Religious institutions across the United States are beginning to incorporate artificial intelligence tools into their operations, from generating sermon materials to developing chatbots for community engagement. The trend has sparked both enthusiasm among some faith leaders who see technology as an extension of their mission and concern among others who question its place in spiritual practice.
In one example from 2024, Justin Lester, pastor of Friendship Baptist Church in Vallejo, California, built a custom AI tool for his congregation that uses his sermons to develop small group materials and allows other church leaders to create lessons based on those teachings. The technology draws on content Lester has produced to generate new educational resources without requiring him to write every item manually.
Lester said the tools serve what he described as spiritual growth, discipleship, and community development goals. 'Jesus said we will do greater things,' he told sources covering the intersection of faith and technology. 'And I think (AI) is part of the greater...' The statement was incomplete in available source material, limiting full context of his reasoning.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative religious leaders express more caution about AI integration into spiritual life. Some worry that relying on algorithmic tools for sermon preparation or educational content could distance congregations from authentic pastoral guidance. They emphasize that preaching and teaching are fundamentally relational acts rooted in personal experience and divine calling, not content production tasks.
Critics on the right argue that AI-generated materials lack the spiritual discernment developed through years of theological training and prayerful reflection. Several prominent evangelical voices have warned against treating sacred texts as data to be processed by machines rather than wisdom to be transmitted through human relationship.
Others suggest that while administrative uses like scheduling or communication may be appropriate, core spiritual functions such as biblical interpretation and sermon preparation should remain firmly in human hands. Some conservative pastors have published guidelines suggesting specific boundaries for AI use within their denominations.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive religious leaders and digital ethics advocates who support AI adoption in faith communities say the technology can expand access to spiritual resources for congregations with limited staff or budgets. They argue that smaller churches lacking full-time educators can use AI tools to generate Bible study materials, youth programming, and pastoral care resources at scale.
Some progressive theologians frame AI as a way to reduce administrative burdens on clergy, potentially freeing pastors to focus on direct community engagement rather than content creation. Organizations working on faith-based digital inclusion have noted that technology can help reach younger congregants who already use AI tools in other aspects of their lives.
Others in this camp caution that transparency about AI use is essential. They argue congregations should be informed when materials are generated by automated systems rather than written directly by clergy, and that human oversight should remain central to religious education.
What the Numbers Show
The full scope of AI adoption across American religious institutions is not well-documented by comprehensive surveys. According to available research on technology use in houses of worship, most congregations remain in early stages of exploring or piloting AI tools rather than implementing them at scale.
Faith-based technology organizations report that custom GPTs and chatbot services represent the most common current applications, particularly among larger Protestant congregations with dedicated staff for communications and education. Catholic parishes and smaller evangelical churches generally show lower rates of adoption, according to limited data available on the topic.
Data on congregant attitudes toward AI use in worship settings remains sparse. Early surveys suggest significant variation based on denominational tradition, congregation size, and regional context.
The Bottom Line
The integration of artificial intelligence into religious institutions is still in early stages but appears poised for growth as tools become more accessible and examples multiply like the Friendship Baptist Church model. Questions about appropriate boundaries remain unresolved within most faith traditions.
Churches navigating this landscape will need to make decisions about disclosure, oversight, and which functions are appropriate for automation versus which require human judgment. Denominational bodies have generally not issued formal guidance on AI use, leaving individual congregations to develop their own approaches.
Watch for potential regulatory developments at the intersection of AI governance and religious organizations, as well as any future statements from major denominational bodies addressing technology adoption in worship settings.