Mostly Resilient
Last Update: 8/30/2026
AI Resilience Score for Clergy:
51.7%
Median Score
Meaningful human contribution
Measures the parts of the occupation that still require a human touch. This score averages data from up to four AI exposure datasets, focusing on the role’s resilience against automation.
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Long-term employer demand
Predicts the health of the job market for this role through 2034. Using Bureau of Labor Statistics data, it balances projected annual job openings (60%) with overall employment growth (40%).
Med
Sustained economic opportunity
Measures future earning potential and career flexibility. This score is a blend of total projected labor income (67%) and the role’s inherent ability to adapt to economic and technological shifts (33%).
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This reflects the reliability of your score based on the number of data sources available for this career and how closely those sources agree on the outlook. A higher confidence means more consistent evidence from labor experts and AI models.
There are a reasonable number of sources for this result, but there is some disagreement between them.
Contributing sources
AI Resilience Report forClergy
$60,810 median salary•19,200 annual openings•SOC Code: 21-2011.00
Clergy are somewhat more resilient to AI impacts than most occupations, according to our analysis of 8 sources.
Clergy work is labeled "Mostly Resilient" because the heart of the job, including counseling grieving families, performing sacraments, and offering spiritual guidance in vulnerable moments, is something congregations still deeply want from a real human being. AI is genuinely useful for behind-the-scenes tasks like sermon research, scheduling, and brainstorming, and most pastors (around 93%) are already using it that way, which actually frees them up to focus more on people.
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Clergy work is labeled "Mostly Resilient" because the heart of the job, including counseling grieving families, performing sacraments, and offering spiritual guidance in vulnerable moments, is something congregations still deeply want from a real human being. AI is genuinely useful for behind-the-scenes tasks like sermon research, scheduling, and brainstorming, and most pastors (around 93%) are already using it that way, which actually frees them up to focus more on people.
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Clergy
Updated Quarterly
How is AI changing Clergy jobs?
Right now, AI in ministry looks a lot more like a helpful assistant than a replacement. New research from Barna Group and Gloo finds that only 13% of pastors say they don't use AI at all, with most turning to it for brainstorming, biblical research, and graphic design. Pastors are mostly using it for behind-the-scenes prep work: brainstorming or idea generation (50%), graphic design (37%), biblical or theological research (36%), generating small group discussion questions (34%), and administrative tasks like scheduling, emails and document preparation (34%).
Sermon writing is a more sensitive area — Barna notes that AI-assisted sermon work jumped from roughly 12% of pastors in early 2024 to about 24% in 2026 [1], but usually only for outlines and commentary rather than the message itself. Scholars at the American Academy of Religion's 2025 AI and Religion panel [2] similarly explored how retrieval-augmented tools can support religious study while stressing human oversight. Person-to-person work — counseling, sacraments, and spiritual authority — is being largely left to humans, and the Chaplaincy Innovation Lab has hosted ongoing conversations about the ethics of AI in spiritual care [3].
Sources
How fast is AI adoption growing for Clergy?
Adoption is happening fast on the administrative side because tools like ChatGPT are cheap, easy, and save pastors hours on emails, scheduling, and sermon research — ChurchTechToday reports that 93% of pastors are now engaging with AI in some way [4]. But adoption is intentionally slow for pastoral care. Barna found the top emotional response chosen by pastors was "cautious" (71%), coupled with feeling conflicted (40%) and skeptical (40%).
Trust is the big issue: The Christian Post reports pastors worry AI could replace their guidance in pews [5], and The Living Church notes over 150 preachers have signed a pledge not to use AI for sermons, arguing it undermines the communal and sacramental nature of preaching [6]. The good news for anyone considering this path: the deeply human parts of clergy work — showing up in a hospital room, sitting with grief, offering moral courage — are exactly what congregations still want a real person to do.
Sources
Will AI replace Clergy?
No. We don't think AI will replace Clergy, though we do expect the job to change.
Our 51.7% AI Resilience Score reflects a role that is holding up well, and it's easy to see why. The core of clergy work is irreducibly human: sitting with someone in grief, offering moral courage, administering sacraments, and building trust over years in a community. Those things don't translate to a chatbot, and congregations know it.
What is changing is the back-office side of ministry. Research from churchtechtoday.com finds that 93% of pastors are now engaging with AI in some form, mostly for brainstorming, biblical research, scheduling, and graphic design. That kind of adoption makes sense. It frees up time for the human work that actually matters.
The pastoral care side is a different story. Barna's research shows 71% of pastors describe their posture toward AI as "cautious" [1], and more than 150 preachers have signed a pledge against using AI for sermons, arguing it undermines the communal nature of preaching [6]. Scholars studying AI and religion are raising similar concerns about human oversight [2]. The job is evolving, but the heart of it, showing up as a real person for real people, remains firmly in human hands.
Sources
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Latest AI news for Clergy
These articles illuminate the evolving intersection of AI and ministry, highlighting both opportunities and challenges for future clergy. For instance, the gathering at Hampton showcases how emerging clergy and women theologians are embracing AI to foster change in ministry. Meanwhile, a study reveals that while many pastors find AI beneficial, they also wrestle with its implications for spiritual guidance. By understanding these dynamics, students can navigate their careers with resilience, leveraging AI to enhance their outreach while remaining authentic in their spiritual roles.
Panelists present ‘Artificial Intelligence and the Orthodox Mind’ at the Clergy-Laity Congress
orthodoxobserver.org • 7/2/2026
On June 30, at the 48th Biennial Clergy-Laity Congress, His Eminence Metropolitan Philotheos of Thessaloniki, Fr. Gregory Stamkopoulos, Fr. John Chryssavgis...
At Hampton, Black Clergy Weigh Faith, AI, and Change
wordinblack.com • 6/5/2026
The annual gathering will spotlight emerging clergy, women theologians, and the growing role of artificial intelligence in ministry.
Most pastors are using AI despite some concerns - study
www.christiantoday.com • 4/7/2026
While a majority of pastors are personally reaping benefits from the use of artificial intelligence, some remain troubled by a raft of...
Pastors use AI but fear impact on spiritual guidance, study finds
premierchristian.news • 4/6/2026
Pastors use AI but fear impact on spiritual guidance, study finds ... A new study has found that pastors who use artificial intelligence (AI) are...
AI minister meets with mining, energy companies on environment impacts — not green groups
www.nationalobserver.com • 4/6/2026
Share this article ... AI Minister Evan Solomon has met with energy and mining companies about the environmental impacts of AI infrastructure, but...
More Career Info
Career: Clergy
They lead religious services, offer spiritual guidance, and support people in their faith and personal challenges.
Parent Careers
Employment & Wage Data
Median Wage
$60,810
Jobs (2025)
242,000
Growth (2025-35)
+2.4%
Annual Openings
19,200
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025-2035
Task-Level AI Resilience Scores
AI-generated estimates of task resilience over the next 3 years
1
Visit people in homes, hospitals, or prisons to provide them with comfort and support.
2
Administer religious rites or ordinances.
3
Pray and promote spirituality.
4
Conduct special ceremonies, such as weddings, funerals, or confirmations.
5
Respond to requests for assistance during emergencies or crises.
6
Organize and lead regular religious services.
7
Counsel individuals or groups concerning their spiritual, emotional, or personal needs.
Tasks are ranked by their AI resilience, with the most resilient tasks shown first. Core tasks are essential functions of this occupation, while supplemental tasks provide additional context.
