Digital Ministry

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Digital Ministry Is Here To Stay.

The Rev. Tom Warren

St. Mary’s - Kinston, NC

Is Digital Ministry Here To Stay?

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Technology for Reading Scripture

Technology for Reading Scripture

Is Digital Ministry Here To Stay?

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What is Digital Ministry?

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A definition of Digital Ministry:�The use of digital technology to exercise the ministry of the baptized.

The Catechism - An Outline of the Faith

(Book of Common Prayer, pg. 855)

The ministry of lay persons is �to represent Christ and his Church; �to bear witness to him wherever they may be; �and, according to the gifts given them, �to carry on Christ's work �of reconciliation in the world; �and to take their place in the �life, worship, and governance of the Church.

Know Your “Why”!

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The mission of �St. Mary’s Episcopal Church is �to bear God’s Good News �through joyful worship, Christ-centered teaching, compassionate care, �and intentional relationships.

Will you continue in �the apostles' teaching �and fellowship, �in the breaking of the bread, �and in the prayers?

The Baptismal Covenant

(Book of Common Prayer, pg. 304; Acts 2:42)

Will you proclaim �by word and example �the Good News of God �in Christ?

The Baptismal Covenant

(Book of Common Prayer, pg. 305)

Send them �into the world �in witness �to your love.

Prayers for the Baptismal Candidates

(Book of Common Prayer, pg. 306)

…Give them an �inquiring and discerning heart, �the courage to will and to persevere,�a spirit to know and to love you, �and the gift of joy and wonder �in all your works.

The Prayer over the Newly Baptized

(Book of Common Prayer, pg. 308)

We receive you �into the household of God. �Confess the faith of Christ crucified, proclaim his resurrection, �and share with us �in his eternal priesthood.

The Community’s Charge to the Newly Baptized

(Book of Common Prayer, pg. 308)

What

Why

Now, how?!

A definition of Digital Ministry:�The use of digital technology to exercise the ministry of the baptized.

Evangelism

Christian Formation & Discipleship

Fellowship & Community

Outreach

Pastoral Care

Worship

Audio & Visual Content

Other Digital Tools

Written & Visual Content

Website/Email Campaigns/�Social Media Platforms/Newsletters

Audio & Visual Content

Other Digital Tools

Written & Visual Content

Website/Email Campaigns/�Social Media Platforms/Newsletters

Audio & Visual Content

Website/Social Media Platforms/ Podcasts/Video Channels

Other Digital Tools

Written & Visual Content

Website/Email Campaigns/�Social Media Platforms/Newsletters

Audio & Visual Content

Website/Social Media Platforms/ Podcasts/Video Channels

Other Digital Tools

Cloud Resources (membership databases, email/computer programs)�Online/Mobile Giving

Written & Visual Content

How is my community �called to live into �the Ministry of the Baptized?

-Current Practices

Digital Ministry

-Current Practices

Digital Ministry

Consider:

• the primary ways that your community communicates
• the ways that it communicates digitally
• ways that you sense your community might be called to communicate

-Current Practices

Digital Ministry

-Are you called to something new?

-Current Practices

Digital Ministry

-Are you called to something new?

Consider the Resources �($$, Time, Energy, Ministers (lay & ordained/paid & unpaid), etc)

My Online Worship Conversion Story

November 2019: “Nope.”

My Online Worship Conversion Story

November 2019: “Nope.”

• Don’t want to encourage habits detrimental to a healthy life of faith.

• Don’t know how! Sounds expensive!

• Fear. … mistakes … being taken out of context … tech being unreliable …

• Privacy of other worshippers (livestream)

My Online Worship Conversion Story

November 2019: “Nope.”

March 15, 2020: 1st Facebook Live message

• Kept it “simple,” then encouraged participation with those who were doing this sort of ministry well.

My Online Worship Conversion Story

My Online Worship Conversion Story

November 2019: “Nope.”

March 15, 2020: 1st Facebook Live message

Online liturgy available every Sunday since March 22, 2020.

• Pandemic beginning: we either went online or there was no corporate worship, or fellowship, or Christian Ed, or …

My Online Worship Conversion Story

Plenty of Challenges

• It’s an iterative process… isn’t that true for all ministry? (learn & adapt, but perfection isn’t the ultimate goal)
• Opportunity to reach marginalized, but be aware of the risk of keeping some on the margins (i.e. “noisy kids can worship online”)
• Change is frequently an unsettling time… know your “why”!

My Online Worship Conversion Story

Some of the Positives

• Pastoral care impact - enabling environments for worship to homebound
• Unknowingly ministering to others
• Creating a ‘safe space’ for seekers

Digital Ministry is Ministry!

• Approach it with the dignity that we would for other ministries.

​

Digital Ministry is Ministry!

• Approach it with the dignity that we would for other ministries.
• Immerse it in prayer & ask for the Lord's guidance.

​

Digital Ministry is Ministry!

• Approach it with the dignity that we would for other ministries.
• Immerse it in prayer & ask for the Lord's guidance.
• INVITE & EQUIP the saints for ministry! Express GRATITUDE for God’s blessings.

​

Digital Ministry is Ministry!

• Approach it with the dignity that we would for other ministries.
• Immerse it in prayer & ask for the Lord's guidance.
• INVITE & EQUIP the saints for ministry! Express GRATITUDE for God’s blessings.
• Keep the Gospel at the heart of whatever it is that we do! Don’t lose sight of the “WHY”!

Digital Ministry

Paperless “Handout”

Scan this QR code with your mobile device: