Some forms of next century's church may be remarkably familiar.

On the Near North side of Chicago on Ontario Street is a McDonald's. It has a 1950s decor, including a classic 1954 white Corvette convertible inside. There are ads, posters, radios, records, and juke boxes from the 1950s. The lines are long as customers come to step back in time. It appeals to the traditional, reflecting a time when life was supposed to be simpler and more stable.

And yet, that McDonald's has some very modern features and services: a drive-through window; home-delivery service (the delivery vehicle is a 1955 Chevy station wagon painted red); you can charge souvenirs on your Visa Card; there is an automatic teller machine for cash withdrawals before you order your food; and there is a larger variety on the menu than other McDonald's restaurants.

That Chicago McDonald's is a model for the traditional church in the twenty-first century-doing yesterday better than it has ever been done before. To the surprise ...