June 15, 2026: Barna reported: New Research: Pastors Are Using AI More Than You Think
​

• Most pastors are already using AI in ministry—only 13 percent say they don’t use it at all—with brainstorming, biblical research, graphic design and other behind-the-scenes work leading the way.
• Still, nearly three-quarters of pastors (71%) describe feeling cautious about AI, and 40 percent say they feel conflicted—a combination that shapes not just whether they use AI, but precisely where they allow it.
• Sermon writing with AI has nearly doubled since 2024, when just 12 percent of pastors said they were comfortable doing so. Today, nearly a quarter (24%) report actually writing or editing sermons with AI’s help, although they use it more as a research and preparation partner than as an author.