Thank you to everyone who responded to the AI & Ministry Survey at Annual Conference this year. This report summarizes what the Virginia Annual Conference AI Task Force learned from those responses, both the excitement and the concerns. The task force has already begun using these results to shape its work and act on what clergy and laity across the conference raised.
Who responded
879 people completed the survey, nearly half of the roughly 2,000 people who attended Annual Conference. Most responses (87.8%) came in within the first 20 minutes of the survey going live, during the conference session where it was introduced. The remaining responses arrived over the following weeks while the survey stayed open.
A Wide Range of Views
Respondents were asked to describe their current attitude toward AI in church life. About 38% said they are curious but cautious, the largest single group. Another 28% said they are excited and already exploring it, and 13% said they are open but unsure where to start. On the other end, about 10% said they are opposed to AI’s use in church settings, and 9% said they are uncomfortable and would rather wait.
Taken together, close to 8 in 10 respondents landed somewhere between curious and excited, while roughly 1 in 5 are opposed or hesitant. Open-ended responses reflected that same range, from words like “gift” and “opportunity” to “dangerous,” “Skynet,” and “slop.”
Top Concerns Raised
Even among respondents who use AI regularly, real concerns came through. The most common by a wide margin was loss of authenticity, named by 57% of respondents. Close behind was the environmental impact of AI data centers, named by 46%. Other frequently cited concerns included theological concerns (33%), risk of harm to children and young people (31%), data security (27%), and privacy (27%). A number of respondents specifically raised the water and power used by AI data centers, and several connected AI use to concern that pastors might rely on it to write sermons rather than doing that work themselves.
These concerns were not limited to respondents who oppose AI. Many who described it as helpful, or even “a gift,” still named authenticity or environmental impact as concerns they want the conference to take seriously.
Where AI Use Already Stands
Despite these concerns, AI use is already widespread. 78% of clergy respondents reported using AI in some form, in ministry, work, or personal life. Across all respondents, clergy and laity combined, 72% reported active use in some capacity, most commonly for writing and communication, administrative tasks, and research.
Experience appears to shape outlook. Among clergy already using AI tools, 69% describe their perspective as positive or pragmatic. Among laity already using AI tools, that figure is 47%. Respondents who reported no personal use of AI were considerably more likely to describe themselves as unsure or uncomfortable.
What People Are Asking For
Across all attitudes, supportive, cautious, and opposed, the most common requests were for guidance rather than encouragement to adopt AI. Respondents most often asked for best practices for ministry use (53%), ethical and theological guidance (49%), clear policies or boundaries for use (42%), and training or workshops (42%). Tool recommendations ranked lower, at 35%, behind all four of those categories.
What’s Next
The AI Task Force is using these results to shape its work in three areas: building on the Guiding Principles by support, boundaries, and guardrails; teaching and equipping clergy and laity through practical training; and supporting congregations, including those who remain skeptical or opposed, as AI continues to affect ministry, communication, and our common life.
Training opportunities are being planned for 2027. Additional information and resources will be shared through the Advocate, the Ministry Toolbox, newsletters, and the website. Conversations are also continuing with the Board of Ordained Ministry and the Cabinet about policy and guardrails.
“As we continue to hear and see more about AI in all areas of the human experience, the work of this taskforce is imperative for conference leadership and all clergy and lay members to make informed decisions of how best to use and interact with this technology,” Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson said.
About the Results
These results reflect the 879 people who chose to complete the survey, not a random sample of every attendee or every Virginia United Methodist. They should be read as an honest picture of where these respondents stand, not a claim about the views of the conference as a whole.
AI was used to help analyze the survey results and outline this report.