Artificial Intelligence:
Advice for Church Leaders

Core Principles

  • Stewardship

    TOOL, NOT SHEPHERD

    “It is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.”
    1 Corinthians 4:2

    AI is a tool entrusted to us. Leadership and spiritual responsibility remain human.

  • Truthfulness

    NO SPIRITUAL PRETENCE

    “Speak the truth to one another.”
    Zechariah 8:16

    Be transparent about AI involvement. Do not pass generated material off as personal experience or revelation.

  • Human Dignity

    PEOPLE BEFORE PROCESS

    “So God created mankind in his own image.”
    Genesis 1:27

    AI must never replace embodied pastoral care or diminish presence.

  • Wisdom

    DISCERN, DON’T DELEGATE

    “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God.”
    James 1:5

    AI can suggest. It cannot discern. Doctrinal and pastoral judgement must remain prayerfully human.

  • Integrity

    DO YOUR OWN LABOUR

    “Rather, speaking the truth in love…”
    Ephesians 4:15

    Preaching and teaching require honest preparation. Avoid plagiarism and unexamined output.

  • Confidentiality

    GUARD THE FLOCK

    “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care.”
    1 Peter 5:2

    Pastoral data is sacred. Never input identifiable or sensitive information into AI systems.

  • Justice

    CHECK THE BIAS

    “Do not show partiality.”
    James 2:1

    Review AI outputs for hidden bias, cultural blind spots, or unfair assumptions.

  • Accountability

    HUMANS ANSWER TO GOD

    “Each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.”
    Romans 14:12

    Leaders remain responsible for everything produced or acted upon.

  • Mission

    USE IT TO SERVE

    “Make the most of every opportunity.”
    Colossians 4:5

    AI can assist administration, communication, accessibility, and outreach - when used wisely.

Let’s go deeper…

Each of the categories above are repeated below, but after each one is a list of good uses and bad uses of AI. This provides a gentle guide to steer you in your use. This guide is developing as technology evolves, so if you have any comments or feedback, do let us know.

Stewardship

Tool, Not Shepherd

“It is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” – 1 Corinthians 4:2

AI is a resource entrusted to the Church, not a spiritual authority. It may assist with drafting, organising, and clarifying ideas, yet it cannot carry pastoral responsibility, spiritual discernment, or moral accountability. Leaders remain shepherds; technology remains a tool.

✓ Using AI to draft notices that are then reviewed and edited by staff
✓ Brainstorming ideas for outreach events
✓ Treating AI suggestions as raw material

✗ Uploading a sermon prompt on Saturday night and preaching the output unchanged
✗ Asking AI what the church “should do” in response to a pastoral crisis
✗ Treating AI output as spiritual guidance

Truthfulness

No Spiritual Pretence

“Speak the truth to one another.” – Zechariah 8:16

Christian ministry depends on trust. Congregations should not be misled about the origin of content. Transparency builds credibility; concealment erodes it. The issue is not whether AI was used, but whether its use is hidden in ways that misrepresent authorship or experience.

✓ Acknowledging that AI assisted with drafting materials
✓ Clearly labelling fictional case studies
✓ Editing and personalising all generated content

✗ Presenting AI-generated reflections as personal prayer insights
✗ Inventing testimonies generated by AI
✗ Copying devotional material and implying it was personally written

Human Dignity

People Before Process

“So God created mankind in his own image.” – Genesis 1:27

People are made in the image of God. Efficiency must never replace presence. AI may help coordinate care, yet it cannot sit with grief, notice unspoken distress, or embody compassion. Churches should ensure that technology strengthens human ministry rather than thinning it out.

✓ Using AI to organise rotas so leaders have more time for people
✓ Drafting safeguarding policies with expert review
✓ Translating materials to include non-English speakers

✗ Automating pastoral responses to bereavement emails
✗ Using AI chat tools to provide counselling advice to vulnerable members
✗ Replacing personal prayer ministry with automated messages

Wisdom

Discern, Don’t Delegate

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God.” – James 1:5

AI can generate options; it cannot exercise spiritual discernment. Theological nuance, denominational commitments, and pastoral sensitivity require prayerful judgement. Leaders must weigh, test, and refine any suggestions.

✓ Reviewing doctrinal explanations against church statements of faith
✓ Using AI to explore multiple viewpoints before deciding
✓ Testing generated advice against Scripture and tradition

✗ Accepting theological summaries without checking accuracy
✗ Asking AI to settle disputes about interpretation
✗ Treating AI answers as definitive

Integrity

Do Your Own Labour

“Rather, speaking the truth in love…” – Ephesians 4:15

Preaching and teaching involve prayerful study and personal engagement with Scripture. AI may assist with structure or background information, yet the labour of interpretation belongs to the minister. Authentic preparation shapes the preacher as much as the sermon.

✓ Using AI to summarise commentaries already consulted
✓ Rewriting generated material in your own voice
✓ Checking for originality and clarity

✗ Reproducing sermon structures without acknowledgement
✗ Delivering AI-produced sermons verbatim
✗ Assuming AI output is free from plagiarism risks

Confidentiality

Guard the Flock

“Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care.” – 1 Peter 5:2

Churches handle sensitive information. Pastoral conversations, safeguarding concerns, and personal data must be treated with care. Entering identifiable information into AI systems risks breaching trust and UK data protection obligations.

✓ Anonymising scenarios before seeking general guidance
✓ Consulting denominational safeguarding officers directly
✓ Training staff on data protection

✗ Pasting detailed counselling notes into an AI tool
✗ Asking AI how to handle a live safeguarding allegation
✗ Treating AI platforms as secure pastoral archives

Justice

Check the Bias

“Do not show partiality.” – James 2:1

AI systems reflect the biases present in their training data. Churches must remain alert to unexamined assumptions in tone, imagery, or advice. Outputs should be reviewed carefully for cultural fairness and theological balance.

✓ Reviewing imagery for diversity and representation
✓ Reading outputs critically for cultural assumptions
✓ Seeking input from diverse church members

✗ Using AI-generated images that reinforce stereotypes
✗ Assuming AI responses are neutral or unbiased
✗ Allowing automated systems to shape community engagement unchecked

Accountability

Humans Answer to God

“Each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.” – Romans 14:12

Responsibility cannot be outsourced. Leaders remain accountable for what is taught, published, or decided with AI assistance. Oversight structures help ensure responsible use.

✓ Establishing a simple AI policy approved by trustees
✓ Reviewing AI use annually
✓ Keeping records of decision-making processes

✗ Allowing informal, unmonitored use by volunteers
✗ Claiming “the system said so” when challenged
✗ Treating AI outputs as beyond scrutiny

Mission

Use It to Serve

“Make the most of every opportunity.” – Colossians 4:5

AI can enhance communication, accessibility, and administration, freeing time for relational ministry. Used wisely, it supports the Church’s calling rather than distracting from it.

✓ Creating accessible summaries of sermons
✓ Drafting funding applications efficiently
✓ Producing translated resources for outreach

✗ Flooding members with AI-generated content
✗ Replacing evangelistic conversation with automated messaging
✗ Prioritising technological novelty over spiritual fruit

About the author

Steve Gibson is a STEM Improvement Lead, Author and Facilitator working with the National Centre of Computing Education and STEM Learning, training teachers. He is also SO close to finishing his dissertation for his Masters in Theology with St Mellitus College. This advice combines the worlds of tech and theology to resource the local church. And yes, AI was involved in producing some of the content on this page.