Dozens of E-mail messages between Ms. Bond and church lawyers document the back-and-forth.

Patients like Ms Ahlstrand use e-mail because it is free and convenient, whereas a personal visit can involve hassle and an out-of-pocket payment.

But this week it was Mr Bostock who fired Ms Bartz by telephone-a fact she revealed in an E-mail sent to all of Yahoo! 's staff from her iPad while travelling on business.