Can science help save the parish by Ken Miles

Are church buildings and ordained ministry valuable assets or (as has been suggested) “limiting factors” in the life of the church? This question is central to the current debate within the Church of England concerning the merits of parish-based worship as opposed to alternative approaches which do not require a relationship with a church building nor ordained leadership. 

To date, the debate has largely been conducted on biblical or theological grounds. But there is another voice which can contribute to this dialogue – science, not pure science but science blended with Christian thinking. Scientific knowledge can be looked at afresh while allowing for the existence of God.