Church Online: Resurrection Internet Campus?
Yesterday, I met with Clif Guy to be in conversation in response to the possibility of a Resurrection internet campus. The idea was a part of Pastor Adam's weekly e-note to the congregation. From Adam's email last Friday:
I have been feeling an increasing tug on my heart that we should develop an Internet Campus of the Church of the Resurrection. The goal of this site would be to offer church for both the unchurched for whom this will be a first step towards becoming a part of the church (either ours, or if they are from another city, a church in their community - we would look at having links in major cities for people to find a church that had been to our Leadership Institute), but also exploring what it means to be the church for the next generation. We're pulling together a team of staff to explore what an Internet version of Church of the Resurrection might look like and how it fits into our mission of "building a Christian community where non-religious and nominally religious people are becoming deeply committed Christians."
A couple churches that currently have an internet campus - LifeChurch.tv and Seacoast Church. What do you think? Some questions that Clif and I discussed:
What does it mean to be an online church?
What type of staffing would be needed?
How do you connect with people?
How do you create a shared experience?
What about the sacraments?
Would this have an effect on United Methodist polity?
What are your questions? What do you think? I would love to hear what you have to say. Feel free to share any thoughts comments.