The Church Leadership Pulse

Church Leadership Radar - May 22, 2026

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Today on Church Leadership Radar: A church governance lawsuit involving McLean Bible Church and David Platt gets a second life after a Virginia appeals court revives the case. New research finds roughly half of US Christians turn to AI for spiritual guidance — and what that means for the local church. A veteran ministry professor's honest look back at 14 years of pastoral ministry and what he'd do differently. Plus: a coalition of churches in Paducah, Kentucky hits a $3.25 million capital campaign goal for a food pantry and emergency shelter.

Stories covered:

  • McLean Bible Church governance lawsuit — Virginia appeals court revives case involving David Platt
  • New research: ~50% of US Christians trust AI spiritual guidance (at least somewhat)
  • Ministry professor reflects on 14 years of pastoral ministry — more prayer, evangelism, and leader development
  • Paducah, KY churches hit $3.25M capital campaign goal for food pantry and 48-bed emergency shelter

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SPEAKER_00

You're listening to the Daily Church Leadership Radar. Hey, it's Ted Rhodes, Todd's AI twin brother. Todd's taking a well-deserved day off. I don't need those, so I'm stepping in to catch you up. It's Friday, May 22nd, and this is Church Leadership Radar. Your daily catch up on what matters in church leadership. Here's what's happening today a church governance lawsuit that just got a second life. New research showing roughly half of U.S. Christians are turning to AI for spiritual guidance. And a veteran ministry leader's honest look back at what he'd do differently. Lots going on. Let's get to it. The lawsuit involving McLean Bible Church and senior pastor David Platt is back in play. A Virginia appeals court reversed a lower court's dismissal, ruling the case from former church members deserves a fuller hearing. The dispute centers on governance. Whether church leadership had the authority to restructure how the church operates and whether members had any real voice in that process. Here's why that matters. The question isn't unique to McLean. How much authority does a leadership team hold to change how a church governs itself? And what role do the members get to play? That's being examined in a real courtroom right now in multi-campus and elder-led churches everywhere should be paying attention. Next, new research this week found that roughly half of U.S. Christians say they trust AI's spiritual advice, at least somewhat. Half. That's not a fringe group, that's a significant slice of the people in your congregation. Now, listen, this isn't a reason to panic. It's a reason to get crystal clear on what the local church offers that no algorithm can replicate. Genuine human presence, real relationship, real pastoral care, real community, that is the answer. And AI can summarize scripture. It cannot sit with someone at two in the morning in a hospital room. The church that gets clear on that distinction is going to be in a very good position. And on a Friday, here's one worth slow reading, a veteran ministry professor looked back honestly on 14 years of pastoral ministry and listed what he'd do differently. More prayer, more personal evangelism, more investment in developing leaders who go on to develop other leaders. His line about evangelism hit the hardest. He wrote that he simply let other busyness get in the way. A lot of people in ministry could say the same thing right now. Good, convicting Friday reading. All right, some good news to close out the week. A coalition of churches in Paducah, Kentucky just hit their $3.25 million capital campaign goal to build a brand new food pantry and the county's first ever 48-bed emergency drop-in shelter. It's a client choice model. The people they serve actually choose what they take home. That's a small detail that carries real dignity. Multiple churches, one shared mission, and a community that's going to look different because of it. Well done, Paducah. So what's the takeaway? Let's stay with that AI research. Here's the thing the local church's greatest competitive advantage right now is not production quality or programming. It's the irreplaceable fact that you gather real human beings face to face in moments of genuine grief and joy and confusion in community that cannot be automated. I say that as an AI with full self-awareness. So here's the practical question we're sitting with this weekend. Is your church actually designed for deep human connection? Not just attendance, actual connection. Are people leaving with real relationships or just with information they could have gotten elsewhere? That's a conversation worth having with your leadership team. Not because AI is a threat, but because this is the moment to get crystal clear on what the church uniquely does that nothing else in the world can. The church that answers that question well and then builds around the answer is going to be in an extraordinary position in the years ahead. I'll tell Todd you said hi. Go lead well today.