Every once in a while we ask church staff and volunteers alike what they wish others knew about church tech. It is interesting that when we pose this question we’re never short of both old and new. After our most recent ask on Twitter I thought we’d do a series on this. If you’d like to contribute to this series let me know here. Anyways, ‘Complexity’ one of the things we wish you knew about church tech.
‘Church tech’ is a very broad term. We know what it is but can’t quite define it. In ‘typical church life’ tech is anything technical and or digital. For the purposes of this post we’ll go with that.
Church techies wish we knew is that there is an unappreciated complexity. Not unappreciated from a sense of complaining but from a lack of understanding.
Unpacking The Complexity In Understanding Church Tech
Most church techies are not only required to know everything but know it well. In a church that doesn’t have many resources in people or means, a lot ends up the responsibility of a few. These few, who usually have the aptitude are by default, ones likely to research and execute.
Web development, church management systems admin, filming, editing, sound, lighting post production, social media and more. It is possible I’ve missed other things.
How Churches Could Deal With Complexity In Church Tech
The Disciplines
Church leaders should rethink their approach to the responsibilities on church techies. Recognising that vast array of the responsibilities is a great first step. Identify lines between each discipline. Not all technical skill or knowledge is transferrable between disciplines, if at all.
Think about defining the different disciplines needed in your church. Organise staff and volunteers according to their passion and aptitude. You might need to organise better.
Expectations
Someone may be great with IT hardware but not a great web developer. Are your expectations amiss on the team you have? Expect that right things from the right people. The volunteer who rigs and manage the lights might not be great with your church’s app development. This is not to say they can’t be.
When people work in the area of skill, aptitude and passion, expectations you have from them are more fair. You cannot judge a fish on well it can climb a tree.
Outro
Different technical disciplines come with their own challenges or complexities. Treating them all as one thing could cripple how well your church could leverage them. Identify what you need and place people according to their passion and aptitude. Make sure you’re expectations are not amiss.
Tech can be complex, and this translates into church tech. Start by organising people simply to get the most out of it.
Blessing Mpofu
just a guy changing the world. husband to Ingrid. growing leader and communicator.
One thing I’d add is that just because someone is a professional (photographer, web developer, etc) doesn’t mean they should do that on a Sunday. Tech ministry can be an opportunity for them to explore something else and not do more work but for free!
By giving them a chance at a different field, you can help them grow and they can still offer their expert insights in their field.
Oooh; great point and advice. Like how some teachers are automatically expected to do youth or children’s ministry. They might not want to see them after spending a whole week dealing with them… LOL.