Today’s pastors are carrying an increasingly heavy load, balancing spiritual leadership and ministry demands with caring for their own family and personal needs. Many, especially those who are bivocational or leading with a small staff and tight budget, feel the strain of navigating these responsibilities.

Recent research from Barna’s The State of Pastors Vol. 2 reveals a stark reality: One in three U.S. pastors wish they were better prepared for balancing ministry and administration (35%), as well as handling administrative burdens (33%). Additionally, one in five pastors (22%) report feeling underprepared to integrate technology into their ministries.

Some digital tools, including artificial intelligence (AI), may emerge as practical solutions to lighten pastors’ administrative burdens, freeing them to focus more on preaching (which, Barna has learned, is their favorite part of the job), shepherding and building relationships within their communities. While pastors have differing opinions of the merits and trustworthiness of AI, many are beginning to realize the potential benefits of the technology when it comes to day-to-day needs and less spiritual tasks like marketing, design and administrative planning.

For senior leaders of churches, the question isn’t just about adopting new tools but discerning how technology can support their calling rather than complicate it.

Here are seven ways technology can help lighten pastors’ workload so they can spend more time on the spiritual and relational aspects of leading a church:

1. Graphic Design: Nearly nine in 10 pastors (88%) say they’d be comfortable utilizing AI within the realm of “assisting in graphic design,” and over three-quarters (78%) are okay using the technology to “assist with marketing and marketing materials.” Whether designing sermons slides and marketing materials or using scheduling platforms for posting, AI tools might be able to help church leaders and their teams streamline the process.
2. Automation: Church management software (ChMS) helps churches automate scheduling, track attendance and communicate with members, making time for more personal interactions.
3. Church Communications: While a ChatGPT sermon might cross the line for some, generative AI tools like this can help pastors draft emails, newsletters or other church communications, freeing up time for other tasks like sermon prep. 
4. Task Management & Collaboration: Project management software and platforms can help pastors and ministry teams keep track of projects, manage tasks and collaborate on event planning or outreach projects without endless meetings.
5. Volunteer Coordination: Platforms and apps that help make coordinating small groups and volunteers a breeze by simplifying event planning, service schedules and team assignments. 
6. Virtual Counseling & Appointments: Though it’s important to not lose a human touch in more relational duties like counseling, digital tools can be used for seamless scheduling and providing virtual attendance options, providing flexibility to both the pastor and congregants.
7. Online Training & Discipleship: Subscription-based or custom learning portals can provide discipleship materials, leadership training and Bible study resources, helping people engage in spiritual growth—and leadership development—at their own pace.

These tools can help pastors manage some of operational and ministerial tasks efficiently, creating more room for pastoral care and personal connection. What are the top tasks where technology could help lighten your ministry workload?