Should We Use This AI Tool in Our Church? A Discernment Checklist
AI is here—whether we like it, hate it, ignore it, or embrace it.
It’s already shaping how sermons are drafted, how communications are written, how tasks are managed, and how we imagine ministry. For some, it’s become a quiet helper in the background. For others, it feels like a storm on the horizon, stirring questions we don’t yet know how to answer. And yet, answer them we must because the pace of change isn’t slowing down, and the tools aren’t waiting for us to catch up.
So as church leaders, what are we to do?
We might feel unprepared for this moment, but we are not unequipped. As church leaders we are called to discern and ask deeper questions: not just “can we use this?” or “how quickly can we adopt it?” but “is this good?” “what does it form in us?” “how does it shape the community we are called to serve?”. Discernment will help us stay grounded in wisdom, shaped by scripture, prayer, and community.
That’s the work we want to invite you into in this reflection.
We’ve consulted a handful of thoughtful voices (articles all linked below) who are asking meaningful questions about AI in the context of church life. The following is a summary of some of there thoughts and findings:
One of the strongest cautions comes from Derek Schuurman, a computer science professor and Christian ethicist. He encourages us to evaluate any technology—including AI—through the biblical vision of shalom: flourishing, wholeness, delight, and care. This means asking not just whether a tool is efficient or innovative, but whether it nurtures love of neighbour, deepens faith, and reflects God’s intention for community. It reminds us that technology is not neutral. It always forms us in some way. Schuurman warns that AI tools, like sermon assistants or chatbots, can subtly lead us toward forms of ministry that prioritize output over presence. AI-generated outlines or illustrations may be helpful at times—but they can also shape our theology in ways we’re not aware of, especially when the source material reflects worldviews and assumptions outside our own theological tradition. That doesn’t mean we can’t use these tools, but it does mean we need to use them with attentiveness and care.
That same concern emerges in a recent academic paper on AI delegation. Researchers discovered that the more users rely on AI to complete cognitive tasks, the less they are able to return to the task themselves. In theological settings, this means we risk outsourcing the very spiritual and intellectual work that shapes our own formation. Shortcuts may seem harmless, but over time they can erode our creativity, attentiveness, and spiritual depth.
Brady Shearer offers a practical framework for churches navigating these questions. He suggests asking two key questions: Why are we using this tool? And what are our boundaries for it? These questions aren’t only technical; they are spiritual. If AI is helping a part-time pastor manage announcements or draft a newsletter, that may be a wise use of limited time. But if it’s replacing the hard work of sermon preparation, prayerful study, or theological reflection, then we may be crossing a line. The goal isn’t to banish the tool—but to know its place, and to use it in a way that strengthens, rather than weakens, our calling.
Other voices—like Blake Davis of Discipleship Ministries—raise questions about transparency and trust. If we use AI in ministry, can we do so openly, honestly, and without compromising our pastoral integrity? Are we clear with ourselves and our communities about what we’re using and why? And perhaps most importantly: does this tool make us more available for the work that truly matters—relationships, discipleship, community, and care?
Discernment in this space requires ongoing reflection, not just a one-time decision. It will take prayer, conversation, experimentation, and humility. But it’s a task well-suited to the church. We are people formed by the Spirit, shaped in community, and sent into a world full of tools and choices. Our calling is not to flee new things, but to meet them with courage, care, and wisdom.
Discernment Checklist: How Should We Use AI in Our Ministry Context?
1. What is the need we are trying to meet?
Are we trying to save time, solve a specific challenge, or improve communication?
Is this something we’re struggling with because of capacity, or because we haven’t yet had space to reflect?
2. Why this tool? Why now?
Have we explored alternative ways to meet this need—through human connection, spiritual practice, or collaboration?
What attracts us to using AI in this moment?
3. How will this tool shape us?
What might this tool form in us—habits, assumptions, postures, theology?
Will it cultivate or undermine our dependence on God, our creativity, or our pastoral presence?
4. What are our boundaries for its use?
Are there specific things we will not allow AI to do (e.g., write sermons, lead pastoral care conversations, generate prayers)?
Are there contexts where it is clearly helpful and appropriate (e.g., automating admin tasks, editing pieces of writing for flow or clarity, or brainstorming ideas)?
5. Who is affected by this decision?
Will the use of AI change how we interact with congregants, volunteers, or staff?
Could this decision increase accessibility and equity—or could it unintentionally exclude, isolate, or misrepresent?
6. Are we being transparent?
Would we be comfortable telling our congregation how we’re using this tool?
Are we maintaining trust, honesty, and theological integrity in how we present our work?
7. Are we theologically grounded?
Does this tool align with our values, theological commitments, and understanding of ministry?
Are we discerning its use through prayer, scripture, and community dialogue?
8. Are we still exercising our own discernment, reflection, and voice?
Are we leaning on AI as a support—or as a substitute for our own spiritual formation, creativity, or leadership?
If this tool disappeared tomorrow, would we still be equipped to do the work we’ve been called to?
9. What does this make time for?
Does using this tool free us for deeper discipleship, more time with people, or richer spiritual practice?
Or does it simply create space for more tasks, more productivity, and more pressure?
10. Are we open to revisiting this decision?
Will we check in regularly to evaluate how this tool is serving or shaping us?
Are we prepared to adjust, pull back, or reframe if needed?