Church of England Seeks Web Pastor

March 12 -- In this week's Cybershake, we look at how the Church of England is going high-tech — and searching for a minister to manage its "virtual parish." Plus, are Web sites run by liquor companies attracting the wrong online crowd?

A Church With No Pews

Faced with declining numbers, the Church of England is turning to the Web. Its Internet church, or "i-church," is the brainchild of the Rev. Richard Thomas, who is hoping to offer an alternative to busy Christians.

"There are quite a few people who want to explore [the] Christian faith and want to make some kind of contribution to Christian discipleship, but really aren't willing or aren't able to be in church on a Sunday morning," says Thomas.

Virtual visitors and parishioners alike can gather at i-church.org to post messages, discuss viewpoints, submit prayer requests, or even read about events happening in churches throughout England. And the site welcomes every one, regardless of political and spiritual beliefs.

"One of the key purposes of i-church is to provide a community for those who do not find participant membership of a local church easy, and it will therefore reflect an inclusive attitude to Christian faith and discipleship," says the Web site.

And now, the Church of England is looking for a priest to run the virtual parish.

"We are looking for a dynamic, confident Christian (lay or ordained) who is able to build this new community, lead its core members, and be available to visitors to the site," says the posting on the Web. "You will need excellent communication skills and the ability to work creatively in a new and untested environment."

And just what does that mean? Says Thomas: "[A] combination of Bill Gates and the archangel Gabriel … somebody who can manage Internet communities, understands the Internet, understands how Web communities work, somebody who has a heart for missions, somebody who can work with people."

The church's Web site says the paid position is "half-time initially for three years, but may grow if the community flourishes."