Most Protestant pastors are using AI in their work despite concerns about spiritual authenticity

A new study finds that artificial intelligence (AI) is actively penetrating religious environments, with nearly 60 percent of church leaders using modern technology for personal and professional needs. Despite recognizing the effectiveness of AI, many clergy express serious concerns about the technology’s impact on the sincerity of sermons and the trust of parishioners.

According to Christian Today, the report «Technology for Missional Impact: State of Church Tech 2026,» produced by the Barna organization in partnership with Pushpay, found that church leaders most often use AI as a support tool. They use it to write texts, create graphics, prepare emails and post on social media. At the same time, about 24% of respondents admitted to using AI to prepare sermons, favoring tools such as ChatGPT and Grammarly.

However, the adoption of technology comes with a number of ethical concerns. Some 51% of leaders expressed «extreme concern» about issues of plagiarism and the integrity of the church’s message, and 49% fear losing the authenticity of their teaching. Spiritual mentoring remains one of the most pressing concerns, with 65% of pastors worried that AI could supplant them in this role, and 70% fearing an erosion of congregational trust.

Interestingly, according to Barna, about a third of practicing Christians in the U.S. consider spiritual advice from AI to be as valuable as guidance from a pastor. Despite this shift in perception, only 5% of churches have currently implemented a formal AI policy, indicating a significant gap between technological advances and the organizational readiness of religious institutions.

Nevertheless, the overall assessment of the impact of technology remains moderately positive. Some 79% of respondents said digital tools have improved communication among parishioners, and 61% of leaders believe technology is helping believers deepen their faith by becoming an important, albeit complementary, element of modern ministry.