INVITING AI TO THE DINNER TABLE
Failure to innovate to counter the subtle creep of obsolescence can turn a good leader into a laggard. Organizations, including churches, need new ways to innovate quickly, cheaply, and productively. A worker is only as good as his tools, and so he will assemble the best tools at his disposal to develop and innovate to achieve growth. Success in an organization, and its ability to remain competitive, depends on how organizations use the new tools at their fingertips. Enter Artificial Intelligence (AI). To some people’s surprise, the uses and benefits of AI are not merely limited to the secular marketplace.
Just considering the possibility of using AI in ministry produces shivers down the spines of some pastors and congregation members. In a 2023 survey, 27% of church leaders were somewhat positive to very positive when it came to using AI in their church, while 43% felt somewhat comfortable to very uncomfortable with the idea. In a 2024 survey, a notable 87% of respondents were in favor of using AI for ministry purposes. What a leap! Alongside attitudes toward AI, there is the ethical component. 54% of church leaders surveyed in 2023 were quite concerned to extremely concerned about ethical or moral issues involving AI in the church. Another 40% were slightly to somewhat concerned.
As you can imagine, the oldest generation surveyed scored highest on disapproval of AI integration in the Church while the youngest generations more readily adopted the idea. Frustration grows, however, in how to implement AI as 66% of church leaders classify themselves as having no experience or beginner-level experience in using it. 62% confessed that they rarely or never use AI in their work. What is promising is that, while 37% of churches reported leveraging AI technologies at least occasionally in 2023, in 2024, the number increased to 66% of church staff using AI tools occasionally, weekly, or daily.
So how are church leaders using this powerful AI tool? Their responses indicate that the greatest AI usage centered around sermon preparation, informational research, article generation, and content production. On the rise are staff use of audio/video editing, data analysis, automation of administrative processes, and assistance by ChatGPT, Grammarly, and Canva’s Magic AI features. Church-specific resources like AI for Church Leaders’ monthly workshops and Exponential’s AI NEXT content series are emerging to meet church leaders’ demand for best practices. In such trainings, pastors and leaders can learn how AI will facilitate:
• Church operations
• Personalizing member engagement
• Improving efficiency with schedules and large datasets
• Sermon content creation
• Social media management
• Automating responses with AI-powered chatbots
• Fostering spiritual growth through discipleship resource creation
• Customized messaging
Churches must focus their use of AI not on the radical reinvention of the Church, but on combining its far-reaching benefits with the tools and souls that are already present. There is no replacement for people in the ministry. In reality, soul-to-soul connection is the heartbeat of the church and is part of what makes us human. God Himself is relational. So, fear not, ye doubters! Technology will not replace people as it relates to ministry. But we would be remiss to avoid the expansive opportunities of AI to serve more individuals, become more efficient, produce quality resources, and facilitate administrative services. It’s time to let AI have a seat at the table.