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The technological church
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The Barna Group just released a new study looking at the use of technology in Protestant churches across the nation. According to the study’s findings, “the pace of technology adoption seems to have slowed in the past two years as some churches focus upon making the most of what they already have, and other churches attempt to get by without incorporating such tools into their ministry mix.”
Points of interest:
- 65 percent have a large screen projection system that is used for services and other events;
- 57 percent show movie clips or other video segments during their services and events;
- 56 percent send email blasts to large groups of people or to the entire church body;
- 62 percent have a church website;
- 16 percent offer podcasting.
At my church we have the big screen onto which announcements, hymns, praise music, and sermon points are projected. Our pastor is also known from time to time to include video clips illustrating a sermon point–something he isn’t entirely sold on, but he says he recognizes the value in targeting “the entertained generation.”
Since there are varying opinions regarding the use of technology in the church, how do you think it can be utilized best, and what do you believe are unacceptable uses? (Don’t forget to explain the “why” of your answers.)
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Don’t blame racism
I worked in my church’s Television ministry for years. During those years I heard from people in nursing homes and prisons about how much our broadcast meant to them.
Sigh, we use PowerPoint. I really miss the old hymns and singing out of the Hymnals. You could sing harmony. Now days all the worship is mainly sing choruses
gag
I still take my Bible to church. I don’t know why, but I do. I use it in SS, but wouldn’t have to. Most just use the quarterly.
Wow Chas - that’s painful. If understand you correctly, most people in your church follow the passage from what’s printed for them, or on the screen instead of actually looking it up and reading it?
I’m all for judicious use of technology like video, power point, etc. However, when it comes down to pulling people out of the Bible, that’s a concern for me. How do people reading the quarterly read a passage in its context?
Our church uses video on occasion - our pastor has never been known to use it during a sermon. Praise songs are on the screen. I have to admit - like Joe B, I do miss following the parts on hymns. It’s hard to put the men’s part on “Wonderful Grace of Jesus” on a powerpoint slide.
On the other hand, I’ve recently been in a church where the overuse of video and such in the sermon became a major distraction. Every time the pastor said the word “McDonalds”, a picture of McDonalds showed up on the screen (as if I didn’t know what McDonalds was). He said “Ice Cream”, a picture of an ice cream cone showed on screen - and on, and on, and on. It was very distracting. I can’t for the life of me remember what the message was about. All I remember is that I was very hungry when I left.
Well,let’s see. We have a web site. We put music and sermons on MP3s. I keep pushing for more Web 2.0 features on the site (we have a pretty literate, educated congregation).
But worship?
We follow a liturgical style, centered in the Supper, so all those flat style technologies (projectors, ppt, etc) just don’t work. Besides our pastor likes to step in front and speak extemp — who needs a lectern?
Our church uses project hymn lyrics because it is way more practical than hymn books. By the time you have found our printed a hymn book, there are already new songs you want to add.
We are also moving next month to a new facility, when we do we are getting rid of the printed church bulletin. This is a green move. Bulletins are read and tossed. At the new place we will have projected announcements before and after services.
We have a website and sermons are podcast. This also saves on having to make CDs.
Our pastor uses movie clips and video occasionally. It is a powerful medium and when used well it is very effective. When used just to use, not so much. He will also occasionally use dramatazations, but that is not technology, but as old as man.
Technology is morally neutral in itself. It all depends on how you use it.
what do you believe are unacceptable uses?
I think it’s really just an issue of preference, as I think it’s hard to argue from Scripture that using a projector is wrong.
With that said, I don’t like any more technology than a microphone for the pastor. I echo Joe B.’s comment in #2 about Hymnals. I LOVE hymnals and I hope to always have them in my church. It is wonderful to have the harmonizing parts right there in front of you. Many in our church always sing in parts during worship. I’d take that any day over chorus lyrics projected on a screen.
I need to clarify one thing from my previous post. I want minimal technology in the worship service itself. Websites and podcasts are a great tool during the rest of the week.
I don’t per se mind the use of the PowerPoint, and I find it useful especially with expository teaching as our Church practices.
I echo Chas’ frustration with the SS school quarterly. It was one of the reason’s I left the SBC.
I just wish we had more hymns at our church. We end up having one hymn and maybe twenty choruses. Guess I am just too old fashioned these days
I must have missed something. What is a quarterly?
Our church is very hi-tech. In fact, when our church was planted, the lead planter wanted a media/ tech person as his associate planter rather than another pastor. This was unheard of at the time. However, most of the people that have come to our church found us on the web. They researched us.
In fact, one man did an entire google search on all the staff. He had pages and pages of info on us before he ever visited our church.
We have an easy to navigate, but well built web site. We offer dvd’s from each service to those that want them. Many of our people hate to miss church, so this really gets used. many people send our dvd’s to friends or families. We also offer podcasts.
We do use screens rather than hymnals. I like this because it helps the person to look up rather than down. I think it helps me to focus more on God during worship rather than just the song lyrics. If I don’t know some words I can very quickly look at the screen. In a hymnal, it is more difficult to find one’s place if you are not completely following along. Secondly, the hymnal is a barrier. I have to hold it. I like to have my hands free.
We use all sorts of mediums (dance, drama, pottery, art, and video) to help aid in conveying the sermon for that morning. We do not do media for media’s sake. We do it, because a picture is worth a thousand words. Everything ties in. #5 if that happened once for a desired effect- ok. However, if that is the standard- it does make me want to gag.
We have an email update that has been written weekly for the past 3 years. It is sent all around the world. Several of our missionary friends read our updates, forward them to others, and download our message.
We do everything by wed and email. We don’t print bulletins because we don’t have the money for the paper anyway.
I am 37. I have a passion to reach the next generation, because I believe the generation before me failed my generation. Hi tech isn’t what is going to reach the next generation. Jesus and Jesus alone. Jesus lifted high. Jesus completely glorified is what will reach the next generation. Us taking (not waiting for them to come to us) Jesus to them is what we can do. hi-tech is a powerful tool in which to do that.
Among churches that cater to the college-aged, the trend is toward subtle and discrete use of technology - there is a perceptible reaction against the multimedia excesses of seeker-friendly services.
Rob Bell’s Mars Hill Church, for example, uses its projectors only to display white text on black backgrounds. Members appreciate the “authenticity” this conveys.
Graceland, I assume you are being facetious. However, the SBC has several SS programs for all ages. We (our SS class) use the “Explorer the Bible” program. Each program has it’s own “quarterly”. What happens is that each person is issued a booklet with the scripture printed in the Holman CSB and King James translations with intervening commentary. The programs are well designed from an educational standpoint, but are “lowest common denominator” type and have never, even in my early years, been useful to me. I don’t care for it, but can’t think of a better way.
Our pastor in Virginia was once talking about how Baptist have more programs to study the Bible than other denominations. I said, (though I shouldn’t have) that we don’t study the Bible in Sunday School, we study topics. That is mostly true. Not perfect. But I think it’s the best program around.
Those of you who don’t attend SS should. You meet good people (not perfect, good), you learn the Bible. And you develop a camaraderie among like minded fellows.
In Kim’s topic a couple of days ago, about “How you met your mate”, notice how many good relationships were established by a chance meeting in church.
I was speaking to a youth group at a Valentines Day celebration years ago. I told how I met my wife at church. I then said, “Selecting a mate in church doesn’t guarantee a happy marriage, but it increases the odds considerably. And it beats meeting them in a bar by astronomical margins.”
I made a segue onto another topic didn’t I? I’m going to hit post anyhow.
Thanks for the explanation Chas, and no, I was not being facetious. What you just described is completely foreign to me.
My church typically offers 4 SS classes for adults, and you can choose to attend whichever interests you (as they change every 4 months). At one given point, we might offer one class on the Pentateuch, one on Ephesians, one on church history, and one that studies biblical womanhood.
It’s all I’ve ever known.
It’s too bad the words of the Apostles and the fellowship of the saints has become so boring.
Our church recently bought a new sound system, complete with amplifiers the size of locomotives and speakers that are individually bigger than the Death Star in Star Wars.
After two Sundays, we all went deaf.
But it is not all bad. For example we no longer have to hear the Bolten sisters butchering and slogging their way through a modern ‘rendition’ of some poor old once-beloved hymn, like ‘The Old Rugged Cross’. I mean they are up there moving their mouths, but nobody can actually HEAR them anymore.
The Lord is good.
Here’s a different use of technology.
You know how the church sends meals over to the sick or grieving?
I got an e-mail yesterday from someone I knew from a church in Nashville. (I live in Florida).
She was requesting meals for her daughter, and posted a bunch of links for people to buy restaurant gift cards on line and have them sent to her daughter in need.
In one way it was forceful and pushy, but in another way effective and convenient.
One still had an opportunity to help out, do more than pray (which is no small thing), and to do unto others as we’d have them do unto us.
I saved the e-mail full of links in case I ever have to provide a meal for someone long distance.
I would rather discuss how we use our Bibles
But that’s not the topic.
I agree with someone above who said it is a matter of preference, but one cool thing about projected lyrics is we can run the lyrics in other languages. We are an hour from the Mexican border so we have Spanish under the English words.
And sometimes when we have visitors from other countries we will sing one song in their native languate. (Arabic, btw, is a really cool language to sing in).
The less technology the better for me, in the service. We are talking about putting song lyrics up on a screen, and one thing I like about my current church (compared to my last one) is that we don’t do that! I like the hymnal where possible, and if a song isn’t in it, then print it in the bulletin. Once or twice they’ve shown a video before the service starts (the visiting missionary’s country, or the tornado at Union where one of our college kids attends). If we had slides and stuff DURING the sermon, I’d find it distracting.
One thing that’s interesting to me, with all the stuff about reaching the next generation, is that God gave His Word in words, not pictures. That’s worth thinking about. Yes, He also gave us creation, and He gave us Jesus, and He gave us the Lord’s supper, so He uses concrete things and pictures too. But truth is communicated in words, not pictures. God could have sent a video, but didn’t; He sent a book. So any time someone says that words are boring and this generation needs pictures, I suspect they haven’t really thought it through.
It’s been all downhill since the printing press ruined our oral traditions.
And don’t get me started on stained glass.
My church is blessed with a musically and technologically talented young woman who designs the Powerpoints of the songs and hymns. She puts up the lyrics and the music…we are even able to sing in four parts (Psalm 98) off the powerpoints! Our pastor is also gifted with a good voice and works hard with the congregation to ensure that our joyful sound is pleasing to the ear.
Well, I’m guessing that, some day very soon, there will be a Virtual Church of Your Choosing. You will be able to create your own religion, church and anything else you wish to associate with it (like tradition, congregation, rites, music, etc) on line and have it video streamed to you, on demand for free!
This was my patented and copyrighted billion dollar idea of the day, and I have at least one every day if you pay attention
Technological pet peeve- Showing live footage of the worship team on the big screen with the lyrics. It makes it really hard to focus on the words and the Lord.
Chas- There’s a new term for the classic SS class. It’s called a ‘Small Group’. It’s one of the hottest trends in the church growth movement. Sigh…
Let’s see. Our church has enough technology for our purposes. There are electric lamps to light the room, air conditioning and heating for extreme weather, along with one ceiling fan. On occasion, the sermon is recorded on an old cassette recorder. Music is provided by the pastor on his 50 year old Gibson acoustic guitar or we sing a capella if he doesn’t know the song. Oh, did I mention we meet in his living room? That would help you understand.
Cheryl- I am in process of organizing a women’s retreat. I had the women take a learning styles inventory along with spiritual gifts, personality and love languages. Anyway, of the 16 women that are coming, 12 are visual learners, 3 are auditory, and 1 is tactile. I, myself, am auditory. To say that I haven’t thought this subject through is laughable.
I would not call hearing the word boring. I prefer it to any other method. However, I do not discount that many other people learn differently. Which is why I am all for using different mediums to convey the truth of Christ.
Oh, and I do think God does send videos. My husband spends many hours in prayer trying to creatively come up with ideas that convey the paastor’s message. He has been inspired in those times with very creative teaching pieces. Just as Milton, Dante, and others have been inspired in written word and Michelangelo in the art world, Bach in the music realm, I think it is just a knew realm that is open to Divine Inspiration.
Ezekiel, Daniel and John were apparently visual learners.
My church (regular weekend attendance 3,500) has all of those things, but they seldom use email. : ) One thing that I don’t like is the PowerPoints of lyrics for songs when the congregation is simply supposed to listen to a soloist. (We have an ASL interpreter, so it’s not for the deaf.)
K.– As an occasional soloist, I disagree. I’d like to do everything possible to keep the focus off of me during a worship service. One way to do that is to put the lyrics up there where people can look at them instead of me. We don’t do that at our church, but I wish we did.
Technology should be used to its fullest potential in the church. Otherwise, we aren’t bringing our “firstfruits.” If studies were to show that PowerPoint increases retention, we should use PowerPoint. The technology shouldn’t call attention to itself, but that should be about the only rule. I say, bring the best of everything including technology and offer it to the Lord. I’m all for PowerPoint, keyboards, amplification, climate control, and synthetic, stain-resistent carpets!
Worthy Girl,
I wasn’t meaning to pick on anybody. (I don’t think anyone on here said words are boring, unless I missed it, so clearly I wasn’t attacking anyone on here when I said someone who says this “hasn’t thought it through.”) If I was “picking on” anybody, it was somebody who’s not on this blog, but whom I’ve had in mind during this discussion: Thom Schultze, president of Group Publishing (which I’m pretty sure is far and away the biggest publisher of today’s children’s and youth Sunday school curriculum, used by Protestant and Catholic alike). His company’s philosophy of teaching (which is relevant to all of us because of the sheer size of his company) is that words are the worst way to learn. (He makes fun of the idea of having kids memorize Scripture, among other delights.) He believes that TV is multiple steps above book learning; too bad God didn’t know that, because He could have waited till this generation and given His Word in video.
So no, I’m not picking on anyone on here, or saying don’t ever use visual teaching. I am saying that no matter what modern polls teach, the way God communicated to us was primarily through language, through words, and we dare not discount that. I do think that’s a necessary warning today. I think it’s countercultural, because today’s research has “proven” that most people learn better in other ways. And God did indeed incorporate other things into the church–the sacraments, for instance. But we are a Word-based religion, and simply cannot be anything else or it isn’t Christianity anymore.
We fall into idolatry really, really easily when we try to focus first on people’s personal tastes, and build our teaching around that. We must start with the Word of God, and mold ourselves to it. And yes, we can use means such as PowerPoint when it’s appropriate–but the Word is primary.
At the church I attended in college, all the lyrics for hymns (and some more melodic non-hymns … I really can’t even call them praise songs)–everything was printed in the bulletin.
I loved it: songs were easier to find, we didn’t have to worry about what was in the hymnal, and a bulletin is a whole lot lighter than a hymnbook. And everybody has their own (none of this arm strain trying to move the book so three people can see at once!)
I suppose that didn’t have much to do with technology ….
God didn’t know that, because He could have waited till this generation and given His Word in video.
Nothing will replace the written word … especially God’s word.
As an occasional soloist, I disagree. I’d like to do everything possible to keep the focus off of me during a worship service.
That’s a refreshing thing to hear STUBOB. I get distracted by soloists. I know that sounds funny, but I have such a hard time treating it as anything other than a performance. I’d like to focus on the words and music, but it’s difficult when the person is right in front of me.
One of my favorite things about my church is that our choir and any soloists sing from the balcony in the back of the church. That is where our choir loft has always been because we want to take the focus off of the people.
Visitors give a lot of funny looks when they first notice that all of the music is coming from the back of the church. Their heads keep turning back to watch. After a while, most come to enjoy being able to sit and listen.
I think there is a time and a place for screens with videos and photos. However, I kind of think you’re doing a disservice if people don’t have to open their Bibles because the scriptures are on the screen, the bulletin has a “fill in the blank” section for the message or you’re told to turn to page___ in your “pew Bible”. Believers need to learn how to handle the Word and not have it “dumbed down” for them.
I find that all this in-service technology comes with a temptation—prideful? possibly—for the producer of such presentations to “cute” it up with some clever/poignant bit of art, movie clip or excessive use of type style and design using every computer art trick available. Compound this with the presenter’s highlighter tricks, fly-ins and fade-outs and the Disneyland on the sanctuary wall demands more attention than the message it’s supposed to enhance. These screens almost demand such accouterments as they hang on the wall, compete with the architecture and, being 9×9 ft., simply can’t be done with simplicity. Again, the pride thing?
However, considering the amount of time spent putting it all together, it seems that that same time could/would be better spent digging into the message itself to reveal those nuggets of truth God has placed there for us to learn which are so often skipped over lest we get too deep and boring for the TV addicted droids to follow with eyes open.
As for the web sites, DVDs and podcasts which spread the message beyond the Disneyland walls, I’m all for it.
Drill at #17 ROTFLOL!!
I would love to have a choir loft in back. But we have a worship team and band. There is applause after songs, except the songs during communion, etc. Our worship team’s Mariah Carey wannabe gets more applause than anyone else, even though they’re all equally offering their talents.
But we’re supposed to be commenting on technology. Sorry. : )
Cheryl #21- I totally agree. Give me a hymnal and a liturgical service and it is worship. The technology makes it worship of the team or whatever.
Adios #28- God was speaking to them and giving them a message. I am sure if this were true today we would know it and say “yes, Lord?” when he speaks to us. But now He speaks to us through His Word, The Bible.
Cheryl- I would like to say that I didn’t feel picked on, but I guess that wouldn’t be true. I do agree with everything you said in your last post. I love the word of God. I so value memorizing the word. It is just that my whole life I new the church should be leading in the creative arts.
We used to lead in the arts. Christians produced the best music, art, fiction, poetry for thousands of years. Then something happened in the 1900’s. The church went inward.
My whole life I knew church could be more. I had creative juices that I knew could be honoring to the Lord, but I was never welcome. I truly believe that the older generation decided how they liked church and have white knuckled it. I have traveled all over america and I constantly here people 40 and under refer to “big church”. My generation has never felt welcome in the church.
I have waited all my life to get church how I wanted, but alas that never will be, because the older generation would not allow it. So, I am standing in the gap to allow the younger generation to worship with the new songs that the Lord has put in their hearts. My worship pastor is in his early 20’s. He does songs that I have never heard of. he takes my favorites and rearranges them (He does the same with yours). It isn’t my style. It IS new wine. He seeks the Lord. He truly loves Jesus, so I praise the Lord that he is able to connect with the next generation. I for one am tired of seeing the youth leave the church when they hit 18. The youth grow up never being a part of big church. When they are old enough to come to big church, the older generation freaks out and doesn’t want them- tells them to start a sat night church- tells them to do their own service. They get the hint. They are not wanted. I want them. I know Jesus intimately. I can worship Jesus with any song in any place with any worship leader, so I am more concerned with the younger generation that has yet to develop that intimacy.
I am not for dumbing down the word of God, though.
I am not a big advocate for the emerging church either. The posturing in the eighties of the religious people was big hair, lots of gold sets, and blue eye shadow. They loved their religion, but didn’t care about the lost. Now the posturing is jeans (yes, I wear them to church), tattoos (most people in our church have them), and piercings- they care about the culture but sometimes forget the cross of Christ.
I want your generation to welcome mine into the church. We need each other. Church should be uncomfortable a little bit for everyone that attends.
I know I’m ranting- this is probably the thing that elicits the most passion in me.
Stubob @30,
The problem with projecting the lyrics when a soloist is singing is the congregation doesn’t know if we are suppose to be singing. The lyrics imply that we are.
Rond,
Temptation to proud presentation can be found in any style of worship (or the defense thereof). I agree one needs to be careful, but it should not displace technology just because of the temptation. If so we might as well disband churches all together.
Mtcon,
You don’t believe the Eternal Logos can give visions anymore?
Worthy Girl:
I agree with MUCH of what you’re saying. I personally love stained glass and lovely sanctuaries, and I think our music and worship ought to be the best we can do–just make sure none of it gets “in the way.” And I think outside the worship service, there can and should be plenty of room for creative exploration of God’s world and the gifts He has given us. Let’s hold concerts for our musicians, for example.
And yes, Christians should be involved in the arts if that is their gifting. (I’m not, in any meaningful way–I edit and write books, I draw for fun, and I photograph for fun. But I wouldn’t consider myself an “artist,” just a wannabe. But I’ve STILL had a relative talk about my interest in “the arts”–using a deliberately snooty tone–as somehow inherently sinful, and it makes me wonder what real artists put up with. I have several “real artists” in my family, BTW.)
I also hate the kids-leaving-church-at-20. For what it’s worth, some of my writing has a goal to address that specific issue. It’s a very, very big issue for me. I think a big part of the answer is NOT to isolate them in their own little services, but to welcome them as part of the church. For me personally, that goes so far as no nursery and no children’s church–not that the church cannot have them, but that I’d personally rather they didn’t, and I won’t participate if they do. (For anyone who says, “She just says that because she isn’t a mother,” I had foster kids in church AND my sister has kept five birth kids out of the nursery and children’s church. It truly is possible to say, “I’d do this if I were a mother” even if one isn’t a mother.)
I am sorry you felt as though I were picking on you. We’re on the same team, and I generally agree with you. (I’ve stayed anonymous on this blog on purpose, but if you want to see a little of who I am, what I’ve written, even a few of my photos, and so forth, e-mail me through my “anonymous” website listed with my name above, and I’ll send you to my “real” website. I suspect you’ll see we agree more than disagree.)
Hope Springs - My church has the fill-in-the-blank outline of the sermon, but at the same time, we are expected to be opening our Bibles. Filling in the blanks, or taking one’s own notes, doesn’t preclude opening one’s Bible. But I get & agree with your main point.
Cheryl,
I appreciate all your kind words. I think when I said I felt picked on that I meant it more in a global sense. You certainly did not isolate or single me out. Thank you for really trying to mend something though.
I definitely think we are on the same side. In fact, I would not be so forthright in my posts if I did not think that I was among brothers and sisters.
I do not post very often, but I read world views every night. I have heard your heart on many things and I know we have similar views. I don’t know what it was about this post, but it certainly got me in a tizzy.
I agree that children should be in the service. That is also one of the values of my church. I have only been experiencing children in service (truly welcomed) for 2 1/2 years, but it has changed me. What a loss when we send the children away- for them, but more for the church at large.
I have never filled out a bio on myself, but you can find a picture of me at highlandchristian.com
just click on the staff page and find the worthy girl- the worthy boy is my husband.
Surprised TJ didn’t beat me here–Thursday is my “busy” day, so I get here late.
We have PowerPoint for announcements and hymns, though we still have the hymnals in the pews. If it were up to him, we probably wouldn’t do it, but it was started before he got here, and some in the congregation say it’s easier to read the screen than the smaller print. I miss the days of singing in parts, though, especially psalms (which they’re also less familiar with).
The scripture isn’t included on the PowerPoint; we’re expected to stand and read from our own Bibles or listen as the Word is read. It goes to a neutral screen during the sermon, though–no clips or whatnot.
He uploads sermons, study sheets, etc. to the church website, to which he’s also recently added the weekly bulletin a few days ahead of time.
He offers his and other sermons on CD as well, for those without access to the downloaded version
Our church has two large projection screens, one on each side, since the worship area is large (seats at least 800). No PowerPoint - they have software specifically made for worship services. We have a full-time technical arts director who creates all the graphics and does it very professionally (he also trains and supervises the team of volunteers who do the sound, video projection, and camera). All song lyrics are displayed on the screens, mostly choruses but some hymns (I also miss singing four-part harmony). Occasional video clips as part of the sermon but not often.
Monthly “newsletter” is sent via email. The women’s ministry director also sends a weekly email to anyone who subscribes.
There is a reasonably well-maintained church website (some pages are maintained more frequently than others). Podcasts are provided, though I’ve never checked one out.
Worship services are taped and televised on the community channel each week (twice, I think).
The only time that the service itself is shown on the projection screen is during a baptism. The baptistry is set up in front (it’s a livestock water tank - after all, this is Iowa), and friends and family of the person being baptized are invited to come surround the tank. That means no one else would be able to see the baptism, so they have a camera capturing a close-up of the baptistry and displaying it on the projection screens. I think it’s an impressive combination of low-tech (the baptistry) and high-tech. (Baptisms are done twice a year, and generally there are around thirty people being baptized so it takes most of the worship service.)
Drill #17
very cute.
I forgot to mention our church recently starting offering live translation of services into Spanish (there is a large population of Spanish-speakers in our area). One of the bilingual people in the congregation spends the service translating it in real-time, and anyone who wants to hear it wears a set of earphones that receive the translation.