This virtual mystery: A liturgical theological argument against celebrating Holy Communion on the internet in the United Methodist Church

The proliferation of internet use by the general public over the last thirty years has led to a corresponding increase in internet use by religious communities. What initially began as a few listservs and chatroom discussions on religious matters through the world wide web has now expanded to include the use of the internet by churches for advertising, programming, instruction, social networking, publication of videos and podcasts of sermons and worship services, live-streaming of worship services to multiple sites, the development of internet "campuses" of brick-and-mortar churches, and even the establishment of fully functioning stand-alone internet churches. As a denomination with a traditionally high view of sacramentality and a basic pattern of worship, Word and Table, that is sacramental, there are some in the United Methodist Church who have experimented with or initiated platforms for the celebration of Holy Communion over the internet. In this dissertation, I will explore and analyze the theological, ecclesiastical, ecumenical, and liturgical implications of United Methodists offering Holy Communion online and seek to elucidate the meaning of such a practice for the denomination in order to show that the celebration of Holy Communion over the internet is incompatible with United Methodist teaching.