Digital Church mobilized to help children

http://www.outreachmagazine.com/features/3822-How-Online-Worship-Changing-Church.html

"Terri Goulette lives in one of those hard-hit areas—Houma, La.—where many families lost their livelihood in the wake of the spill. Moved by the need, she started looking for a way to help and to bring encouragement to the community. That’s when she thought of a backpack and school-supply drive. And she thought perhaps she could mobilize her 'local church'—700 miles away in Central Florida...

"Terri Goulette’s backpack drive had taken shape and gained momentum, mostly through word of mouth and informal networking. It wasn’t until she contacted Northland to invite the involvement of her church that she remembered the church does an annual school supply drive to benefit homeless and other needy children in Central Florida. Goulette and Northland combined their efforts, and the contributions poured in."

* *
This is a small example of people organizing online to accomplish a goal.  The interesting thing to me though is the idea of a digital church. I can see the usefulness of this for agoraphobes and people in jail (do they have computer access?), or others who can't get to a flesh-and-blood church.  But if church is the Body of Christ, can that body be connected by electrons and monitors?  Can you be intimately connected to a group through online participation only?  I believe you can, but I'm not sure if theologically that is a strong enough connection to form a church.  It opens up a big area of discussion.