To stem a nationwide shortage of full-time clergy, the Church of Scotland is considering the use of "virtual ministers" who would preach over a live video link to congregations that do not have a permanent minister.

A training course, believed to be the first to combine urban mission and church planting, is to equip participants to develop new and creative forms of church such as 'cafe churches', peace churches, virtual churches, new monastic communities and churches for the socially excluded.