Upon reading the full story, it sounds like the church is taking an idea that Edmond-based LifeChurch.tv has been using to maximum effect for years.

The news service reports that the Church of Scotland wants to use virtual ministers who would preach over a live video link to congregations that do not have a permanent minister.

“Preaching by live video link to vacant congregations is one of many radical changes being proposed by the Ministries Council,” Gordon Bell, media relations officer with the Church of Scotland, told Ecumenical News International.

He said the report to the Presbyterian church’s May 21-27 General Assembly suggests the Kirk, as the Church of Scotland is known locally, should consider the use of video technology in churches which struggle to attract full-time ministers.

The Orkney presbytery, which has 21 congregations spread over more than 10 islands, will be used to test the program by linking four congregations in the archipelago with technology similar to video conferencing.

There are presently an estimated 190 full-time vacancies for clergy across Scotland, which has a population of 5.1 million, the RNS reports.

If successful, church officials say a number of congregations in some of the most remote parts of Scotland would be able to take part in the same service.

Meanwhile, at LifeChurch.tv campuses, whether they be in Oklahoma or beyond (Arizona, Texas, Tennessee, Florida and New York), people attend worship experiences with Craig Groeschel (pictured above), senior pastor, or one of the church’s teaching pastors, delivering the sermon via satellite. Groeschel typically delivers the message live at one of the church sites and this is beamed via satellite. They’ve been doing it for years.

Is this an idea whose time has come? Will we see more ministries doing the same?

If so, Oklahoma is well ahead of the game.   

(PHOTO by Paul Hellstern, The Oklahoman: Craig Groeschel, senior pastor of LifeChurch.tv, sits in the sanctuary of the LifeChurch.tv headquarter campus at Interstate 35 and Second Street in Edmond in this 2005 photograph.)

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

The developers of the Me So Holy application have posted a statement about the rejection on their Web site at www.mesoholy.com.

The developers said have a similar application that allows people to superimpose their face or someone else’s on an animal.

In their statement the developers said the feel that “Apple is being too sensitve to its perceived user group and are disappointed that this otherwise creative, freethinking company would reject such a positive and fun application.”

The developers said Apple, in its rejection letter, said “Me So Holy” contains “objectionable content and is inviolatin of Section 3.3.12 from the iPhone SDK Agreement which states:

“Applications must not contain any obscene, pornographic, offensive or defamatory content or materials of any kind (text, graphics, images, photographs, etc.) or other content or materials that in Apple’s reasonable judgement may be found objectionable by iPHone or iPod touch users.”

Watch a CNN video on the matter: CNN “Me So Holy” video    

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

The more I think about the so-called Facebook Lenten fast, the more I think that it is an idea whose time has come.

Here’s what I think about it.

At my house, my teens are often arguing about computer usage.

Who’s getting on the computer?

Who forgot to turn off the monitor? … the printer?…

Having more than one computer doesn’t help either.  

You see, one teen wants to get on the computer that his sibling is on for any number of reasons.

And so it goes.

Sometimes, I play referee by just shutting down all the computers.

So, I look at the idea of adults fasting from Facebook this Lenten season with a new perspective. Plus I just read a story about school students in England who are fasting from the social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace during Lent: Schoolchildren fast. 

I like this idea! I LOVE this idea!

Not that my kids are all that into the social networking sites. I’m just thinking that perhaps an Internet ”fast” could be in order. Limiting the amount of time spent on the Internet isn’t a bad idea anyway, particularly if there is no homework involved.

I’m going to broach the subject with the teens, see what happens.

I’ve already got another idea: How about a fast from video games?

That should go over well with my son … 

Look for more Lent-related blog postings here on the Religion and Values blog in the days ahead. 

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor   

The Vatican has found that new technology like the iPhone has some definite advantages.

According to the Associated Press, the Vatican is endorsing new technology that brings the book of daily prayers used by priests straight onto iPhones.

The Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Social Communications has given its approval of the iBreviary, an iTunes application created by an Italian priest, the Rev. Paolo Padrini, and an Italian Web designer, the AP reports.

The application includes the Breviary prayer book — in Italian, English, Spanish, French and Latin and, in the near future, Portuguese and German. Another section includes the prayers of the daily Mass, and a third contains various other prayers.

Padrini’s proceeds are to go to charity.

(Above: AP Photo)

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

That’s the subtitle of ChristianNation.com, a recently launched Web site targeting Christian teens and young adults.

According to the site’s news release, it aims to “capture the pulse of the emerging Christian counter-culture with relevant content on music, movies, apparel, books, etc.”

 ”One minute you could be reading the latest CD review, listening to music or chatting with a friend, and the next learning about the negative impact of Evolution on society,” said Rob Holden, the site’s founder.

Today’s postings include a short commentary on the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks (today is the seventh anniversary) and a review of SonicFlood’s newly released album.

ChristianNation, the site’s creators say, also interjects Biblical truths and apologetic content throughout the Web site in an effort to counter the indoctrination of secularism that permeates high schools, colleges and society.

Site promoters said members can create their own page (similar to popular social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook), post their own blogs, upload videos, music, photos and instant message friends.

“Already more than 1,300 photos, 500 songs, 200 blogs and 150 videos have been posted by members,” they said.

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

Over the years, I’ve learned that he shares a similar philosophy as Bobby Gruenewald, innovation pastor at LifeChurch.tv, Gruenewald says that instead of shying away from technology like the Internet, churches can “redeem” technology by using it to advance the kingdom of God.  

Along those lines, Forbes created a free e-book called “Facebook for Pastors” earlier this year.

He said it is designed to help pastors use the social network to connect with their congregations and others in the community, particularly young people.

“Facebook is a great ministry opportunity,” Forbes said.

“A lot of people say they want closer relationships with their pastors and a lot of pastors say they’d like to connect to a younger crowd.”

Forbes said many churches now have nice Web sites. Facebook advances a church’s (or in this case, a pastor’s) Internet presence to another level, he said.

“People are expecting a level of interaction and young people are connected with each other almost constantly. They are on each other’s Facebook or they are texting each other,” he said.

Forbes said pastors who have used his e-book have reported that they have established closer ties with members of their congregations, especially younger people.

In addition to these positives, the Facebook for Pastors e-book also gives leaders a chance to make a donation to Hearts and Hands International, an Edmond-based charity close to Forbes’ heart. Although the e-book can be downloaded for free, Forbes presents information about the charity so that leaders can choose to donate to a worthy cause.

Check out the e-book and Forbes’ ministrymarketingcoach.com by clicking here: Facebook for Pastors. 

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

P.S. Two things: First, in an Aug. 12 posting, I asked readers to guess what is the single most significant roadblock for today’s savvy church communicators. One faithful reader e-mailed me with her answer, political correctness.

I think that guess was really close. According to one local expert, Terrell Sanders with Edmond-basedMinistryCom.org, the single most significant roadblock for today’s savvy church communicators is tradition or, in my own words the ”doing things the way we’ve always done them syndrome.”

Second: We’ll attend the MinistryCom conference coming up in September. Look for future stories, video and audio interviews.