I have two quick videos to share with you today and I’d like to thank Kem Meyer whose post this week reminded me that I’ve been meaning to do this for some time. I thank Kem also for offering this quote from Craig Groeschel, founder of LifeChurch.tv:
“We used to spend our time trying to get people to come to church. Now, we’ve got to find ways to take church to them.”
Craig Groeschel
If you haven’t already, you can should check out the Clay Shirky video I posted back in July.
This site is one of 90 on the
November 16th, 2009 on 6:53 pm
but Colin
I’m not sure I’ll ever be ready, nor should the church be willing, to “give up meeting together” – for real, in person. I may be a visual learner, but I am, in all other aspects of my life incarnational in my approach. I need to be with and among people in time and space, and ‘virtual relationships’ just don’t cut it.
Each wave of exciting new technology brings with it questions of increasing importance -but to this point (in my opinion) none of the technological options foster the kind of relationship that the gospel calls us into – the kind of relationship God chose with us through Christ. Where is Incarnation in this technological revolution?
November 16th, 2009 on 8:38 pm
Jeff,
I’m not sure that anyone is suggesting we replace physical relationships with virtual ones. Quite the contrary, Facebook and Twitter, as examples, allow me to connect, on a daily basis, with ministers, elders and others across Canada and the United States. Could these connections ever replace my “Sunday morning” experience? No, but it does enrich it!
Social media also allows me to stay in touch with those whom I would dearly love to share time with in person, but can’t. It’s really the telegraph of the 21st century. In this context, I often think of the pioneers who struck out for the west – but were able to maintain their connections to the east using a new “virtual communication” technology – the telegraph machine.
Like the posted letter before it, the telegraph allowed people to stay in touch across long distances in what must have seemed like real-time.
My point in showing these videos wasn’t to suggest that the Church needs to change in any fundamental way. I think it’s important for us to recognize, however, that the media and communications worlds are rapidly changing around us. Those changes offer as many opportunities as they do challenges – we need to be ready to grasp those opportunities.
It’s really just about embracing new communications channels, rather than changing the message. Of course, the medium alters the message somewhat, but this is as true of “old media” as it is of “new media”.
I found another blog post earlier today that doe a nice job of putting all of this in the context of channels:
http://tweetpr.com/?p=55
It’s worth noting that I now have a “virtual” relationship with someone named Jeff Lackie – perhaps not as meaningful as an in-person meet, but better than no relationship at all!
Colin
November 17th, 2009 on 3:10 pm
Of course our interaction through this medium is better than no interaction at all – I suppose my reluctance/cynicism comes from the attitude of crushing inevitability that is often expressed when these things are discussed in the context of “the future of ministry”. These are tools, yes – but they have become for some the prescription for change – as though God’s people were no longer capable of functioning beyond the level of twitter updates. Case in point: I attempted to follow the business of the most recent General Assembly through the website of the PCC – once past the first couple of sederunts, the information stopped coming, or came only in the form of brief messages promising ‘more to follow’ That doesn’t seem to be much of an improvement on the previous option, which meant waiting for the Acts and Proceedings to be ready. Understand, I am not anti-technology (otherwise, we could not have this exchange) I am delighted that we can share ideas, concerns etc on this and other electronic forums. We need to strike a balance between what was, what is, and what may be. We need to question those who bombard us with figures that make the march towards electronic connectedness seem like the only available option – especially within the church, whose mandate and mission concerns people beyond the limits of their computer screens.
Peace
Jeff