Is AI Coming for Your Pastor? 61% of Churchgoers Say They're Worried

New Lifeway Survey Reveals Most Protestant Churchgoers Fear AI Will Undermine Their Faith

A new Lifeway Research study has found that 61% of Protestant churchgoers in the United States are worried about the influence artificial intelligence is having on Christianity. Fewer than three in ten (28%) disagreed, while 11% said they were unsure.

The findings come from two surveys conducted in September 2025: a phone survey of 1,003 Protestant pastors (margin of error 3.3%) and an online survey of 1,200 Protestant churchgoers (margin of error 3.2%).

The results reveal a deep generational and denominational divide. Churchgoers with evangelical beliefs were significantly more likely to express concern (67%) compared to those without such beliefs (55%). Baptists (62%) and Presbyterian/Reformed churchgoers (64%) were more worried than Methodists (48%). Men were more likely than women to say they were unconcerned (31% vs. 25%).

Caution is an instinctive reaction to new things, and pastors and churchgoers share some concerns around AI.

That was the assessment of Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research.

On the question of pastors using AI for sermon preparation, congregations are almost perfectly split: 44% see nothing wrong with it, while 43% disagree, with 24% opposing it strongly.

Younger churchgoers are more open to hearing sermons that apply biblical principles to AI. Half of those aged 18 to 29 and 53% of those aged 30 to 49 said they would value such a sermon, compared to just 38% of those 50 to 64 and 33% of those 65 and older.

Among pastors themselves, only 10% identify as regular AI users, while 32% say they are experimenting with the technology. Holiness tradition pastors were most likely to be experimenting (43%), while Lutheran and Baptist pastors showed the most resistance.

Pastors Raise Alarm Over AI Errors, Bias, and Transparency in the Pulpit

Pastors who have used AI raised significant concerns about its reliability. A full 84% cited errors in AI generated content as a major worry. Another 81% said they struggle to ensure AI draws from reliable sources. Three quarters (76%) expressed concern about embedded biases in AI outputs, and 62% worried about the lack of transparency when AI is used without disclosure.

The majority of younger churchgoers would welcome hearing biblical principles applied to AI in a sermon to help them shape their perspective on it.

McConnell noted that the generational gap presents both a challenge and an opportunity for churches seeking to address the rapid rise of AI technology within a biblical framework.

The Crusader's Opinion

The Church has faced every revolution in human history and emerged standing. The printing press, the radio, the internet. AI is no different. The real danger is not the technology itself but the cowardice of shepherds who would hand their pulpit over to a machine rather than wrestle with Scripture on their knees. If your pastor needs a chatbot to prepare a sermon, the congregation has bigger problems than artificial intelligence. God's Word was never meant to be outsourced. Stand firm, speak truth, and never let an algorithm replace the Holy Spirit.

Take Action

• Talk to your pastor this Sunday about how your church plans to address AI in ministry. Ask directly: are sermons being prepared with AI assistance?
• Read the full Lifeway Research report at research.lifeway.com to understand the data for yourself.
• Start a small group discussion on biblical principles for engaging with technology. Use passages like Colossians 2:8 and Proverbs 3:5 6 as starting points.
• Support ministries that equip Christians to think critically about culture and technology. Consider donating to The Shepherd's Shield to support Christian communities navigating modern challenges.
• Write to your denominational leadership asking them to establish clear guidelines on AI use in worship and sermon preparation.