How Do Faith-Based Organizations Respond to Increasingly Mobile-Connected Members and Communities
Earlier this week, I submitted a panel topic to a few folks that are working on setting up a panel for next year's SXSW Conference. However, the topic was a bit late in getting to them, and therefore had to be shelved for a while.
Nevertheless, I'm pretty confident in saying that the topic is one that could offer considerable insight into technology leadership within the Body, and even more, be something that promotes the Body to seek to be not just "the same" as what people expect in terms of tech development, use, and adoption, but that we take an active part in being the innovators.
To that end, I'd like to share the topic as I presented it to the SXSW panel group for discussion here. Hopefully, there can be enough of a discussion about this that we could get consideration for a side panel or present this at another venue before 2011.
Topic Title: How Do Faith-Based Organizations Respond to Increasingly Mobile-Connected Members and Communities
Short Summary: The effect of mobile on faith-based communities has further reaching effects than spirituality.
Longer Summary: Each mass media technology has faced an uphill fight towards being adopted and used effectively by faith-based organizations. Mobile presents a special kind of challenge because of its seeemingly personal nature which contradicts with the communal approaches many faith based organizations take towards conducting their business. This panel asks whether faith-based organizations are up to the task of addressing not only the web-connected contigent, but also the mobile-enabled one. And then what are the implications of giving this mobile arena attention, when education towards the effectiveness of the 6 mass media (internet) has not yet been perfected?
I know its not the most simple of things to talk about; but we should. So, let's chat :)
Labels: community, innovation, mobility
posted by MMM @ 7/11/2009 01:00:00 PM
3 comments
3 Comments:
It looks like the folks at SXSWi have extended the deadline for panel proposals until the 12th at midnight central time. Maybe there's still a chance!!
"How Do Faith-Based Organizations Respond to Increasingly Mobile-Connected Members and Communities"
The hardest part will be convincing the community that there's a good reason to sit and stare at a stage, listening to a mediocre Sunday lecture. The virtually-connected church now has on-line access to the finest teaching and preaching imaginable, accessible at their convenience, 7x24x365.
Finding better teaching elsewhere, the virtually-connected community will, over time, demand that their gatherings be used to really connect and be present with each other. When this happens, pastors can be released to really pastor. Gifted teachers (who may or may not have pastoral gifts) can teach in smaller groups where true interactivity can take place. Organic gathering becomes the Sunday norm, not a mid-week breakout session.
We all have something to contribute, together. A virtuality connected community will eventually mimic their mobile-connected engagement in F2F gatherings, signaling the end of the monologue church era.
@John L: you should have just heard me scream after reading you comment :D
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