God bless cyberspace

By JOSIE CLARKE

Everything is available over the internet, and that includes a blessing.

An Auckland vicar is about to offer his parishioners, wherever they might be, the cyber-blessing.

Called A Gateway to God - Online, the blessing is part of Vicar Ian Lawton's master plan to "globalise" the Anglican Church, starting with his parish of St Matthew-in-the-City.

"We want to be able to connect with people globally, and we see ourselves as part of the new globalisation of the church," he says.

Just a gimmick? Not at all, say its supporters, rather a sign of the times. A press announcement prepared by the church's public relations consultants, Botica Conroy and Associates, describes the online blessings as "a concession to the modern, time-poor Christian," and an indication of how much the church has changed to keep up with the times.

The blessings will become part of a website, which Mr Lawton hopes will allow parishioners to take a virtual tour of the church, enter a chat room and talk online with him or other church representatives.

The first stage will be a series of still photographs and graphics accompanied by Celtic, Maori and native American blessings. Personal blessings from the vicar are planned for the website down the track.

The website would cater for people who could not always make it into church buildings and the anonymity factor could appeal to those who didn't want to "join the club.

"This is a way of logging on, taking what you want, and logging off," Mr Lawton said.

The online blessings are a far cry from stories in the Bible, when Jesus gathered the little children around him, placed his hand on their foreheads and said a blessing.

Mr Lawton's venture into cyberspace has not drawn any complaints from the parish - yet.

"Although we are at an early stage. We'll see how we go once it's launched."

But the Methodist Church president, the Rev Dr Mary Cagill, said she had real difficulties with the website, as it was "marketing" something that was quite profound.

"I think it is commercialising something that is deeply sacred. It trivialises the depth of Christianity."

Dr Cagill said she was particularly worried about offering Maori blessings on the internet - "these are so deeply sacred to the people of the land."

The Rev Dick Slater, of St George's Anglican church at Papatoetoe, thinks a blessing is better done in person than over the net.

"In this computer age, it will possibly appeal to lots of people, but I'm getting old and I think I tend to be rather more traditional.

"Spirituality things are pretty personal and, to me, person to person is the way to go."