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For Tim Parker, the Church of Scotland's specialist on mobile phone networks, the issue is less about where antennae are sited than about the strength of the signal being put out.

The Presbyterian Church, which is the established church in Scotland, has more than 1,500 congregations. Between 24 and 30 churches are understood to host telecommunications antennae at the moment, but more applications are expected as the third-generation network gets underway.

Parker, who is deputy secretary of the church's general trustees, told ENI: "Any application from a telecoms company must be made through our department. We will process it if the presbytery [district] and local congregation supports it.

"The strength of the proposed transmission is what matters. We will carefully monitor the situation, and that takes time. It's quite likely that in many cases the telecoms company will go to another building where they can get a quicker decision."

The issue of safety and possible harmful effects of the antennae continues to cause debate and controversy. The authoritative Stewart Report, published in Britain in May last year and accepted by the British government, said: "There is some preliminary evidence that outputs from mobile phone technologies may cause, in some cases, subtle biological effects although, importantly, these do not necessarily mean that health is affected."

It said there was no general risk to the health of people living near the cell network transmitters because radiation exposures were expected to be a small fraction of the guideline figures, although "there can be indirect adverse effects on their wellbeing in some cases."

Scientists have taken this to mean that children and old people in particular are exposed to added risk of cancer and other diseases.

Copyright © 2001 ENI.

The Church of England's Web site has several related items, including an Aerials FAQ and news stories.

Mast Action's Web site gives more information about why towers should not be erected.

An earlier Christianity Today news article covered a cell tower 'cross' dispute, while a column by Andy Crouch examined cell phones as part of modern idolatry.

Related news articles in other publications include:

Church tolls the knell for phone masts — The Daily Telegraph, London (Mar. 5, 2001)

Could bats in belfry signal end for mast? — The Scotsman, Edinburgh (Feb. 24, 2001)

Row as church puts faith in mobile profits — The Daily Telegraph (Jan. 10, 2001)

Church answers call for cell tower | Vermont historic church decides antennas won't interfere with mission — Associated Press/Chicago Tribune (Dec. 29, 2000)

Church Shows Town Can Have Its Phones, and Worship Too | Bell Tower in Britain Hides Cellular Antennae — The Washington Post (Dec. 25, 2000)

Church phone masts given Carey's blessing — The Times, London (Nov. 30, 2000)

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March (Web-only) 2001, Vol. 45