Churches are using the Internet
to reach out with their messages

April 29, 2004

By Virginia Wilber
Iowa's Internet

DES MOINES, Iowa -- Much like the Bible, Koran or Torah are books, religious leaders say that the Internet is just another tool for religion and that it is the message within the tool that is more important. More and more religious institutions in Iowa are turning toward the Internet as an avenue to relay their messages and to reach out to members and non-members across the state, nation and world.

"The Internet is just a tool... the printing press spread Martin Luther's ideas not because the printing press was so fantastic but because Luther had a message," Lynette Cline, secretary at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Cedar Falls said. "The Internet is a tool in search of a message. If a church has no substance, the Internet will make no difference."

Just as any tool, the Internet can be used for good purposes, but it can also be used for the wrong purposes. As the founder of Habitat for Humanity, Millard Fuller said tools you can build with, hammers and nails, can also be used to nail Christ to the cross.

Some of the advantages of having the Internet for church members and leaders are providing supplemental education tools, communicating and networking through e-mails, and having access to church information online.

The Internet provides information for courses within the church such as the online courses that congregations can use with Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" or Dan Brown's "The Da Vinci Code." Many seminaries also offer non-credit continuing education courses online so that anyone interested can discern if ministry is the career for them.

Seminaries are also beginning to realize the importance of incorporating technology into their courses. Cline is also a student at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary, where she will be receiving her certificate in ministry and technology in May. She has already designed three Web sites.

Cline stressed the importance of churches having Web sites because many people expect to find what they are looking for on the Internet. But she said she doesn't think that having Web sites will attract youth that are more computer savvy.

"I often hear from members who have the impression that having a church Web site will make us irresistible to the dot-com generation," Cline said. "That's about as realistic as thinking that if we do a lot of non-member weddings, they'll become active members or if we start a church daycare all those moms and dads will join the church."

Fred Strickert, professor of religion at Wartburg College in Waverly, said the Internet is also allowing people to stay in touch with their congregations, especially people who aren't able to attend church for various reasons. Some Web sites offer worship information, newsletters, calendars of events and even posted sermons.

"It makes it possible for people who are not able to attend not to become isolated," Strickert said. "Shut-ins would be able to take advantage of this, although ideally others who already attended church could use this to reflect more deeply."

The Internet also allows for the broader church to network regionally and nationally. Quick access to news about other congregations and prayer networks are several of the services the Internet provides. E-mail also allows for easier and faster communication between long distances.

One area that has really been enhanced by the use of e-mail and online information is mission work. Strickert recently returned from India and has also done work in Israel/Palestine.

Helping with planning, keeping in touch while away from home, sharing experiences with others and keeping in touch upon returning are all benefits the Internet provides to mission workers. The trouble, however, is that not all parts of the world are equally connected, Strickert said.

"Part of this is cost and distribution of technology," Strickert said. "Part is also the attitude towards and time for this kind of communication. An example is Palestinians are face-to-face communicators and several of my pastor/leader friends simply do not answer my e-mails. But when I'm there, they have all the time in the world."

With mission work, the Internet has also affected how information and images through photos can be shared. At one point, Strickert said he was forwarding Middle East messages to a list of 300 e-mail addresses. He discontinued this after the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America appointed someone for the project.

One potential disadvantage to relying so heavily on the Internet is that starts to take the place of face-to-face encounters and of a real community. According to Strickert, the Internet can break down boundaries and bring people across the world closer but it is also redefining community and affecting more local relationships.

There are churches that are completely online, dubbed i-churches. One such i-church is through the Church of England, Oxford Diocese (http://www.i-church.org/). Its Web site states, "It is a Web-based community for those who wish to explore Christian discipleship, but who are not able, or do not wish, to join a local parish church."

This I-church recently advertised for candidates for a half-time pastor position and is now considering seven applicants. The site states it is open to people of all Christian traditions.

Strickert said one of the major criticisms of such Web sites is their use of the word community and he questioned if they could really provide one in the traditional sense.

"Does the TV church or i-church have community if an individual does not have more direct contact with fellow members," Strickert said.

Cline said she doesn't think the Internet will diminish the church at all.

"The Internet can't replace the community of believers anymore than watching televangelists replaces the church," Cline said.

Another disadvantage of the Internet, Strickert said, was access to more information that might distract for the important issues religion tries to conquer.

"Where the information and interest are focused may not be in the important areas: How do we feed the hungry? How do we find alternatives to violence?," Strickert said. "As with other media, people are interested in more sensational stuff like sex scandals or the murder of a nun."

Also, the question of credibility arises and if information is provided by credible groups. Things to keep in mind, according to Strickert, are who is the source of information, how does it compare with what you have already heard and does it seem logical. As a last resort, checking urban legend Web sites or e-mailing another source is a good back-up plan for checking information.

In the future, Cline said she believes the Internet will not affect churches and religion as much as the entire media-soaked culture will.

"People are searching for substance; they are spiritually starved and need to hear the gospel. The Internet is, as John Calvin championed, the 'common language of the people'," Cline said. "All the church has to do is learn to speak it."