I'd have thought you'd be delighted that someone in the Church is trying to get a new generation of church goers to go through the door. What's the alternative? Doing the same as they've always done, alienating would-be worshippers? Being a staid, po-faced institution has already seen the decline of the number of churches; why do you think they are closing? Where I work, I see two former churches. One is now a charity shop, the other a buddist temple. Why have they closed as churches? Because lesser numbers want to get bored half to death listening to an old codger droning on.

God entered human history, language, and culture in order to be heard.

So personally I have no problem whatsoever with evangelisation through TikTok (or Similar Worlds for that matter ;) ).

Christ went to where people were to speak to them rather expecting people to come to come (though obviously, famously, he did get followed about too), and it's ludicrous to think we shouldn't do the same. And it's probably far more effective than shouting on a street corner.

But what I fear this tends to do is make the faith shallower. TikTok et al are about brevity (and even this message is probably too long for most people already). Faith shouldn't be about compelling takes but a coherent way of life; prayer isn't just a feeling but a discipline.

And I think what also can get lost is the idea of received faith. I'm Catholic so naturally I'm going to bring up the word 'tradition', but all faith is something handed on, whether through parents or friends, rather than something curated for engagement metrics. There is weight in Christianity that isn't possibly apparent in a 30 second video.

Plus (again, traditional leaning Catholic here), what I really dislike about this, whether SM posts or something in church itself, is cutting out silence. God is beyond complete explanation and sometimes mystery requires silence to contemplate it. It doesn't mean never speak, but does probably mean no one is really going to find prayer through TikTok.

Christianity from age to age teaches that faith isn't just an arresting image but something that is formed. It takes work. TikTok (or doing something to get a newspaper headline like graffiti-style 'art' in a cathedral') is at best a threshold and not the end point. The spark that sets the work in process certainly can come from social media. It's pretty shallow if it ends there.

I am a Bible believing Christian.. Not a church based Christian.. So different churches have their own eccentricities and weird teachings and doings.. That's their responsibility, what they teach and what they do.. I am responsible for what i share about the LORD and what i do in regards to His will..

If she is more competent in child safeguarding, community relations and basic governsnce than the average CofE incumbent, she should be welcomed as a positive step in the right direction of reform and restitution for historical abuses.

The dog can stay outside though 🐶

The Telegraph is well known for disliking any cultural change that came about after the end of conscription and even before that was reeling from the death of servants knowing their place. It's good to know it has something else to upset people who don't set foot in church between Christmases and give them an opinion at the sherry parties or the Lodge.

I heard the same thing is happening in Canada. I'm not a fan of religion so this disturbs me. However, Gen z has the attention span of fruit flies, so it will be a passing fancy.

What exactly do you disagree with? Young people going to church, even being ordained?

That oughta boost attendance!!

I do not see a Biblically qualified minister there.

Religious collars are becoming like septum rings - red flags of people you should not trust at any cost.