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In 2026, technology changes quickly, and church leaders often find themselves navigating uncharted territory. Artificial intelligence is developing at a rapid pace, forcing pastors to evaluate how it fits into their ministry contexts. While some leaders eagerly adopt every new tool, others prefer to avoid the topic entirely. The most effective approach requires careful thought and proactive leadership.

In our recent webinar, "Irreplaceable Ministry: How AI can help churches build more human connection," pastor and thought leader Carey Nieuwhof sat down with VP of AI at Subsplash, Michael Whittle, and Project Manager Anna McIldoon to share their insights on how churches can thoughtfully engage with this technology without losing sight of their core mission. Tune in below!

Along with our webinar on this important subject, Subsplash has created a free and downloadable ebook for church leaders called Irreplaceable Ministry: A practical guide to AI that builds human connection instead of replacing it.

Why the human touch is still needed in the digital age

When considering the role of artificial intelligence in ministry, the first step is identifying its limitations. AI is not spiritual and can never replace the embodied, human-to-human interaction of a local church pastor or disciple-maker.

As customer service phone lines and chat interfaces increasingly rely on automated bots, people will crave real relationships more than ever. The local church is perfectly positioned to meet this need by showing people what it means to be fully human through a connection with God and right relationships with each other.

Leading with pastoral wisdom

Church members are already using these tools in their daily lives, including for their spiritual growth. Whittle shared a Barna study revealing that 48% of practicing Christians trust AI for spiritual growth. This number is actually higher than the general population's trust level.

For example, Whittle recounted a story about a church member who used ChatGPT to create a personal budget, and the software's first recommendation was to stop tithing. As Carey Nieuwhof pointed out from this story, AI lacks the theological filter and vetted accuracy that churchgoers typically rely on when reading books by pastors, Christian leaders, and Christian authors.

To address this, pastors must start discussing artificial intelligence from the pulpit. Nieuwhof encouraged leaders to work examples of technology use into their normal messages and teach their congregations how to approach these tools with a biblical worldview. One out of three churchgoers wants their pastor's guidance on using AI wisely, making this a critical area for pastoral care.

Navigating hesitation & opportunity

While individual members are turning to chatbots for advice, church staff members are also utilizing these tools for their daily work: 61% of church staff use AI weekly or daily, yet only 6% of churches have a formal policy in place.

Nieuwhof offered a simple rule of thumb for church staff: "If you're uncomfortable disclosing how you use AI, you're probably misusing it." Here are a few other ways AI should be approached by the church:

• Staff members should never use free AI accounts to process church data, as protecting it should remain the utmost priority
• Churches need clear guidelines on what information is safe to share with external platforms
• Leadership teams should create and review AI policies on a quarterly basis
• Younger pastors developing their preaching voice should be encouraged to do the hard work of writing sermons from scratch
• AI can be used for brainstorming sermons, but general LLMs like ChatGPT, Grok, and Gemini should never be considered trustworthy biblical sources or biblical sounding boards. Instead, pastors should rely on AI resources that are fully designed for churches and biblical accuracy.

To help churches and pastors easily get started, you can also download our free ebook on building a church AI policy so your team can establish these guardrails as soon as possible.

Harnessing technology for Kingdom impact

Ultimately, when used correctly within safe boundaries, artificial intelligence can help pastors and churches reclaim valuable time. The goal of automating administrative tasks is not simply to do more work, but to free up staff members for actual pastoral care. With mental health challenges on the rise, churches need their staff available to listen, counsel, and sit with people who are hurting.

The Subsplash Platform is designed specifically for churches to help achieve this balance.

• Pulpit AI: Repurpose messages into devotionals, discussion questions, and social content—preserving your teaching voice. Instead of spending hours editing clips or writing guides, publish 20+ tailored resources in a few clicks.
• Workflows: Replace spreadsheets and connection cards with automated pathways for every ministry process—from welcoming guests to onboarding volunteers—saving your team hours each week.
• Trends AI: Turn your giving, attendance, and engagement data into clear dashboards—without exposing church data to public AI tools. It helps leadership spot giving shifts and identify members who may need a pastoral call.

By keeping data safe and reducing hours of manual labor, these tools save hours of administrative work, help pastors and churches maintain biblical accuracy and integrity, and empower church leaders to prioritize face-to-face ministry!

Preparing your church for the future

The current technological landscape requires church leaders to be thoughtful and proactive. By establishing clear policies and using secure tools, your church can confidently navigate these changes while keeping human connection at the center of your ministry.

Watch the full webinar to hear the complete conversation between Carey Nieuwhof and Subsplash.

Download the free Irreplaceable Ministry ebook to dive deeper into this topic and discern how your church can build human connections—instead of replacing them.

Over 20,000 churches and organizations use the Subsplash Platform, and their gospel-centered content has received over 9 billion views in over 150 countries so far! If you'd like to learn more about how Subsplash can simplify your ministry tools to multiply your impact, [.blog-contact-cta]let's chat[.blog-contact-cta]!