Younger, Urban Pastors Lead Adoption of A.I., Even as Ethical Concerns Persist

DC NEWS — Younger, highly educated Protestant pastors serving in urban congregations in the United States are emerging as the most active adopters of artificial intelligence in church ministry, according to a recent survey. Yet despite growing interest, widespread concerns about accuracy, ethics and theology continue to temper its use.

The findings, released by Lifeway Research and reported by Christianity Today on April 21, 2026, indicate that only 10 percent of Protestant pastors use A.I. tools on a regular basis. Another 32 percent say they are experimenting with the technology. Meanwhile, 18 percent prefer to wait for clearer use cases, 18 percent intentionally avoid it, and 20 percent do not engage with it at all.

“Artificial intelligence is already embedded in many tools we use daily, so some pastors may be using it without realizing it,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research.

Adoption appears strongly influenced by age, geography and education. Among pastors aged 18 to 44, 40 percent reported experimenting with A.I., compared with 37 percent among those aged 45 to 54. Urban pastors are more than twice as likely to be regular users (11 percent) as their rural counterparts (5 percent).

Educational attainment also plays a role. Pastors holding master’s or doctoral degrees report higher levels of regular use, ranging from 10 to 14 percent, compared with 5 percent among those without a college degree. Larger congregations — particularly those with more than 250 members — also show higher rates of experimentation and adoption.

Denominational differences are notable. Pastors in holiness traditions appear the most receptive, with 43 percent experimenting and 18 percent using A.I. regularly. By contrast, Lutheran and Baptist pastors are among the most hesitant.

Despite these patterns, skepticism remains pervasive. A majority of pastors — 84 percent — say A.I.-generated content must always be edited due to potential inaccuracies. About 81 percent express doubts about the sources A.I. systems rely on, while 76 percent are concerned about embedded bias.

Other concerns include lack of transparency (62 percent), risks of plagiarism (59 percent), and theological objections — with 55 percent arguing that A.I., as a non-personal entity, is not appropriate for delivering or shaping the message of Scripture.

Congregants themselves are divided. While 44 percent say they are comfortable with pastors using A.I. in sermon preparation, 43 percent oppose it. A similar split emerges over sermons addressing biblical principles in relation to A.I. Nonetheless, a clear majority — 61 percent — express concern about the broader impact of A.I. on Christianity.

These findings align with broader trends across the religious landscape. The State of Church Tech 2026 report by Barna Group and Pushpay found that roughly 60 percent of church leaders use A.I. personally at least several times a month. Yet only about 5 percent of churches have formal policies governing its use.

The same report highlights deeper anxieties: 65 percent of church leaders fear A.I. could replace aspects of spiritual guidance, and 70 percent worry it may erode trust among congregants. Another survey, conducted by Exponential AI NEXT in late 2025, found that roughly two-thirds of pastors are already using tools like ChatGPT for research, sermon preparation and church communications.

At the same time, technology companies are beginning to engage directly with religious leaders. In early April 2026, Anthropic, the developer of the A.I. system Claude, hosted a two-day gathering with about 15 Christian leaders from Catholic and Protestant traditions, alongside academics and business figures. The discussions focused on ethical design and the moral dimensions of A.I., including how systems respond to grief, suicidal ideation and complex theological questions.

Even as adoption grows, many church leaders emphasize caution. A.I., they say, may enhance efficiency and assist with research, but it cannot replace core spiritual practices such as prayer, deep scriptural study and personal pastoral relationships. For many, the distinction remains clear: A.I. is a tool — not a substitute for the work of the Holy Spirit. []