Technology and the Church: we wrestle not with flesh and blood
It’s an old joke among seminarians that what seminary really needs is a class on how to use out-dated office equipment, since so many young preachers go off to their first appointments and have to wrestle with whatever’s on hand. Meanwhile, today’s up and coming church leaders are so clued into technology that they often seem more dazzled by what can be done (especially in worship), without much considering what is essential to be done.
With that in mind, I thought I’d give an overview of how technology has impacted how we do church in America. In doing so, I was surprised how many of today’s “must have” technologies are no older than I am; indeed, many only became widely used in the last twenty-five years. But leaving that aside, the question remains, which are the most important technological developments for the practice of ministry? I have listed them here in descending order of priority, with the most fundamental first. I would be interested in how others view my rankings or if they feel I’ve left something important out.
Utilities
The availability of public lighting (first with gas, then electricity) changed church life in ways we have forgotten. People, particularly in cities, were so taken with the availability of artificial light after sundown that they would congregate in any public place that was lit up. Protestant churches noted this trend and promptly created the Sunday evening evangelistic service in order to reach those who just wandered in because it was somewhere you could go after dark. Today, many churches adhere to this pattern long after the days of large numbers of drop-in worshipers have passed. Too many evening services are literally “preaching to the choir.” Artificial lighting is no longer considered unusual or attractive in itself.
Other utilities have also impacted the church. The days of wood- or coal-fired stoves and furnaces are long gone. Central air conditioning has replaced the old fans provided with advertising from the local funeral home or bank. And we all assume that there will be flush toilets. I’m old enough that I remember when coal furnaces, no AC and the use of outhouses were still part of the church scene. Today, however, nobody would imagine church without modern conveniences. Oh, we might attend a “pioneer” service at a camp or old log cabin church; if we endured a hurricane or something, we might have to rough it for a couple of weeks to continue with church. But nobody in America would imagine you could create and sustain a congregation without modern utilities in their building – even if we are meeting in somebody’s home.
Interpersonal Communications
Before the invention and widespread use of telephones, the ability to contact somebody or set up a meeting was restricted to writing letters, advertising in the paper, and making public announcements in church. The only other alternative was to physically look for the person you needed to talk to. Making connections was slow and difficult. Landline phones have since been supplemented (and often, replaced) by cellular phones, e-mail (and the internet in general), texting, and smart phones. People often seem inseparable from their phones, and this can be annoying at times. The revolution in interpersonal communications does not impact public worship, but it sure helps pastors and other church leaders trying to keep connected with the flock, pass messages, and make the most of one’s time.
Transportation
Once upon a time, people walked to church. Or they used horses, with or without a wagon. Today, we drive. Churches are laid out on their real estate in such a way to facilitate parking. Churches which have limited off-street parking find it difficult to grow. Anyone within a 15-minute drive is considered a possible church member; some drive even further than that. Some churches invest in church-owned buses and vans, and that’s a ministry in and of itself. But everybody has to deal with a population that basically lives on wheels, including church leaders.
Worship Resources
Of all liturgical resources besides the Bible that have revolutionized how we do church, the creation of the hymnal probably tops the list (after the popularization of the codex in the early medieval period and the introduction of printing itself in the 15th Century). It meant people could learn more than just a few songs, and everybody could sing them together. In addition, orders of worship and prayers could be included. Today, there is a movement away from hymnals. Lyrics are projected onto screens. Without getting into the quality of music or lyrics sung using either technology, I observe that people singing off of screens wind up using fewer songs than those singing out of hymnals.
Along with hymnals, paper bulletins are a thing many churches use. Back in the day, hymns and prayers from the hymnal or prayerbook would be listed on a “hymn board” hung in the sanctuary. The use of a printed order of service allows for much more flexible liturgy. It also can be used to pass along more information in a more easily remembered format than oral announcements. Producing these bulletins has passed from commercial printing to typewriters and duplicators to high-speed copiers, computers, and printers. Producing documents is the single largest task performed in the church office.
Audio Tech
I am among the last generation of preachers who were trained to preach without electronic amplification. Microphones and speakers are now ubiquitous, and their use has gone from preacher and lector to choirs, praise bands, stage performers, and nurseries. And if you think they’re just incidental in their impact, just wait until they fail to work. People have forgotten how to do public business – including worship -- without them.
Along with the spread of microphones and speakers has come an increase in the use of electronic musical instruments. Pipe organs were replaced with electronic organs, pianos and guitars went electric. Many churches use complicated mixers and full sound boards to produce the morning worship service, with a dedicated sound tech running the board. And, of course, some people use pre-recorded (canned) music at various points in the service.
Mass Communications
The first mass communications device was the pamphlet, which kick-started the Protestant Reformation. Then came newspaper advertising and church periodicals. The ability to do mass mailing at reduced rates for non-profits gave birth to the church newsletter.
Radio brought religious speakers and musicians to a mass audience. Church leaders started their own radio shows. When television was added to the mix, the church started televising services. Nowadays, the internet makes possible podcasting, streaming and electronic meetings (as by Zoom). Religious messages and institutions have taken to social media in a big way. The cost of participating is now low enough that even small churches can do some sophisticated mass communications through the internet. And many no longer produce a physical newsletter, instead maintaining a church website or doing mass e-mails.
Visual Tech
Once upon a time, speakers would use props or posters when they wanted to add a visual effect to their presentation. Then came Power Point, beloved especially by men (and thoroughly misused by the same). And then there was the advent of video technology and screens in the sanctuary. The ability to post images as well as words on screens has become common in today’s church. People jazz up the service with animation and video clips and the preacher can put notes and images up on the screen during the sermon. Whether all this is well done or even necessary, there is no doubt that some people can’t imagine not using this technology.
Administrative technology/Record keeping
Finally, we should note the use of computers for all kinds of purposes, including the keeping of records (financial, membership, reports, minutes, mailing lists/labels). Production of all kinds of documents and storing the same has been made much easier, and the idea of the paperless church office can now be contemplated. Typewriters, adding machines, and metal address plates are gone.
With that in mind, I thought I’d give an overview of how technology has impacted how we do church in America. In doing so, I was surprised how many of today’s “must have” technologies are no older than I am; indeed, many only became widely used in the last twenty-five years. But leaving that aside, the question remains, which are the most important technological developments for the practice of ministry? I have listed them here in descending order of priority, with the most fundamental first. I would be interested in how others view my rankings or if they feel I’ve left something important out.
Utilities
The availability of public lighting (first with gas, then electricity) changed church life in ways we have forgotten. People, particularly in cities, were so taken with the availability of artificial light after sundown that they would congregate in any public place that was lit up. Protestant churches noted this trend and promptly created the Sunday evening evangelistic service in order to reach those who just wandered in because it was somewhere you could go after dark. Today, many churches adhere to this pattern long after the days of large numbers of drop-in worshipers have passed. Too many evening services are literally “preaching to the choir.” Artificial lighting is no longer considered unusual or attractive in itself.
Other utilities have also impacted the church. The days of wood- or coal-fired stoves and furnaces are long gone. Central air conditioning has replaced the old fans provided with advertising from the local funeral home or bank. And we all assume that there will be flush toilets. I’m old enough that I remember when coal furnaces, no AC and the use of outhouses were still part of the church scene. Today, however, nobody would imagine church without modern conveniences. Oh, we might attend a “pioneer” service at a camp or old log cabin church; if we endured a hurricane or something, we might have to rough it for a couple of weeks to continue with church. But nobody in America would imagine you could create and sustain a congregation without modern utilities in their building – even if we are meeting in somebody’s home.
Interpersonal Communications
Before the invention and widespread use of telephones, the ability to contact somebody or set up a meeting was restricted to writing letters, advertising in the paper, and making public announcements in church. The only other alternative was to physically look for the person you needed to talk to. Making connections was slow and difficult. Landline phones have since been supplemented (and often, replaced) by cellular phones, e-mail (and the internet in general), texting, and smart phones. People often seem inseparable from their phones, and this can be annoying at times. The revolution in interpersonal communications does not impact public worship, but it sure helps pastors and other church leaders trying to keep connected with the flock, pass messages, and make the most of one’s time.
Transportation
Once upon a time, people walked to church. Or they used horses, with or without a wagon. Today, we drive. Churches are laid out on their real estate in such a way to facilitate parking. Churches which have limited off-street parking find it difficult to grow. Anyone within a 15-minute drive is considered a possible church member; some drive even further than that. Some churches invest in church-owned buses and vans, and that’s a ministry in and of itself. But everybody has to deal with a population that basically lives on wheels, including church leaders.
Worship Resources
Of all liturgical resources besides the Bible that have revolutionized how we do church, the creation of the hymnal probably tops the list (after the popularization of the codex in the early medieval period and the introduction of printing itself in the 15th Century). It meant people could learn more than just a few songs, and everybody could sing them together. In addition, orders of worship and prayers could be included. Today, there is a movement away from hymnals. Lyrics are projected onto screens. Without getting into the quality of music or lyrics sung using either technology, I observe that people singing off of screens wind up using fewer songs than those singing out of hymnals.
Along with hymnals, paper bulletins are a thing many churches use. Back in the day, hymns and prayers from the hymnal or prayerbook would be listed on a “hymn board” hung in the sanctuary. The use of a printed order of service allows for much more flexible liturgy. It also can be used to pass along more information in a more easily remembered format than oral announcements. Producing these bulletins has passed from commercial printing to typewriters and duplicators to high-speed copiers, computers, and printers. Producing documents is the single largest task performed in the church office.
Audio Tech
I am among the last generation of preachers who were trained to preach without electronic amplification. Microphones and speakers are now ubiquitous, and their use has gone from preacher and lector to choirs, praise bands, stage performers, and nurseries. And if you think they’re just incidental in their impact, just wait until they fail to work. People have forgotten how to do public business – including worship -- without them.
Along with the spread of microphones and speakers has come an increase in the use of electronic musical instruments. Pipe organs were replaced with electronic organs, pianos and guitars went electric. Many churches use complicated mixers and full sound boards to produce the morning worship service, with a dedicated sound tech running the board. And, of course, some people use pre-recorded (canned) music at various points in the service.
Mass Communications
The first mass communications device was the pamphlet, which kick-started the Protestant Reformation. Then came newspaper advertising and church periodicals. The ability to do mass mailing at reduced rates for non-profits gave birth to the church newsletter.
Radio brought religious speakers and musicians to a mass audience. Church leaders started their own radio shows. When television was added to the mix, the church started televising services. Nowadays, the internet makes possible podcasting, streaming and electronic meetings (as by Zoom). Religious messages and institutions have taken to social media in a big way. The cost of participating is now low enough that even small churches can do some sophisticated mass communications through the internet. And many no longer produce a physical newsletter, instead maintaining a church website or doing mass e-mails.
Visual Tech
Once upon a time, speakers would use props or posters when they wanted to add a visual effect to their presentation. Then came Power Point, beloved especially by men (and thoroughly misused by the same). And then there was the advent of video technology and screens in the sanctuary. The ability to post images as well as words on screens has become common in today’s church. People jazz up the service with animation and video clips and the preacher can put notes and images up on the screen during the sermon. Whether all this is well done or even necessary, there is no doubt that some people can’t imagine not using this technology.
Administrative technology/Record keeping
Finally, we should note the use of computers for all kinds of purposes, including the keeping of records (financial, membership, reports, minutes, mailing lists/labels). Production of all kinds of documents and storing the same has been made much easier, and the idea of the paperless church office can now be contemplated. Typewriters, adding machines, and metal address plates are gone.