Abstract

Although both local churches and denominations are now using the web, that use is primarily an extension of traditional advertising rather than as an instrument for reaching out to those not part of the institutional church. One way to more effectively use the web is to provide authentic worship opportunities directly via the web. For the Christian Church the central worship experience is Holy Communion. The issue raised here is whether any of the many Christian traditions can offer an authentic Communion experience over the web. This paper, written from a Wesleyan perspective, argues that we can provide Holy Communion over the web. Whether we agree or disagree with that assertion it is clear that religious organizations will have to accommodate themselves to the new technologies simply because an apparently increasing number of people are separated from the standard operating procedures of the institutional church.