Study: 62 percent of pastors in Germany use artificial intelligence
Detailed evaluation of the DRC study 2026 shows for the first time figures on AI use among clergy in Germany.
Quick Look
- According to the study “Digitization in the area of churches” (DiRK, 2026), around 62 percent of pastors in Germany use artificial intelligence.
- 20 percent often use it, especially when creating texts or preparing sermons.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
For the first time, figures on the use of artificial intelligence by clergy are available in Germany.
Around 62 percent of pastors in Germany work with artificial intelligence (AI). This was the result of a detailed evaluation of the cross-denominational study “Digitalization in the Church Area” (DiRK, 2026).
As the head of the study, Holger Sievert (Cologne), told the Evangelical Press Service (epd), 20 percent said they used AI frequently and 42.6 percent rarely used it. So far there have been no figures for Germany.
According to the DiRK study, one in five pastors has never had anything to do with AI. 15.3 percent of those surveyed said they had already experimented or tried things out. Eight percent of pastors said they couldn't imagine working with ChatGPT, Claude, Mistral or another AI system.
How and to what extent AI is used to prepare sermons is not exactly clear from the current data. “But we know from the open answers that sermon creation was an important area of text creation,” explained the professor at Macromedia University. In-depth evaluations of use by pastors should follow in 2027.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
In-depth evaluations for use by parish priests are to follow in 2027.
Likely · Within months
Open Questions
- Exactly to what extent is AI used in preaching?
- What will the in-depth evaluations look like in 2027?
