Google Churches in your area. Compare websites of traditional Churches and sites of non-denominational, “contemporary” Churches. In both groups, you’ll find congregations who update their website and various feeds daily. Others update … uh … semi-occasionally.
Most Churches now have a web presence, but differences between those sites are stark.
Socially challenged
Look at Twitter use by Evangelical leaders and you’ll find they are light years ahead of traditional Church leaders.
While there are examples of innovative use of social media websites in some mainstream Churches and by some traditional leaders, in a social media derby, “Saddlebacks” and “Willow Creeks” leave “Trinity Lutherans” in the dust.
Why is that?
It’s because of the demographic gaps between the two movements. Newer, more contemporary congregations tend to have younger members who are more tech savvy.
Traditional congregations are usually more restrained in their public self-promotion. Some older members are more techno-phobic. Many times those members control the purse strings for the church’s web resources.
Ignorance is not a sin; willful ignorance is.
For 100 years, Churches depended on in-house publications for communication. Like newspapers, those print models are dying and as they vanish, people are cut-off from news sources. Without them, it’s tough to keep folks informed, answer questions or include members in talks.
To stay in touch with their “tribe”, older traditional Church members wind up relying on clergy or local word of mouth networks (i.e. – gossip).
Trending theology
Evangelicals love “getting the Word out”. Decades of dealing with all types of media mean they jump to try new “stuff”.
In comparison, traditional Churches are (forgive me) lethargic. Their membership base is often leery of “pushing the envelope”.
They fear change; yet only change can save them.
Traditionalist’s Catch 22
Worship attendance is declining. Denomination bound churches are shrinking fastest.
Younger adults and families with young children make up a disproportionately large percentage of that decline. This group is the backbone of Church growth. Without them, we lack critical mass at the critical Mass.
Fewer followers gain the experience necessary to successfully fill Church leadership positions left vacant when members die or move.
HOWEVER
To inhibit that decline, the Internet offers the most powerful communication tools the world has ever known.
We take up a quest – a Great Commission to “Go, ye therefore …” where?
And how do we get there?
We’re off to defeat our ignorance – to get the hang of proper Church use of websites, Twitter and Facebook. Only when we prepare (never past tense) can we best serve.
Here are a few website to help us:
If you know of other sites, add them in the comments.
Know that truth, politics and theology will challenge us. We won’t agree on everything during our digital odyssey. But we can agree to use every tool available to further God’s Righteous Kingdom.
[Image via Firth World Art]
Paul Clifford says
That’s why I wrote “Tweeting Church” (http://amzn.to/tweetchurch). While my church is very cutting edge, I know that we don’t appeal to everyone. If people are to hear the message, they need to hear it from a variety of sources. I don’t lose when someone becomes a presbyterian, the Kingdom wins. Let’s all join together, not fearing change, but embracing the new abilities Jesus has let us discover.
Sheldon Curry says
Paul – I could not agree more. A movement is not the same thing as a war. Thanks for joining. SC
Melinda Flannery says
Truth, Sheldon. St. Stephen’s EC, Houston is working with a consultant on these very issues, Tom Ehrich. He is encouraging us to think of our mission as three-fold: onsite, off-site, and online, worry less about b-tts in pews and more about how many lives we touch. His website is: http://www.morningwalkmedia.com/. And we just hired a (young!) communications director, a new position. The liberal and/or mainstream churches may never outbreed right-wing Christians, but we can advance the Kingdom powerfully by reaching those who yearn for what we know of a faithful and loving God..
Sheldon Curry says
Thanks Melinda. I know Tom and his work well. He and I wrote a communion anthem together (“We Gather To Recall the Night” – bit.ly/N0bJew ). You could not have found a better person for your situation. Ehrich is dead on right – it’s about touching people and relationships and service, not numbers. March on – SC
Marc Connor says
Greetings Brother Sheldon,
I think you hit the nail on the head with this one. I’ve observed over the years of being the Web Master at my church and observing some of the other local sites in my area as well as conversations with other church media folk and the one theme is true…old folks hate change. If you’re in a “traditional” church as I am, where the congregation is fairly old, the media will tend to kinda suck. I’ve been on a one-man campaign to improve that over the years of my involvement. I’ve already resolved that it’s going to be a struggle, so I won’t get too frustrated, and that’s what I tell my contemporaries who come up against the block of fear-of-change.
The simple formula I’ve come up with to address this is that “if a church is a young modern church, they’ll be highly involved on the web, if a church is a fairly old to middle age (median) church they’ll be not-so-involved on the web.”
Thanks for writing this article, now I have something to share concerning this matter.
Sincerely,
Marc
Sheldon Curry says
Marc –
Thank you for your well thought through reply. I agree that a portion of the struggle churches have with “tech” in general is age and experience, but education level and political belief also play a role.
I know several church folks in their 80s who love Facebook (grandkid pictures and videos) and who have learned to navigate Skype. I also know young to middle aged folks who feel strongly that “tech” is what created our modern day wreck.
The common denominator here is fear. Fear is never conquered; it is sometimes accepted. So our approach must be, it seems to me, to help brothers and sisters accept fear as a partner in faith.
Blessings,
Sheldon
Summer Nelson says
I work with a company called ROAR who makes apps, mobile sites, and manages social media for churches, non-profits, and schools, and I see how this article is so true today. Working in this industry, you have to realize that going online to do life is almost second nature to the younger generation, therefore, the churches with younger staff just get this easier. The older may not necessarily be against integrating technology with the church, but it just isn’t engrained in them the same way. I think it is good to have a balance of the older and the younger, as the younger greatly need the wisdom of the older to be integrated into the churches online presence!
One site I’ve found helpful for sharing your faith online is from Global Media Outreach- http://www.globalmediaoutreach.com/ their innovative technology allows visitors to watch live the people around the world exploring the gospel and making life decisions. You can become an online missionary and get involved in a lot of neat ways. Definitely worth checking out. Thanks for the insightful article!
Sheldon Curry says
Summer – Appreciate your knowledgeable response and guidance. It’s great to hear from someone who deals with these issues on a daily basis. Will definitely check out the site.
Sheldon