The last time I attended a Big Church Meeting (i.e. Presbytery Assembly, Conference Meeting, Association Meeting, Diocese Meeting) the convener’s first words were: “Please turn off all digital devices.” In fairness to her, she could have meant turn silence your phones and pagers (although I’m not sure anyone uses a pager anymore.)
There are excellent reasons to use our smart phones, iPads, laptops, etc at these meetings. I’m talking, of course, to digital immigrants here. Digital natives clearly don’t need to be told but – sadly – the demographic for most institutional church meetings are people over the age of 45.
This week when my new favorite ecclesiastical organization convenes, my hope is that everybody will have their digital devices turned on. Yes, some people will be playing Sporcle or making their Peapod orders, but most of us will be engaging more deeply in the business at hand.
If you need convincing, here are my Top Ten Reasons to go digital for your next Big Church Meeting.
1- It saves paper. No need to print out the ream of paper digitally sent to us with assorted motions, policies, and statements.
2- It saves time. Instead of asking a basic question in the microphone, you can ask others tweeting the meeting.
3- It helps with context. I was new at my last Presbytery meeting and when people stood to make reports, I googled them to figure out who they were and what church they served.
4- It streamlines debate. Before standing up to ask a question, I can ask a friend in the room via text-messaging and get my answer.
5- It improves debate. I’ve been to meetings when someone tweets, “Who’s going to stand up and make the point that …” Sometimes it’s good to have fresh voices.
6- It includes people who aren’t present. I’ve tweeted meetings for one particular church geek in California who likes to hear what other Presbyteries are doing.
7- It makes the meeting more fun. Yes, it can be tempting to be snarky ( “Why is he still talking?“) but I’ve honestly experienced this very rarely.
8- It clarifies information. If you miss what someone said, or you didn’t hear it clearly, you can ask someone else to repeat it. Best example: When Phyllis Tickle referred to “Snoopy Dog” at The Great Emergence Conference in 2009, several clarified via tweets that she meant “Snoop Dog.”
9- It makes us pay attention more intently rather than less. Again, when we have the opportunity to read a policy while simultaneously reading comments on the policy while having access to background on the policy, focus is required. And even Jesus was a multitasker. Remember this story? Or this one? He lays hands on the children, teaches the rich young ruler, throws in a couple parables and sayings all in one elegant sweep.
10- It connects people. Many of us first met friends and colleagues via twitter, blogging, Facebook, Google +, etc. etc. Isn’t this the point? Connecting to each other and to God?
Special note to my Presbyterian friends: if we are truly a connectional church and we aren’t connected via 21st Century methods, we’re begging to be obsolete as a Christian community.
Photo of hash tag art. Source here.
A Church for Starving Artists 
Darn tootin.’ As our little magic boxes increasingly become the primary tool with which we both gather and process data, it’s important to recognize them as part of the process. I use mine in the place of paper materials, to check Book of Order references, and to pursue related data out there on the interwebs. It can be used to significantly enhance meeting participation, in all of the ways you describe. Sure, you can also be shopping or online gaming. But then again, you can use paper to doodle, and your brains to daydream.
LikeLike
We have recently started sending links to session packets digitally and no longer print copies of them. Session members are expected to either print their own or bring their digital device (preferred) and access the packet at the meeting. We have wi-fi available in the session room. Through two and a half years on session I accumulated about 5 inches of paper, most used once and then just stored. Multiply that by even a 15 person session and we’re talking serious trees that will be saved.
BTW, I’m 67 years old (I guess what you would call an “immigrant”) with a smart phone, access to my husband’s iPad, and a stable of Twitter and Facebook friends. I’m also one of the organizers of Presbyterian Women Interest Group on Facebook, and I lead a circle on a blog. Other circles are happening on Facebook, on Skype, and at the First Presbyterian Church of Second Life. Our virtual “Women’s Association” has almost 400 active members, nationwide.
We’re trying to get the church to provide several electronic readers with adjustable print size for our older members of the congregation, so they can read the bulletin, sing the hymns, follow along in the Bible readings, and hopefully, eventually, have the sermon close-captioned.
So “Big” church meetings are not the only place the church needs to embrace the digital world.
LikeLike
Darn tootin’. That’s like amen, right? Love this.
LikeLike
All for digital products and highly agree that it’s time to stop handing out so much paper. My wish is that people would put them on silent during the meetings and church! Including my grandmother. 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks for these, ma’am. I found myself needing to articulate today the reasons I think Twitter is well suited to augment large gatherings (in truth, I think that’s the area where it’s most valuable, but that’s another story). I have four reasons. ONE: If you split into groups or workshops (or just have a private conversation) people can hear the highlights from what they missed. TWO: Following a hashtag will expose you to perspectives of people you wouldn’t hear from otherwise. THREE: This is like your items 2, 4, 5, and 8 – sharing concrete information, like the wifi password or who will raise a motion. FOUR: People who process information conversationally (like me) can compose comments in real time and clarify their thinking, making tweeting during meetings the opposite of distracting.
LikeLike
Special note to my Presbyterian friends: if we are truly a connectional church and we aren’t connected via 21st Century methods, we’re begging to be obsolete as a Christian community. AMEN! (unfortunately too many I serve with are okay with being obsolete)
LikeLike