ABSTRACT
The Telephone Minyan evolved into a much more ambitious implementation of technology called BCC Live, a high-tech, clergy-driven, interactive on- and offsite program. Even though broadcasting life cycle events was not an original aim of BCC Live, it has become one of its most popular unforeseen benefits. For BCC, the Telephone Minyan was the first step on the path toward accepting the responsibility to make use of new technology in order to provide a substantial virtual space for those who needed it. Like the Telephone Minyan, it is free, accessible to anyone, and largely self-funded by enthusiasts. Over time, the Telephone Minyan grew, as more people through BCC correspondence, word of mouth, and search engine inquiries sought its benefits. Finally and most importantly, the BCC story reveals that some people require a physical space to meet their spiritual and social needs, while others due to illness, distance, travel, and other reasons need a dynamic virtual space.
