Norwich, UK
The growth of online churches and online communion are to be closely scrutinised by the Methodist Church following a decision at its recent annual conference.
Dr Mark Rowland, secretary of the Faith and Order Committee, told Sight that “people in the Methodist Church have been discussing this issue for some years”.
Dr Mark Rowland. PICTURE: Courtesy of Dr Mark Rowland
“There was a great increase in online worship due to COVID-19, with churches reaching out to people and this has been a driving force in the issue.”
Various online initiatives have been appearing over the past few years such as a Recovery Church in Newcastle Upon Tyne focusing on providing services, particularly via Zoom, for recovering addicts.
As a result, the Methodist Conference (the governing body of the Methodist Church) commissioned a report – Online Church and Online Communion – to explore the issues involved. After discussing the resultant report, the conference decided to set up a working group to create recommendations to be brought to the 2026 conference. Rowland will be one of those working group members.
“There are a lot of questions involved about how we can move it forward, like what would be the governance? How would it be organised? How would online be put into practice?” he said.
“Safeguarding is a key issue: People are vulnerable online at home, and we need to identify what provisions have to be made and how we will deal with safeguarding provision. Demand for online provision has come from members of the Methodist Church, with some saying that this is the 21st century and online is where everyone is. The question is how can you have true fellowship online, people need to receive a community experience.”
Rowland said online fellowship has a “broad appeal, especially for those housebound and infirm”.
“Some people find it liberating. With online communion services, people have bread and wine at hand, then share it at the same time as others attending the service. We do not have a settled position regarding online churches and online communion, and are still working it out.”
Rowland is adamant that there is no intention that the Methodist Church should go completely online. Such provision would just form part of the overall mix. Online is not suitable for everyone since many prefer a traditional style of worship, and seek to be part of a physical community.
“There is a question as to how it will affect physical churches. It may result in a less physical presence, and this would affect the economic and social justice aspects, which are so important within the Methodist Church. The temptation would be for affluent areas to cope with both types, while poorer areas might find chapels closing. Another issue is the fact that not everyone can afford or access digital. Connectivity can be a problem.”
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Rowland said research was needed to find out “what is happening now within churches and how people are responding”.
“There is a lot of anecdotal information but no data. We need detailed, solid data on how it is used and what is the understanding of it, including live streaming services, zoom services and creating church communities online”
Researching these practical issues is expected to take two years before any conclusions are available.
The report notes that on a wider basis, “it is likely to have some implications for church unity both within the Methodist Church and with ecumenical partners”.
The Methodist initiative has already aroused considerable interest among other Christian denominations as Rowland explained.
“Other churches are talking to us about it. They are interested in our findings. We have had ecumenical colleagues commenting that they are interested. They are finding that these issues are coming up in their churches and want to see how the Methodist church research develops.”