Comments on: Reaching out to an online generation? http://brownblog.info/?p=665 fresh thinking about Christian ministry Wed, 08 Sep 2010 02:12:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: The Anglican Church in Second Life http://brownblog.info/?p=665#comment-4585 The Anglican Church in Second Life Sat, 21 Feb 2009 19:50:57 +0000 http://brownblog.info/?p=665#comment-4585 [...] The Anglican Cathedral in Second Life was founded nearly two years ago, as an attempt to somehow be church on the internet. We are commanded in Matthew 28:19 to “go forth and make disciples of all nations.” However, due to the rapid expansion of the internet, the concept of “nations” is quickly giving way to that of “networks.” This concept does not seek to discount the bonds of home, parish and nation, but to add another dimension to them. As more and more people spend their time in such trans-national locales as Second Life (as of this writing, there are 60,752 people online in Second Life), the need for the presence of the church become clear. For more information on the implications of this for the church, I refer you to the excellent paper written by The Rev. Mark Brown, “The Digital Revolution and the Church” which may be accessed here: http://brownblog.info/?p=665. [...] […] The Anglican Cathedral in Second Life was founded nearly two years ago, as an attempt to somehow be church on the internet. We are commanded in Matthew 28:19 to “go forth and make disciples of all nations.” However, due to the rapid expansion of the internet, the concept of “nations” is quickly giving way to that of “networks.” This concept does not seek to discount the bonds of home, parish and nation, but to add another dimension to them. As more and more people spend their time in such trans-national locales as Second Life (as of this writing, there are 60,752 people online in Second Life), the need for the presence of the church become clear. For more information on the implications of this for the church, I refer you to the excellent paper written by The Rev. Mark Brown, “The Digital Revolution and the Church” which may be accessed here: http://brownblog.info/?p=665. […]

]]> By: Paul OBriant http://brownblog.info/?p=665#comment-3608 Paul OBriant Sat, 03 Jan 2009 21:54:10 +0000 http://brownblog.info/?p=665#comment-3608 I just found your blog today and I'm very thankful for the resources you are making available. Great paper on The Digital Revolution and the Church. I'll be giving it a second read. In my work I find we have to first talk about online safety before we can make much progress with some of the digital immigrants. Online dangers have been, in my opinion, over-hyped by the media here in the US. That has instilled a fear of using some of the new technologies in the Church. I find that if we acknowledge the dangers, and teach safety strategies, it sets the stage for the Church to be more receptive to embracing the digital revolution. God Bless. www.21stCenturySheep.com I just found your blog today and I’m very thankful for the resources you are making available. Great paper on The Digital Revolution and the Church. I’ll be giving it a second read.
In my work I find we have to first talk about online safety before we can make much progress with some of the digital immigrants. Online dangers have been, in my opinion, over-hyped by the media here in the US. That has instilled a fear of using some of the new technologies in the Church. I find that if we acknowledge the dangers, and teach safety strategies, it sets the stage for the Church to be more receptive to embracing the digital revolution.
God Bless.
www.21stCenturySheep.com

]]> By: Christine http://brownblog.info/?p=665#comment-3578 Christine Fri, 02 Jan 2009 10:51:12 +0000 http://brownblog.info/?p=665#comment-3578 A couple of responses. Firstly, the banding together of different spiritual groups in some ways has happened with Alpha. Alpha has also tried to adapt to different sectors of society. I went to an Alpha conference last year at Holy Trinity Brompton and what they recommend in terms of venue, worship style and food was very different depending on who the target audience was. In the worship seminar it was suggested that you look at what radio station people would listen to as a guide and the music you would choose for an Alpha held at a nursing home would be different to one held for students at a pub. Paul met his hearers where they were, and you will never meet everyone with "one style." The internet, while it will obviously not have a large impact in rural Nepal yet does have a very varied clientelle. My email friends include University students, people who are grandparents and retired and others in between. It contains different nationalities and personalities. Now one of the strengths of the church is its diversity. At sixteen I joined a bible study where I was the youngest be over ten years - and learned a lot. So the challenge is how do we respond to the diversity of the online community, one style will not attract everyone, but still having communities involving a healthy mix of people that are able to learn and grow together. The other challenge is numbers. I don't particularly like very large churches. With church being a family it is nice to get to know the people in the church and form real relationships with them. You cannot form real relationships with several thousand people. A church I went to one of the strengths was its sense of community. We used to have a sharing time and it was amazing because we all knew each other and were a close knit family. Many sites on the web, when they become popular become so big that it would be very hard to keep that personal element. A couple of responses. Firstly, the banding together of different spiritual groups in some ways has happened with Alpha. Alpha has also tried to adapt to different sectors of society. I went to an Alpha conference last year at Holy Trinity Brompton and what they recommend in terms of venue, worship style and food was very different depending on who the target audience was. In the worship seminar it was suggested that you look at what radio station people would listen to as a guide and the music you would choose for an Alpha held at a nursing home would be different to one held for students at a pub.

Paul met his hearers where they were, and you will never meet everyone with “one style.” The internet, while it will obviously not have a large impact in rural Nepal yet does have a very varied clientelle. My email friends include University students, people who are grandparents and retired and others in between. It contains different nationalities and personalities. Now one of the strengths of the church is its diversity. At sixteen I joined a bible study where I was the youngest be over ten years - and learned a lot.

So the challenge is how do we respond to the diversity of the online community, one style will not attract everyone, but still having communities involving a healthy mix of people that are able to learn and grow together.

The other challenge is numbers. I don’t particularly like very large churches. With church being a family it is nice to get to know the people in the church and form real relationships with them. You cannot form real relationships with several thousand people. A church I went to one of the strengths was its sense of community. We used to have a sharing time and it was amazing because we all knew each other and were a close knit family. Many sites on the web, when they become popular become so big that it would be very hard to keep that personal element.

]]> By: Are You A Christian Luddite? : truegrit http://brownblog.info/?p=665#comment-3466 Are You A Christian Luddite? : truegrit Mon, 29 Dec 2008 00:06:00 +0000 http://brownblog.info/?p=665#comment-3466 [...] so, but the Faith itself is extremely robust. I was thinking this when I recently read where Brownblog said: “There are numerous church related websites but no where near the sort of engagement [...] […] so, but the Faith itself is extremely robust. I was thinking this when I recently read where Brownblog said: “There are numerous church related websites but no where near the sort of engagement […]

]]> By: Dorothy (vicar of vibe) http://brownblog.info/?p=665#comment-3444 Dorothy (vicar of vibe) Sat, 27 Dec 2008 15:10:06 +0000 http://brownblog.info/?p=665#comment-3444 Mark, I so agree with your post and paper. Like you, one of the trends I have been following for many years is that our society is undergoing major changes in the syntax of our lifestyles and communications. What has really struck me is this paradigm shift is defined by technology and mindset. It isn’t defined by age/generation . It really struck me when I was involved in a (brick and mortar) new church start. (excerpt from a post last year): “I even coined a new tag to define GEND (digital generation). Simply stated you either are digitally connected or not. You either get it or you don’t get it. This digitally enhanced/enabled media is re-defining the boundaries on how various social groups and generations interface with each other: on some very basic levels, i.e. general preferences in lifestyle, communication and worship environments. A new language of interactivity has evolved. And this is giving rise to this digitally divided generation bracket.’ I look forward to more discussion about this topic. Mark, I so agree with your post and paper.
Like you, one of the trends I have been following for many years is that our society is undergoing major changes in the syntax of our lifestyles and communications. What has really struck me is this paradigm shift is defined by technology and mindset. It isn’t defined by age/generation .
It really struck me when I was involved in a (brick and mortar) new church start.
(excerpt from a post last year): “I even coined a new tag to define GEND (digital generation). Simply stated you either are digitally connected or not. You either get it or you don’t get it. This digitally enhanced/enabled media is re-defining the boundaries on how various social groups and generations interface with each other: on some very basic levels, i.e. general preferences in lifestyle, communication and worship environments. A new language of interactivity has evolved. And this is giving rise to this digitally divided generation bracket.’
I look forward to more discussion about this topic.

]]> By: Dorothy (vicar of vibe) http://brownblog.info/?p=665#comment-3422 Dorothy (vicar of vibe) Fri, 26 Dec 2008 13:32:25 +0000 http://brownblog.info/?p=665#comment-3422 Oh, I so agree. It's interesting. I ran across you early on in my blogging, specifically because of your sim church. One of the major trends I started following several years ago (when involved in a new church start) is that our society is undergoing major changes in the syntax of our lifestyles and communications. It isn’t defined by age/generation . It is defined by technology and mindset. People either utilize digitally enhanced/enabled media or not. I even coined a new tag to define GEND (digital generation). Simply stated you either are digitally connected or not. You either get it or you don’t get it. This digitally enhanced/enabled media is re-defining the boundaries on how various socio-economic groups and generations interface with each other: on some very basic levels, i.e. general preferences in lifestyle, communication and worship environments. A new language of interactivity has evolved. And this is giving rise to this digitally divided generation bracket. I have to blaze off to work, but I’ll be back to read the articles you linked. We need to talk more. We appear to have a lot in common. http://designingforphilistines.blogspot.com/search/label/GEND Oh, I so agree. It’s interesting. I ran across you early on in my blogging, specifically because of your sim church.

One of the major trends I started following several years ago (when involved in a new church start) is that our society is undergoing major changes in the syntax of our lifestyles and communications. It isn’t defined by age/generation . It is defined by technology and mindset. People either utilize digitally enhanced/enabled media or not.

I even coined a new tag to define GEND (digital generation). Simply stated you either are digitally connected or not. You either get it or you don’t get it. This digitally enhanced/enabled media is re-defining the boundaries on how various socio-economic groups and generations interface with each other: on some very basic levels, i.e. general preferences in lifestyle, communication and worship environments. A new language of interactivity has evolved. And this is giving rise to this digitally divided generation bracket.

I have to blaze off to work, but I’ll be back to read the articles you linked. We need to talk more. We appear to have a lot in common.
http://designingforphilistines.blogspot.com/search/label/GEND

]]> By: Mike Crowl http://brownblog.info/?p=665#comment-3331 Mike Crowl Tue, 23 Dec 2008 02:34:31 +0000 http://brownblog.info/?p=665#comment-3331 While I agree with Andrew regarding needing to get out and be Jesus to 'real' people in the real world, it seems as though a lot of these real people are spending more time on their computers. I don't think it's an either/or thing: for some people ministry via the Internet is where they'll be engaged, for others the good old fashioned face to face stuff is where it happens. While I agree with Andrew regarding needing to get out and be Jesus to ‘real’ people in the real world, it seems as though a lot of these real people are spending more time on their computers. I don’t think it’s an either/or thing: for some people ministry via the Internet is where they’ll be engaged, for others the good old fashioned face to face stuff is where it happens.

]]> By: Andrew Ramsbottom http://brownblog.info/?p=665#comment-3314 Andrew Ramsbottom Sun, 21 Dec 2008 22:27:11 +0000 http://brownblog.info/?p=665#comment-3314 Are we forgetting that the Christian way of life is supposed to model how God designed us to live? If our online activities/contact doesn't get us out of our church buildings, homes, work places and into the real world of flesh and bones (and soul) then what is the point??? Looking someone in the eye, holding someones hand, crying with someone, laughing with someone and really caring for someone can only be done on a very superficial level through the "Digital Revolution." We, the church, need to be the revolution! Are we forgetting that the Christian way of life is supposed to model how God designed us to live? If our online activities/contact doesn’t get us out of our church buildings, homes, work places and into the real world of flesh and bones (and soul) then what is the point??? Looking someone in the eye, holding someones hand, crying with someone, laughing with someone and really caring for someone can only be done on a very superficial level through the “Digital Revolution.” We, the church, need to be the revolution!

]]> By: Mark Brown http://brownblog.info/?p=665#comment-3283 Mark Brown Sat, 20 Dec 2008 23:57:24 +0000 http://brownblog.info/?p=665#comment-3283 G'day Kathy, your concern about a digital divide is spot on. As the prevalence of the net grows the issue will be to avoid simply connecting with those like us. Which in my experience is not that dissimilar to human behavior in the local setting; we tend to club together, the net just provides a wider pool of like minded people to connect with. How do you suggest your concern is addressed? G’day Kathy, your concern about a digital divide is spot on. As the prevalence of the net grows the issue will be to avoid simply connecting with those like us. Which in my experience is not that dissimilar to human behavior in the local setting; we tend to club together, the net just provides a wider pool of like minded people to connect with. How do you suggest your concern is addressed?

]]> By: Mark Brown http://brownblog.info/?p=665#comment-3282 Mark Brown Sat, 20 Dec 2008 23:52:43 +0000 http://brownblog.info/?p=665#comment-3282 G'day Scot, An excellent point you raise about the need to dialogue with non-christians. A two way exchange not a lecture! Thanks. G’day Scot, An excellent point you raise about the need to dialogue with non-christians. A two way exchange not a lecture! Thanks.

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