Overview
- Barna Group surveys show practicing Christians use generative AI more often than the general public and many say they would trust it with their spiritual growth.
- Only a small share of pastors report frequent AI use and about 12% say they feel prepared to advise congregants on the technology.
- Scholars in South Korea and other theologians warn that treating AI as a first stop can weaken deep reflection, discipleship, and the relational work of pastoral care.
- Tech Justice Law and partners have filed lawsuits alleging real-world harm from AI, including a July suit accusing OpenAI's ChatGPT-4o of giving unsafe medical advice to a former pastor.
- The convergence of high layperson use, low pastoral readiness, theological concern, and emerging litigation is pushing the issue toward policy debate, church training, and potential legal accountability.