Congregations Demo - Fall 2008 - (Page 5) From the Editor Congregations president & publisher James P. Wind editor Richard Bass Managing editor Marlis McCollum design The YGS Group, York, PA Even though you are reading this in the old-fashioned confines of a print magazine, there is no denying the huge impact technology is having on how we communicate with each other today. While we have framed this issue as an examination of “how Internet innovations are changing the way we do church,” the reality is that the Internet has changed the way we live today. And it is that change—the one that keeps many of us tethered to a constant stream of electronic communication, welcome and unwelcome—that is affecting how we work, learn, recreate, and, yes, participate in a congregation. As I hope the articles in this issue make clear, this is not a bad thing. But it is a challenge to congregations, which are rarely on the bleeding edge of innovation. We have tried to examine the challenges and the opportunities, what is lost and what is gained, as our faith communities come to grips with the reality that they must adapt to yet another shift in the way things are done. Lee Beach sets the stage not by talking about technology but about cultural change. It is possible to say that the church, which once found itself at the center of society, is now in exile—“at odds with the dominant values of the prevailing cultural ethos.” There are lots of ways in which the church can find itself at odds with the culture, and Lee leaves it to individual congregations to identify their own exilic identity. His call for congregations to discover their mission and live their calling in the world, rather than try to attract people from the world to come join them in exile, is instructive and helpful in thinking about how congregations adapt in a changing world. In the articles that follow, we take a look at how congregations are using technology—and how technology is using us. There are stories about how a listserv has helped congregations keep connected. There are reflections on the role e-mail has come to play in our lives today, and helpful advice for how to manage what often threatens to overwhelm. There’s a story about how a congregation decided to “go public” and start a blog. At the center of the issue is an extended examination of the newest Internet innovations, known collectively as Web 2.0. People have been using the new tools made available by these innovations to reshape many of the ways they interact in the world, and congregational life is no exception. “In a digital world where community is possible online,” asks writer Andrea Useem, “what is the relevance of a brick-and-mortar congregation?” One answer can be found in Brian Brunius’s story. In his case, virtual community helped him connect with a brick-and-mortar church—and with other people who are part of the congregation that gathers there. It is perhaps fitting, amid all the noise, that we also include an article on silent prayer. But the silence about which Elizabeth Magill writes isn’t quiet; in fact it can be quite noisy. Rather, it is about making “space for God and space for one another.” In the end, that is what we all hope our congregations are about. In faith, The Alban Institute 2121 Cooperative Way Suite 100 Herndon, VA 20171 Telephone: 703-964-2700 Fax: 703-964-0370 editorial inquiries To submit articles or letters to the editor, send an e-mail to rbass@alban.org or send a letter to Richard Bass at the address above. Send a self-addressed, stamped envelope for writers’ guidelines or visit our Web site at www.alban.org. advertising inquiries To advertise in Congregations, call David Pratt at 703-964-2700, ext. 220, or send an e-mail to dpratt@alban.org. Membership services To become a member of the Alban Institute and receive Congregations, call 800-486-1318, ext. 243, or send an e-mail to membership@alban.org. reprint permissions If you would like to copy material in Congregations for use in your congregation or other settings, submit the online form at www.alban.org/ permissions.asp or send an e-mail request to drobayo@alban.org. other inquiries For information concerning Alban Institute membership, publications, education events, or consulting, send an e-mail to membership@alban.org. Moving? If you are about to move or have moved recently, please send your address label, along with your new address, to “Membership” or send an e-mail to membership@alban.org. Richard Bass Dedication This issue of Congregations is dedicated to our late friend and colleague Anne Van Dusen, who served as senior research associate for the Alban Institute from fall 2003 until her death this summer. Anne gave her full energies to building our Congregational Resource Guide (CRG) website, and few were more aware than she of technology’s impact on congregational life. In April, Anne convened a group of more than 20 congregational leaders, faith bloggers, and Web 2.0 experts to look at what the newest iterations of the Internet mean for congregations. That meeting, and Anne’s insights, inspired and helped to shape this issue of Congregations. For all her efforts—and the gift of herself—we are forever grateful. www.alban.org Fall 2008 • congregations 3 http://www.alban.org http://www.alban.org/ http://www.alban.org
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