Pastor in the US creates AI model for clergy

American pastors are increasingly using artificial intelligence to prepare sermons and organize church work. One striking example is the PastorGPT project, developed by 37-year-old Reverend Justin Lester from California.

How PastorGPT works

The model is trained weekly on thousands of sermons available online. It analyzes content, themes, and the frequency of congregants' requests. An integrated early warning system reminds pastors when they need to address a particular topic if the number of corresponding requests from parishioners is growing.

According to The Wall Street Journal, PastorGPT is already being used by more than 30 churches. The model helps save time on preparation and adapt sermons to the current needs of congregants.

Another example

Pastor Darrel Stetler from Oklahoma City is also actively using AI. As a father of seven, he has to work additional jobs, and artificial intelligence helps him prepare sermons more quickly. Stetler also creates AI-generated training programs for other pastors and leads a group of like-minded people experimenting with technology in the church.

Reaction from the Russian Orthodox Church

Vakhtang Kipshidze, deputy head of the Synodal Department for Church Relations with Society and Media of the Moscow Patriarchate, had previously stated that replacing a living priest with a computer program poses a danger to a person both spiritually and physically.

In brief

American pastors have begun actively using AI to prepare sermons. Pastor Justin Lester developed the PastorGPT model, which trains on thousands of sermons and helps adapt content to congregants' needs. It is already being used by more than 30 churches. Another pastor, Darrel Stetler, uses AI to save time. The Russian Orthodox Church is skeptical of this practice, believing that live communication between a priest and the congregation cannot be replaced by algorithms. Nevertheless, technology continues to penetrate the religious sphere.