Sacraments for Social Networkers

Last week the Daily Telegraph reported that the Rev. Tim Ross, a Methodist minister in the UK, was planning to use Twitter to administer communion (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/twitter/7908263/Church-minister-to-tweet-Holy-Communion-to-the-faithful.html).

While I applaud Rev. Ross' desire to use 21st century tools to spread the Good News, and I believe that real communities of interest can be formed online, I rather think this liturgical initiative rather misses the point. Communion a/k/a the Eucharist a/k/a the Lord's Supper is based on a shared meal. Yes, you and I could both sit down to eat and drink in different locations and email, text, or tweet one another about what were consuming, and we would have a common experience -- but would we really be sharing a meal? I don't think so.

Some Christians believe that the host and wine are literally transformed into the body and blood of Christ. Others believe they are compelling representations of God's love made known to us. Either way, communion involves something tangible, something we can chew and sip together. The prayers are important, but to me the power of the Eucharist is ultimately found in our sharing the elements of bread and cup with one another. One simply can't do that on-line.

Of course, I may be wrong and Rev. Ross may be on to something. There's always the possibility of on-line baptism ...

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