Church AI Policy
Ready-to-Adopt Template

[Church Name] believes that technology, including AI, can be a gift from God when used with wisdom and discernment (James 1:5). Our goal is to use AI tools to amplify ministry effectiveness, reduce administrative burden, and free our people to do the work only humans can do — pastoral care, discipleship, worship, and community.

Staff and volunteers may use AI tools for the following ministry functions:

• Drafting sermon outlines, devotionals, and Bible study materials (with pastoral review required before delivery)
• Writing first drafts of communications, announcements, newsletters, and social media content
• Summarizing research, commentaries, and theological resources for study preparation
• Creating administrative documents, meeting agendas, and ministry planning materials
• Generating templates for pastoral care letters, bereavement notes, and follow-up communications (all must be personalized before sending)
• Analyzing church data, giving trends, and attendance patterns for leadership planning
• Research for sermon illustrations, historical context, and cross-reference passages

The following uses of AI are not permitted at [Church Name]:

• Using AI-generated content in a sermon, teaching, or communication without disclosure when it represents a substantial portion of the content
• Entering personally identifiable information (PII) of congregation members into public AI tools (names, addresses, health information, prayer requests, counseling notes)
• Using AI to make pastoral care decisions, provide counseling, or respond to crisis situations on behalf of the church
• Generating images, video, or audio that misrepresents church leaders, staff, or congregation members
• Using AI tools that have not been evaluated and approved for church use (see Approved Tools list)
• Allowing AI to draft or send communications without human review and approval

Protecting our congregation's information is a pastoral responsibility. The following data privacy standards apply to all AI tool usage:

• Never input confidential member information (prayer requests, giving records, counseling disclosures, personal struggles) into AI platforms
• Use anonymized or generalized descriptions when using AI to process pastoral situations (e.g., "a congregant in their 40s experiencing job loss" — never a name)
• All staff must review the privacy policy of any AI tool before using it for church purposes
• Data generated by AI tools that includes church information must be stored on church-approved systems, not personal accounts

[Church Name] is committed to honesty and transparency with our congregation about AI use in ministry:

• Sermons and teachings that use substantial AI-generated content should be disclosed to the congregation at the pastor's discretion
• AI-generated images used in church marketing, social media, or presentations should be labeled as "AI-assisted imagery" when they represent people or places that may be misunderstood as real
• Pastoral letters and care communications must reflect authentic human voice — AI may assist with drafting, but final text should read as written by the pastor
• If a congregation member asks directly whether AI was used in a communication or teaching, staff must answer honestly

All AI-generated theological content (sermon outlines, devotionals, Bible studies) must be reviewed for theological accuracy and alignment with [Church Name]'s doctrinal statement before use. Staff are responsible for:

• Reviewing all scripture references and citations generated by AI tools for accuracy
• Verifying that AI-generated interpretations align with our church's theological tradition
• Not presenting AI-generated theological conclusions as the staff member's personal study without disclosure
• Supplementing AI-generated content with personal prayer, study, and pastoral insight

The following AI tools have been reviewed and approved for church use:

• FaithStack AI Tools (faithaistack.com) — Sermon generation, devotionals, policy generation, Bible study
• ChatGPT (OpenAI) — General writing assistance, research, content drafting
• Claude (Anthropic) — General writing assistance, document summarization
• Google Workspace AI features — Email drafting, document creation (within Google Workspace accounts)
• [Add church-specific approved tools here]

[Church Name] will support staff and volunteers in using AI tools responsibly:

• Annual training session on approved AI tools and this policy (beginning [Month Year])
• Access to FaithStack guides and tutorials for ministry-specific AI applications
• Designate an AI Champion (staff member responsible for staying current on church tech AI developments) — [Name/Role]
• Review this policy annually and update as AI technology evolves

Violations of this policy will be handled according to [Church Name]'s standard staff conduct procedures. Serious violations (sharing confidential member data, misrepresenting AI content as personal work in ways that harm the congregation's trust) may result in disciplinary action including termination of employment or volunteer role.

Questions about this policy should be directed to [Lead Pastor / Executive Pastor / Church Administrator] at [email address]. We want to help our team use AI tools well — reach out before you're unsure, not after.