A US pastor's AI chatbot answers congregants' faith questions around the clock, raising questions for churches about where automated guidance ends and pastoral care begins.
A pastor in the United States, Justin Lester, has created an AI version of himself that church members can ask questions about faith and the Bible at any time. He says the tool frees up his own time, allowing more capacity for direct pastoral contact rather than replacing it. The case sits at the centre of a live question for churches: whether AI tools can extend access to spiritual guidance without displacing the personal relationship many see as central to pastoral care. It also raises practical questions for other congregations about how such tools are presented, supervised and limited in scope.