Having spent a combined 25 years involved in church communications and church marketing/outreach, I have witnessed the evolution of websites, smartphones, social media, Google, YouTube, texting, Apps, as well as the response of people, both within the church and outside, to these communication channels 

It’s not news that the big “C” Church seems to always be a step or two behind the rest of the world when it comes to embracing and using new technology. A handful of churches get it and invest in it, but the majority of churches take too long, if at all, to engage. I have seen and heard it all in talking with more than 1,000 churches in the past ten years. 

We have the most important, most powerful, most personal message in the world, yet we lack the vision to use any means necessary to reach all people with the Good News. 

If I had to sum it up, churches just get too busy. Or lazy. Or scared. Or choose not to educate themselves. Choose one. 

But something happened in the past couple of years that we can’t deny.  

AI.

And here we go again. The world is moving incredibly fast. 

I am watching the world adopt AI at a rapid pace. It’s changing just about everything. If you don’t see it, you’re just not looking. Yet, the Church is another step or two or three behind. In fact, one church I talked with literally told me, “Our staff won’t be using AI.” That’s like saying, “we’re done using the internet.” I have no words.  

A potentially disturbing question I want you to wrestle with: If God is all-knowing, all-powerful, and everything is His, doesn’t that include AI? 

Do you think this was a surprise to God? I stand on the belief that God owns everything (including AI) and that we, as His people, can choose to use what He gave us for good or evil. AI is included in that. And it’s your choice. 

So, after you’ve wrestled with that, keep reading because I want you to embrace AI to help your church grow. If you don’t believe in AI, then stop reading.  

What does the landscape look like? 

The landscape is rapidly changing, and the data confirms it. According to the 2024 State of AI in the Church Survey conducted by Exponential NEXT in partnership with ChurchTechToday.com and other leading organizations, church AI adoption has dramatically increased, with over 66 percent of church staff now using AI tools occasionally, weekly, or daily—a significant jump from just 37 percent reported in a 2023 survey by Gloo. Even more encouraging, 87 percent of church leaders expressed a favorable view toward using AI for ministry purposes in 2024, compared to only 8.7 percent in 2023 who believed the church should enthusiastically embrace AI—a massive shift from the hesitancy seen just two years ago.  

Below are various areas in the church where I see some traction. 

Content Creation and Communication Enhancement are the areas where most churches are finding their first wins with AI. Pastors are using tools like ChatGPT or SermonSpark.ai for sermon preparation, research, and crafting communications (but hopefully NOT using it to write the sermon!). Churches are discovering they can maintain their authentic voice while dramatically increasing their content output and reach. I have used AI tools to turn a sermon into multiple blog posts, social media graphics, small group questions, and a daily devotional—all while preserving the core message and the pastor’s personal teaching style. And it took me just minutes to complete. 

Administrative Efficiency and Operations represent another significant area of AI adoption. Churches are automating scheduling, meeting transcriptions, and data analysis. AI tools are helping church administrators manage volunteer coordination, facility bookings, and member communications more effectively. The time savings here are substantial, freeing up staff to focus on relational ministry rather than administrative tasks.  

Worship and Media Production have been revolutionized by AI tools. Churches are using AI for generating worship backgrounds, creating promotional videos from text descriptions, and even translating services into multiple languages to reach diverse communities. AI-powered transcription services are making sermons accessible to hearing-impaired congregants and creating searchable archives of past messages.  

Outreach and Evangelism efforts are being enhanced through AI-driven community analysis, helping churches understand local demographics and needs. AI tools assist with targeted outreach campaigns, language translation for multicultural ministry, and creating culturally relevant content for different community segments.  

Exponential NEXT also states the most popular AI tools among church leaders include ChatGPT (used by 25% of churches), Grammarly (13%, and is a massive time saver for me), Canva Magic for graphic design (10%), Google Gemini for research (9%), and Bing for intelligent search capabilities (7%).  

However, with this adoption comes the need for wisdom and structure. This is where the importance of establishing an AI policy for church staff becomes non-negotiable. Too many churches are allowing their teams to experiment with AI tools without clear guidelines, thereby creating potential risks related to data privacy, doctrinal accuracy, and ethical use. This is where your “red flag” should be raised immediately.  

Why Your Church Needs an AI Policy cannot be overstated in today’s church landscape. While 45% of churches now use AI tools, less than a quarter have established clear guidelines for their use. An AI policy serves as a guardrail system, ensuring that your staff can use AI’s benefits while avoiding problems. 

The foundation of any effective church AI policy must begin with theological grounding. Your policy should clearly articulate how the use of AI aligns with your church’s values and mission. Data privacy and protection represent critical components of your AI policy. Churches handle incredibly sensitive information—prayer requests, counseling notes, financial records, and personal struggles shared in confidence. Your policy must establish clear protocols for what information can and cannot be input into AI systems, paying close attention to privacy laws.  

Content accuracy and theological integrity require specific attention in your church AI policy. While AI can assist with research and initial content creation (sermonspark.ai), your policy should mandate staff review of all AI-generated content before it reaches your congregation. Your policy should specify that AI serves as a research assistant and idea generator, not as a theological authority. 

Transparency and authenticity guidelines help maintain trust with your congregation. Your policy should address when and how AI assistance should be disclosed. While you don’t need to announce every spell-check or grammar suggestion, significant AI assistance in content creation should be acknowledged appropriately. This transparency builds trust and models responsible AI use for your congregation. 

Your policy should mandate AI training for all staff members who will use these tools. This training should cover basic AI capabilities, limitations, prompts, data security, and ethical considerations.  

The boundaries and limitations section of your policy helps staff understand what AI cannot and should not do in your ministry context. Be explicit about areas where AI use is prohibited—such as pastoral counseling decisions, theological interpretations, or any situation requiring spiritual discernment. Establish guidelines for AI-generated imagery to ensure compliance with copyright laws and adherence to standards of what is appropriate. Address the limitations of AI in understanding context, nuance, and spiritual matters. 

The reality is that AI is not going away; it’s becoming more integrated into every platform and tool we use. Churches that proactively develop thoughtful AI policies position themselves to utilize these powerful tools responsibly while protecting the integrity of their ministry.  

Your AI policy should be a living document that evolves in tandem with your ministry and the evolving technology landscape. Start with basic guidelines and expand as your team gains experience and confidence.  

Remember, the most effective AI implementations in churches aren’t about having the latest technological bells and whistles; they’re about thoughtfully integrating tools that focus on the mission, free your staff from administrative burdens, and create more space for what truly matters: community and discipleship. 

The goal isn’t to replace your pastor’s heart or the congregation’s need for real community—it’s to create more opportunities for stronger ministry to happen and give your staff more time – and who doesn’t want more margin in their lives? 

AI is here, and it’s transforming everything around us. The question for church leaders is not whether to engage with AI, but how to do so faithfully, effectively, and carefully while serving Jesus and His Church. Those who take this challenge seriously today will be better positioned to serve their communities tomorrow. I just hope AI can help us achieve our goal of the Great Commission! 

If you ever want to have a conversation about how to implement AI at your church or install an AI policy, send me an email. I’m happy to have a conversation and share what we’ve learned. 

References: 
https://exponential.org/pastors-are-embracing-ai-more-in-2024/