 60% of church leaders turn to AI a few times each month. At first glance, that might not seem alarming, but many pastors are worried that AI could eventually overshadow human leadership in churches worldwide. After all, why consult a pastor when you can ask AI anything, anytime?

AI does offer certain advantages—like brainstorming, enhancing creativity, improving efficiency, checking facts, and organizing information. However, many pastors are grappling with the implications this technology has for their ministries. While AI itself isn’t necessarily harmful, there are concerns about plagiarism, losing trust within the church, and misinformation being accepted as truth.

A study from 2026 by Barna and Pushpay revealed that while 60% of pastors use AI for personal tasks at least occasionally, only 24% claim they never use it. The crux of the issue isn’t whether church leaders are utilizing AI, but more about how and for what purposes they are using the information it provides.

In the survey, 51% of church leaders expressed that they are “very concerned” about the risks of plagiarism and the potential to undermine the integrity of their messages. Yet, despite these anxieties, many pastors still refrain from using AI in their ministries, opting to use it only in their personal lives. About 70% worry that this technology might decrease believers’ trust in their leaders, although researchers suggest that clear guidelines on using AI could help mitigate these concerns.

Researchers noted that when evaluating the benefits and drawbacks of AI, many church leaders regard digital tools as supplementary rather than essential for enhancing believers’ connections with God and one another.

Still, the operational advantages are clear. A significant 78% of pastors agree that technology has made their missionary work at least somewhat easier.

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