Keeping our Virtual Doors Open for the Church: A discussion starter

Last night I wrote a blog about online communion. I didn't advocate for it's normalcy. Matter of fact, I think we should gather for communion. However, that in light of what our nation is facing the topic needs to be explored. Multiple New Testament principles do demonstrate that communion at home should only occur when there are no other options such as physical illness, a serious life threatening situation, a national crisis or other situation that justifies staying home. 

Instead of bickering about if we can take communion in our cars, online or standing on our heads, I believe we need to be thinking about how we can effectively reach the lost and will we be keeping our "Online doors" open once this pandemic ends and things go back to normal. 

According to “State of the Online Church,” led by Saddleback Church’s Online Campus Pastor Jay Kranda, 59 percent of churches have seen physical growth since launching an online ministry. The study, conducted in partnership with Vanderbloemen and Pushpay, is based on data from 176 online and digital church leaders.  

  

Overall, 58 percent said they agree that online ministry is helpful to their church. Thirty-eight percent saw an increase in giving since launching their online ministry. Meanwhile, around 15 percent said they are unsure of the impact. Not everyone does “internet church” or “church online” the same. While most do live streaming, 52 percent of those surveyed said they offer the full church service (message and worship) on-demand. And 47 percent provide on-demand messages only. But church online doesn’t stop there for many. Most (81 percent) also offer prayer online, 72 percent offer giving opportunities, 58 percent provide pastoral care, 54 percent present serving opportunities, 52 percent offer online groups and 25 percent provide home small groups.

When the Reformers grasped the implications of the printing press for distributing Bibles, they crossed a Rubicon from which there was no return. In the same way, over the past few weeks, churches have used technology and launched themselves into the online world as never before. The problem is that, depending on how long the lockdown lasts, tuning into church in your pajamas becomes a changed behavior that changes a culture. There may well be a joyous return to parish churches for the first communion in a post-social-distancing euphoric eucharist; but we need to ensure that the bounce-back lasts. 

What ideas are your churches looking at to keep people coming back to the church and possibly adding online offerings?  

Communion: Online? Drive in? Not at all?

Disclaimer: Please note that the two incidents that I speak about in this post happened prior to me joining the UMC; and before going to dCOM. I am in NO WAY ADVOCATING for the normalcy of what I did. 

There is a lot of arrogance in today's church. I personally know that I am cocky at times. When I have an opinion that I know in my heart is correct for me, I don't like to be questioned.

One of the conversations that I had today, was with an Anglican Priest that immediately turned me off as soon as he commented on something I wrote. It surrounded communion and whether it can be taken remotely while the pastor is virtually consecrating the elements.

If you read my previous post on communion, I think you can see I have a pretty good idea about communion and how it should be handled.

I can say that I have taken communion once or twice when I wasn't able to attend a physical church. I have also presided over communion when an ordained Pastor wasn't available. I do not find those things repulsive in any way, shape or form. So some background on why I have participated in online communion services and why I have presided over a communion service without a minister.

The second is a lot easier for me to answer quickly. I worked at a coffee shop for youth. One evening God's holy spirit just fell in a way that you wouldn't believe, unless you have experienced it. We were closing for the night and we got into a mode of worship, and a young lady came to know Christ. The next week we were there and she came back to the coffee shop and was asking several questions about her new found faith. She had gotten involved in a church, but the church had denied her communion that week because she "was saved in a coffee shop." She was in tears because she had read that she was to do that in remembrance of what Jesus did for us. I had the opportunity to call her pastor and speak with him, and he said "Salvation doesn't come in a coffee shop." The following week, I arrived at the coffee shop just before we opened and the manager said to the staff and the young lady "It's been on my heart all week to offer communion this week to all who want to participate. Can you please pray over the bread and wine?" I didn't see the harm (and still don't), and I offered that new sister in faith her first communion, this time tears flowed because she was accepted and she grateful that she could finally take communion. She has since changed churches, and attends a lovely country church and takes communion weekly in the full knowledge of what Jesus has done for her.

As for taking communion online, I did so because I was asked to leave a church. To never darken the doors of the church again. Sure I was welcome online, but I wasn't welcome in the church. For me, communion has always been central to my faith. From the liturgy, all the way down to accepting "The body of Christ broken for me and the blood of Christ spilled for me." It's just important to do those things. Even as a young child, when I first was saved at 9 years old, it was vitally important for me to accept the elements. When you are asked to not show up to a church because of conflict and communion is important to you, when you are asked to have bread and wine/juice for the online service you don't care about precedence--because you realize that God is bigger and knows your heart.

No where am I saying this should be normal practice; so before you think that is what I am saying, it isn't. However, we are living in unprecedented times and the church, whether it wants to or not, will have to change with those times.