2007 World Conference Legislation

H-7 Communicating the Gospel Report

To the First Presidency and the World Conference:

The Communicating the Gospel Committee was formed in response to WCR 1283, adopted at the 2004 World Conference. This committee is largely composed of young adults as well as representation from areas outside North America and others with expertise related to the work of this committee. The World Conference tasked this committee with identifying various technologies and related techniques to more effectively communicate the gospel, explore ways to better communicate with people with a postmodern worldview, and serve as a test group for ideas that may emerge from the aforementioned recommendations. The committee responded by forming four groups: Web-based Communications, Worship Prime Time, Other Electronic Communications, and Marketing.

Web-based Communications

The Internet is a dynamic rather than static environment. Therefore, Web sites that occupy the Internet must be in a constant state of evolution. The Web-based Communications group identified the following recommendations to further enhance the World Church Web site and increase support for local congregations and mission centers.

• A fresh, new Web interface or Web site redesign for a simpler navigation of the church’s Web site. This includes possible division of the site into specific areas such as member, nonmember, youth, etc.
• Increased support for local congregations, mission centers, and campgrounds through the World Church Web site. Locations of congregations should be easily accessible from the World Church Web site. Users should be able to search for congregations in a given location, and information such as times, ministries, contact information, and a map to the congregation should be displayed in a consistent format. The World Church does have a feature on the church Web site that allows users to locate congregational name, address, and phone number along with pastor contact info. This feature is located at http://www.CofChrist.org/directory/activedirectory.asp.
• Web-hosting for local congregations. The World Church currently does provide limited Web hosting for congregations, and more information can be found at http://www.CofChrist.org/webhelp/default.asp#hosting. The World Church should investigate the feasibility of increasing support for local congregations and providing user-friendly templates for Web site creation.
• Additional recommendations: As resources and personnel become available the committee recommends that the church explore distance learning for all ages, expanded youth content, and additional avenues for electronic person-to-person contact, such as listservs.

Worship Prime Time

Worship in a postmodern world is image driven and grounded in experience. The name of this group, Worship Prime Time, is an acknowledgment that worship in the life of the church takes place during myriad times, including Sunday morning. The Worship Prime Time group identified the following recommendations to harness technology to enhance, but not take the place of, worship.

• Video testimonies and stories from church members around the world coordinated with Worship Resources. This resource could be made available for download from the World Church Web site or for purchase in DVD format through Herald House. The World Church has already posted several quality video features on the World Church Web site. This committee encourages this positive addition and welcomes the addition of worship-specific video features.
• A virtual networking environment to facilitate the exchange of resources for worship as well as Christian education. This environment could adapt parts of the chatroom located on the World Church Web site as well as other technologies, such as bulletin boards, to facilitate the exchange of resources from congregation to congregation.
• Worship adapted to a cashless society. To facilitate A Disciple’s Generous Response, the World Church should investigate technologies that will allow people to make contributions electronically, not only during worship, but 24/7. Online giving is available for World Ministries contributions, but not for local giving opportunities.

Other Electronic Communications

The Other Electronic Communications group explored technologies and methods not covered by the other groups. While countless technologies exist that could more effectively facilitate the communication of the gospel, this group focused on two that can be implemented effectively on many levels of church organization.

• Podcasting. Podcasting is a form of distributing digital content such as audio or video and can be played from a digital media player, such as an iPod, or from a computer. Organizations such as the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), and National Public Radio (NPR) are some of the biggest distributors of podcasts. Congregations and mission centers could podcast special events or even regular worship services at minimal expense. The Communicating the Gospel Committee believes that there is a need on a World Church level for quality preaching and worship podcasts. The World Church has already begun testing podcasting technology and exploring copyright-related issues to determine the best way to harness this relatively new avenue of communication.
• Mobile Phone Technology. The rapid advance and popularity of mobile phone communication in both the developed and developing world seems to be a logical medium for the church to communicate. This committee encourages the World Church to explore different methods of connecting people, congregations, and mission centers throughout the world with the variety of capabilities offered through mobile phones.

Marketing

It was determined early on that presentation and marketing are important aspects to communicating, not only with young adults, but with many folks of a postmodern persuasion. The marketing group assembled a focus group composed of North American young adults in the following demographics: college age (18–22), single (22–34), married (22–35), and married with children (22–35). The focus group contained both active and inactive people from each demographic. The following insights were gleaned from the marketing group’s work with the focus group:

• According to the focus group, having or not having a computer in the home and the Internet connection speed available at home had little correlation with attendance at church. However, people who attend church regularly would use more technologies if they were available.
• Young adults with children are more likely to attend church than young adults without children.
• Nearly all of the young adults in the focus group believe in God, never read the Bible, and frequently find worship services boring.

The Marketing group believes that a more robust research project is needed to make broad assumptions about young adults in the Community of Christ. Such a project would include people from around the world, a larger sample size, and address more issues than communication. This committee recommends that the World Church investigate the feasibility and benefits of doing such a research project to help shape the church’s approach to young adults and those of a postmodern persuasion.

Concluding Remarks

Technology is a valuable tool for the church in reaching people of all generations and those who live far from International Headquarters. It can also be a catalyst for creativity in worship and other aspects of the life of the church. Technology is not a Band-Aid for less than substantive expressions of worship or a crutch for struggling congregations. Additionally, portability appears to be more valued than real-time or streaming methods of communication. This committee also acknowledges that a digital divide exists between developed and developing nations. This committee also believes that technology can be one method of leveling the playing field between those who have plenty in this world and those who do not. Finally, embracing technological advances seems to be a more productive approach than opposing technological innovations. For example, if a teenager is listening to an iPod, perhaps the church’s first approach should not be to get the teenager to quit listening to the iPod, but rather to get inside the iPod.

This committee appreciates the opportunity to explore this important issue in the life of the church and looks forward to new and exciting ways of communicating the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Communicating the Gospel Committee
Melody Alexander
Wayne Allen
Aaron Atkinson
Mike Botts
Kevin Bryant
Michael Buttgen
Charlie Carter
John Chatburn, chair
Donald Chesworth III
Brady Cackler
Todd Elkins
Michael Giardina
Michael Hoffman
Richard James
Cathy Loving
Shannon McAdam
Jason McWachen
Jessica Montague
Jaylene O’Keefe
John Pinkerton
Nathan Twombly
Adam Wade