A CHURCH service where the angels and saints make way for wizards and warlocks has been damned by conservative Christians.

Fans dressed as Wookies and vampires will be among the throng to hear passages from those bibles of fantasy The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter at a "Sci-Fi and Fantasy Friendly Church Service".

The Reverend Avril Hannah-Jones is behind Sunday's service at the Uniting Church in Romsey, north of Melbourne, which is aimed at getting more bums on pews.

The sci-fi enthusiast said the service would explore parallels between fantasy and Christianity, taking inspiration from Dr Who, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Star Wars.

But traditionalists have slammed the service's irreverence and lack of emphasis on scripture. Sources close to the church told the Herald Sun the plan had split locals.

"There are some that aren't very happy about it, especially because it just sort of happened out of the blue," a parishioner said.

Other church leaders said it was blasphemous and could encourage witchcraft and supernatural ideas.

"I don't have a problem with people enjoying sci-fi, but church isn't the place to encourage escapism and fancy dress," Mentone Baptist minister Murray Campbell said.

"It is the time where real people with real lives need to hear the real God speak his word, the Bible.

"We really ought to get our theology and world view from the Bible, not Frodo Baggins - as cool as he is."

Catholic priest Gerald O'Collins said: "There should be no need to dress it up.

"There is a magical story there already - We just have to start selling ourselves properly."

But Australian Baptist movement spokesman Rod Benson said the service was a unique opportunity to introduce more people to Christianity.

Mr Benson, an ethicist and public theologian, said the innovative approach was commendable.

"Baptists affirm the biblical teaching condemning occult practices, but this Uniting Church congregation's sci-fi/fantasy theme is commendable if it connects with the community and serves its purpose well," he said.

"What matters is how the church leaders frame the cultural theme within a Christian context.

"The supernatural is not the sole domain of malevolent forces. Indeed, Christians affirm that every aspect of life has a spiritual connection."

Mr Benson said familiar stories, such as Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Buffy, and Dr Who involved people wrestling with moral choices.

"(They) show the triumph of human virtue and the good over all kinds of moral and spiritual challenges," he said.

Uniting Church moderator Isabel Thomas Dobson said Sunday's service had the full support of the church authorities.

"We're always looking for ways in which we can connect the community with the truth of the gospel.

"We're talking fantasy, not reality," she said.



"It's a once-off."

deerys@heraldsun.com.au

Originally published as Conservatives slam fantasy church service