COMMENT

The Very Rev Albert Bogle reflects on the hidden moments of the Resurrection.

IN this article I want to talk about why it is important that local congregations who have started to explore digital ministry during lockdown continue to develop their digital footprint and use their digital presence to create and sustain local digital Christ-centred communities.

To begin with I want to affirm the entrepreneurial opportunities that being a parish church can bring. The role of the parish church is not over but we will need to embrace a new way of developing and sustaining worshipping communities within communities as larger parishes are created.

Hybrid church is no longer a term for the technologically and theologically literate to discuss. It requires to be seriously considered by us all as a method of keeping communities together and allowing them to say yes to the larger challenge of unions and mergers.

Already many congregations are being forced to consider the advantages of mergers and unions. However there is a danger that localised communities can feel their identities being challenged as they are encouraged to embrace larger geographical responsibility at the expense of caring for local pastoral needs.

Creative digital ministry models can help sustain and nurture these natural communities. Each time a church building is closed it feels to many like a spiritual death in their community has occurred.

Much more thought must be given to developing local digital ministry that can help with the healing and isolation that is felt especially among those who have long connections with a parish. When buildings are being closed a digital expression of that worshipping community should be considered as a real missional possibility. A theology of online community is one that seeks to understand that relationships develop out of mutuality. It is not enough to look for followers to come and join you. You must also become a follower. This notion is developed in Len Sweet’s book Viral. Sweet understands that it is important to have a spirit of humility when you seek to build and become part of any community. For an online Christian community recognising each other by name and offering opportunities for response to posts creates a spirit of learning but also an opportunity to be heard by the other. Digital in this sense can be the healing agent. It also empowers all ages to feel they have a voice that can be heard. Community is formed not around a single leader but around relationships. Relationships come about when human beings find recognition and acceptance but also a place where they can begin to serve another.

Digital church need not always take on the format of traditional church services. Indeed many argue that the greater value of digital church is that it can be used more effectively as a mission tool when it doesn’t seek to replicate the activities of in-person Sunday morning worship.

During lockdown Dunkeld Cathedral decided not to conduct worship from within the building but instead like a number of other congregations began to explore the opportunity to create a church outside the walls and it has proved very successful. Today they run an interesting magazine style digital service every week with an established digital community growing up around their ministry.

“Digital church need not always take on the format of traditional church services.

Of course, with these opportunities comes added pressures on the already challenged leadership of our congregations and it is easy to put aside the digital aspect of ministry in order to concentrate on the restructuring of in-person church and presbyteries. To do so, I believe, would be short-sighted but understandable.

The discovery of technology integrating with theology to enhance our spiritual understanding of presence needs to be celebrated, rather than dismissed. It is an exciting prospect to continue to reflect upon the ways which God reveals more of his being to humanity in Christ. Surely the reason why we still live and move and have our being in him, is that he has more to reveal to us about who we are in him. The internet has for many rekindled the understanding that the church is not local or global but the Church is universal catholic and apostolic. ¤

Sanctuary First is working on a Digital Survey inviting congregations to participate in answering questions that we hope will help everyone in the church enhance and develop their digital footprint. When it drops in your church email box please if you can help us by filling it out.