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Folks: I have been reticent to use Artificial Intelligence in my ministry, so I thought I’d try it out for this article. I asked Copilot (AI-powered Microsoft assistant) to write a 350-500 word newsletter article for the Montana-Northern Wyoming Conference on using AI in the church. After I asked Copilot to add a few adjustments and I made a few edits, this is the final product. In peace and prayer, Pastor Tony
Artificial intelligence is no longer a distant idea. It is already showing up in search engines, email programs, writing tools, and meeting software. For churches, that can stir both hope and hesitation. Used thoughtfully, AI can be one more tool for ministry used carelessly, it can confuse, mislead, or weaken the very relationships at the heart of the gospel.
Many congregations are already discovering practical ways AI can save time and support mission by drafting newsletter blurbs, summarizing meeting notes, organizing volunteer communications, brainstorming children’s messages, or creating first drafts of Bible study questions. In rural and small-membership settings, where pastors and lay leaders often wear many hats, these tools may ease administrative burdens and free more energy for pastoral care, worship, and community connection.
Still, the church should never confuse a helpful tool with wisdom itself. AI can generate polished language that sounds confident while still being incomplete, inaccurate, or ungrounded in context. It may repeat bias, mishandle sensitive information, or produce material that feels generic rather than truly pastoral. The UCC Office of General Counsel has a blog, referencing an Insurance Board webinar, on the risks and benefits of using AI in the church. The UCC encourages local churches to approach generative AI with care, emphasizing human review, attention to privacy, and clear policies for how these tools are used in ministry settings. Churches are urged to think carefully about copyright, confidentiality, and the use of AI note-taking tools in 99meetings and pastoral situations.
A faithful approach begins with discernment. James 1:5 reminds us, “If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you.” AI may help us gather ideas, but it cannot pray, listen deeply, or love our neighbors. It cannot replace the Spirit-led work of preaching, visitation, trust-building, or communal decision-making. Perhaps the best question is not, “Can AI do this?” but “Should it?” and “Will this use of technology help us reflect the compassion, truthfulness, and justice of Christ?” If a tool increases access, reduces busywork, and strengthens ministry, it may be worth exploring. If it distances us from people, blurs accountability, or substitutes convenience for care, then we should pause.
The church has always adapted to new tools, from printing presses to radio to livestream worship. AI is another invitation to faithful curiosity. We need not fear it or place too much trust in it. Instead, we can meet it with prayer, wisdom, and humility, asking how each new tool might help us serve more gently, listen more carefully, and love our neighbors more fully. In every season of change, Christ remains our guide, and the heart of ministry remains the same: to be present with one another and bear witness to God’s love in human community.
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