Virtual Church

The BBC is reporting the appointment of a pastor for the Internet. I am not sure this is such a good idea. This is yet another step of the individualization of spirituality. I wonder how well such fellowship can be real rather than just merely virtual.

Alyson Leslie, a lay pastor, will run i-Church, a community of worshippers from all over the world who will congregate at the website for prayers in chatrooms, webcast services and e-mail socialising.

It is the first time a web community will be a fully recognised Anglican church. Although parishioners from many countries are taking part, the church will nominally be part of the Diocese of Oxford, which is funding the £15,000-a-year venture - a fraction of the cost of maintaining many physical churches.