Peter Keeley-Pannett, 71, was told by Judge Robert Fraser that he "remains a high risk of serious harm to children", at Guildford Crown Court in Surrey.
Keeley-Pannett, from Brighton, was a non-stipendiary deacon in the Diocese of Chichester in West Sussex until his arrest in November 2014.
He used a webcam to meet boys as young as 13 years old in online chatrooms.
The court heard his offences spanned around two years from 2010.
The judge said that to Keeley-Pannett that it "must have been apparent" he was in touch with "vulnerable" children once he was in the chatrooms even though he had not deliberately targeted them.
Keeley-Pannett, a retired deacon, pleaded guilty to seven offences.
The judge said that despite his co-operation "there is something very wrong here and something needs to be done."
Keeley-Pannett was jailed him for a total of 32 months.
The judge decided upon the sentence due to the premeditation, the age gap and the vulnerability of the children.
Keeley-Pannett was sentenced to one month each for two counts of making 156 indecent images of children, the sentence will run concurrently.
He was also sentenced to 20 months each on two counts of causing or inciting a boy of 14 to engage in sexual activity, also a concurrent sentence.
Keeley-Pannett was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment on each of two charges of causing a boy aged 13 to 15 to watch images of sexual activity.
The judge said these should run concurrent to each other but one is to run consecutively to his other time to be served.
Keeley-Pannett was also sentenced to 12 months imprisonment to run concurrently, for one count of attempting to cause a boy over 13 to engage in sexual activity.
A further count of making indecent images of children will lie on file.
A sexual harm prevention order was also made which restricts Keeley-Pannett's use of the internet and communication with young boys.
He must also pay a £120 surcharge.
Sussex Police have said that none of the victims are from Sussex.
