Internet is changing the way we do church

In Alban Institute's Congregations magazine (Fall 2008, Number 4), Andrea Useem's article, "The New Connectivity: How Internet Innovations Are Changing the Way We Do Church," she examines the latest Internet innovations and how they are changing the landscape of religion and congregational life today. Here's a few excerpted highlights:

... To make sense of how technology and church intersect, it’s important to understand how the newest iterations of the Internet—collectively known as “Web 2.0”—dramatically expand our ability to connect with one another online. This new generation of Internet tools—including blogs, wikis, social networks, and video- and photo-sharing sites—has accelerated and enriched the online interaction ...

... most religious congregations continue to plan communications “based on a written culture when we’re in a digital age.” The result is a culture clash in which religious congregations are having debates—Should we be online? Do social networking sites have anything to offer?—that individuals in the wider society have already resolved.

The essential challenge for congregations is this: In a digital world where community is possible online, what is the relevance of a brick-and-mortar congregation? The Internet’s success springs from a powerful longing for community—the very same force that drives congregations.

... The good news here, says Campbell, is that congregational life and online life are not competing in a zero-sum game. [ed.note: emphasis mine] If people go online to connect with other believers or deepen their faith, this activity does not mean a net loss for the congregation that those individuals might have turned to had the Internet not been available.

... Mark Brown, the New Zealand-based pastor of the Anglican Church in Second Life, a community that meets in the virtual world of Second Life, has found similar patterns in his own community. Through a survey, he found that 17 percent of those who attend the Anglican Church in Second Life attended no other church service offline.

... “People are looking for relationships,” says Campbell. “They’re looking for places where they can care about people and feel cared for. They want a sense of connection, and not just on a Sunday. They want a 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week connection to other people. They want an intimate community where they can be transparent with others and others can be transparent with them.”

The article is a very carefully researched and thoughtful reflection, and goes on to describe how Web 2.0 technologies allow people to organize themselves and to foster a "networked individualism", and explores other related topics; read the article in its entirety.

I find it reassuring to know that research has shown that an online congregation and a brick-and-mortar congregation serve different individuals, and that online tools can also help connect people more deeply and/or frequently in a traditional congregation. What do you think?

[The Alban Institute is a resource for American congregations that cross-fertilizes many perspectives. Alban has its roots in mainline Protestantism, works across a variety of denominations and traditions, and open to interfaith dialogue.]

-- DJ CHUANG, Director at Leadership Network

Comments

[Tim Bednar]

There is a lot going on with the Internet as church. I'm thankful that I just want to make one observation the title of your article misses.

The Internet is NOT changing the way we do church.

The church for the most part does church the same way it has for decades. It builds nice looking but poorly maintained web sites, does not answer email, uses antiquated software to "manage" the church (i.e. Shelby), labels an recording of its Sunday sermons a podcast and misspends money on "marketing".

I'm being cynical and maybe over the top.

To be correct, the people in the congregation have been changed by the Internet. I think the conclusions of this study state as much.

This seems like a small item of note, but from my POV it is fundamental.

And too often those who are studying and writing about this do not make this clear enough or really dig into its implications.

[Joe Suh]

Good article and nice to hear both anecdotal and researched evidence that it's not a zero-sum game. I don't think it ever will be. But I won't be surprised to hear pundits citing online and virtual church communities being a factor in declining church attendance.

[ARJWright]

Sure, its changing things. But only for those folks who didn't grow up with it ;)

[Steve Kenow]

Tim is right - technology does not change anything, it only facilitates change by people leveraging technology. The article seems to bear this out.

The Internet offers people a new village square - a way to share and apply the tenets of their faith to everyday life and strengthen relationships with others in their communities (yes, most computer users use their computers or networked gaming consoles for social activities, not in isolation).

Another small point - web 2.0/3.0 are only different in how we use the web, not in the web itself - http://www.herkocoomans.net/2008/11/quit-the-web-20web-30-crap-already/

[Mark Hitman]

The last thing Jesus said was "while you are going, make disciples of all nations." Every emerging generation finds community in its own way. The internet is another example. I believe the issue should be around the idea of how can we do this online church better not whether we should do it at all.