Transforming Church - Beginnings

Let’s try a new category – how a “traditional” Christian like me might search for ideas in helping transform his local denominational church.

Most blogs (including my own) are built upon the concept that the writer has some great “thing” to say to the world. Well – I’d like this thread – this new category – to be different. I know there aren’t many people who read this blog, but if they do, I want their input. This thread is about how I might help my local church begin the adaptation of technology in its ministries and worship. www.stpeterstpaul.org.

Background. I am a layperson, not clergy. I am a heavy user of computers and technology – but not a “techie,” meaning I love using computers – just don’t ask me to fix one. My “God buttons” are pushed by the Eucharist and the joyful use of liturgical discipline. I am not looking to transform my local church per se – I want to work within the guidance and leadership of our priest (pastor, to most of you). We are an Episcopalian church – fairly new – now meeting in a store front in deep south Texas. On the one hand, though new, we bring with us the DNA of being in a liturgical denomination. On the other hand, there is a feeling that the Holy Spirit is about the move – that we are ready for that change, while insuring that our older folks can still depend on the traditions of our denomination to connect them to God.

We will never be a Willow Creek or a Saddleback. The leap from being a church with priests, the Eucharist (Communion), and a set order of worship to being a seeker-oriented church devoid of all Christian icons (crosses, altars, etc.) is too wide. Nor is the leap necessary. Thank God there are seeker churches – they connect people with God in ways a liturgical church cannot. Likewise, there is something is the mystery of the Eucharist that connects another kind of person to God. Let’s have both kinds of churches within The Church.

I had a great conversation with my priest the other day – and he asked me to consider if God might be calling me to explore the greater use of technology within our church. Video – sound systems – praise music – multimedia. So, I will visit other churches, and try to explore the ideas – and look for your input too.

God and the message do not change, but our culture does. I look for ways to help people make a God connection through the use of technology. Will you help me?

Comments

[TravisM]

Well... Technology of course can be used in all kinds of ways, but the most common, and in my opinion the easiest way is to use PowerPoint or something like that to display the words for worship on a screen, and maybe deliver parts of the sermon, or give audio/video aides to the congregation... just my 2 cents worth.

[Doug]

Hi Travis -

Thanx for the idea. I use Power Point a lot in my work, but having used PowerPoint during a retreat once, I found the biggest drawback was that I could not change things on the fly. For instance, if I have a screen up, and I need to change the next slide (for whatever reason), I cannot do it without coming out of slide show mode, making the change while everyone is watching, then going back into slide show mode. Not very professional looking.

But - right now, I use PowerPoint for teaching classes, such as a Biblical application of my trips to Viet Nam.

Hope all is well in Poland.

Doug

[TravisM]

Hey actually you can! But it requries a computer with dual monitor support (most laptops do this, but a normal desktop can w/ two video cards)... then one screen shows the regular "edit" mode of powerpoint, and the other the show... it's very good, and professional looking... :)

[Doug]

You learn something every day! I did not know that could be done with PowerPoint. Thanx.

[Stephen]

A good question to ask before you start is: Why do we want to do this? Will the incorporation of (more) technology into our worshipping community lead to a more authentic expression of our spirituality?

Just feeling a little jaded by churches I know who've shifted to Powerpoint etc. because "everyone else is" rather than thinking more critically about it and the nature of their own communities.

FWIW there's a talk I did on techno-spirituality for an "IT | Culture | Church" group on my blog that picks up on this if you're interested.

[Doug]

Hi Stephen - first of all - thanx for the link to your blog. At first glance, I like what I read in your postings.

But your question is very well taken. And, I can honestly say its not because "everyone else is."

I make my living on the Internet - web-based learning specifically. I spend most of my work day selling web-based learning to wary professors who want things to stay as they were when they entered academe.

Why should they change? Because the world is changing. While there will always be a need for residential universities, with parties, fraternities, clubs, and sporting events, there is an ever increasing need for adults to continue a forgotten education, and for younger "traditional" students to take courses not available nearby.

Likewise, there will always be a need for liturgical churches. But - there are many other people out there who can't find God in a spoken sermon or in a "thee and thou" service. A central mission of any local church must be to bring God's love to people who need it - even if they don't know they need it.

Your use of the word "authentic" is important. For many people, they learn about and experience the world "authentically" when viewed visually. Stated differently, they do not react to text or the spoken word very well. Most people are visual learners. IMHO, technology used to enhance God's message has the potential to reach greater numbers of people.

Now - if you will excuse me, I have to download some PDF files from your blog!

Doug

[Bene Diction]

Doug:

I didn't start blogging because I had some great thing to say to others, I recognized that others such as yourself might have some good things to say to me, and things I could pass to others.
I don't know technology enough to give you any ideas, but I know others do. So, when you have a post like this that you want input for, don't be shy about emailing some of us, many of us would be happy to point others your direction with a post. Blog on!

[Stephen]

Hi Doug,

Thanks for taking my comments in the spirit that they were intended. I know what you mean about appropriate use of technology - I work part-time providing internet/IT support for theological education by distance.

My concern is that technology is seen as inherently good in our technoculture - the matrix of our being, so to speak. The Gospel critiques all - which doesn't exclude the use of technology (in worship for example) but does ask that we examine it closely.

Susan White makes the good point that the high dependence upon technology for satisfying short term needs, coupled with a huge media investment in identifying and intensifying those needs, leads to the expectation the spiritual needs being met the same way – quickly, professionally and with little or no personal effort. Spiritual consumerism in other words.

However, you are right to note that if our culture is connected this way then we have to use appropriate metaphors and points of contact in order to start to build relationships.

I hope it goes well. Keep us informed on what you've been doing. It's always good to hear about new things people try.