The church is struggling to adjust to its new environment in the technological advances of the twenty-first century\u201d\u201dwe are no longer even in a postmodern age but something indescribably beyond even that. Most consider us to be living, in the West, in post-Christendom. This does not mean we are secular in the UK necessarily; we are simply \u201d\u02dchaunted,\u2019 as Rowan Williams memorably put it, by the memory of Christianity. Along with all other large institutions the church seems to be losing its hold and authority. Into this we can insert the charge to all Christians, and particularly to the ordained in the Church of England, to \u201d\u02dcproclaim the gospel afresh in each generation.\u2019<\/p>\n
I am what might be described as an \u201d\u02dcearly adopter\u2019; I embraced with enthusiasm social media in all its forms when it emerged in the middle of the last decade. I have also always had a passion for evangelism and for finding new ways to share the faith that I hold so dear. This study seeks to understand something of the world in which we now live, where connection to the internet is seen by some to be a human right, and where it is an integral part of a lot of people\u2019s lives and how this connects to our calling as Christians to become involved in the missio Dei, the mission of God, in the world.<\/p>\n
This is an important task. Because of the fast pace of change, we must be careful not to sleepwalk into a new paradigm without taking the time to reflect theologically.<\/p>\n