i have pondered this, but i actually said it yesterday to blake huggins while we were watching clif guy talk about the church of the resurrection new internet campus. i have not participated in the cor's internet campus but essentially it is a live streaming of the church's services. this isn't new, but it is a significant cost to enable the bandwidth, not to mention all the hardware (if you didn't already have that). for cor, they already had the cameras and projection stuff, they just needed to project out to the net.
another internet campus that i know if is lifechurch.tv internet campus. again, i've just visited, but not during worship times. so i can't say what all happens there, but it too is essentially a live stream as well. they do compliment it with a internet campus blog. one internet experience i have participated with lifechurch folks is their second life campus. i got to make one of their services which again, was a piped in live stream. the difference with that environment was that i could chit chat with people and see others worshipping. (that is kinda funny to think of but, suspend your disbelief, and go with me)
the thing with these two campuses is that they emminate from the same place. not a bad thing at all, its who they are.. but it had me thinking
what if the united methodist church, in order to build more actual connections across the global church, by setting up some internet campuses around the world? there would be something beautiful for me to tune into a church in kenya, russia, latin america, etc..
easter services could all be celebrated with a church in australia or korea as they are the first to welcome the sun of easter day.. and you & i could be there. how cool is that!
we would see & participate in some of the familiars that come with a traditional liturgical background and a common hymnal. but to familiarize and come to know the differences of our family church would just be incredible.. this could be even be enhance by offering in virtual environments where i can meet up with others, much like we did for general conference this past year.
consider this a charge united methodist church entities, help coordinate a global campus to bring together a fully connectional church.
Love the idea. I think it’s really about creating a centralized place for churches to share their worship stream. I have to believe many United Methodist churches are capturing their worship services each week — beyond just COR, Ginghamsburgh, etc. Production quality shouldn’t get in the way of making something like this happen. An idea like this has to be grow from the grassroots (i.e from the local church).
Love the idea. I think it’s really about creating a centralized place for churches to share their worship stream. I have to believe many United Methodist churches are capturing their worship services each week — beyond just COR, Ginghamsburgh, etc. Production quality shouldn’t get in the way of making something like this happen. An idea like this has to be grow from the grassroots (i.e from the local church).
Agree with Matt about it being grassroots. And I think the best approach would be through partnerships. So, playing on your idea, a church in California partners with a church in Korea for Easter services. There’s something deliberate and relational about that. It isn’t the shopper mentality of a podcast or something like that.
Agree with Matt about it being grassroots. And I think the best approach would be through partnerships. So, playing on your idea, a church in California partners with a church in Korea for Easter services. There’s something deliberate and relational about that. It isn’t the shopper mentality of a podcast or something like that.
I still think it’s a great idea. I do foresee some potential polity problems/issues like Clif mentioned, but I don’t think they would be anything that could be talking through. After the first big push I think it would smooth over.
Now…to find the right people and put the idea in their ear.
I still think it’s a great idea. I do foresee some potential polity problems/issues like Clif mentioned, but I don’t think they would be anything that could be talking through. After the first big push I think it would smooth over.
Now…to find the right people and put the idea in their ear.
matt, grassroots, unfortunately is about how anything seems to have to happen in the church these days. that said, there are people who are progressive thinkers to who can imagine something like this & help coordinate. i don’t know a church in korea, kenya or russia to talk too.
ryan, so your idea of finding some churches that have partnerships would be achievable. so we need to talk it up.
blake, lets keep tossing the idea around in the air. i think people will start to imagine and become inspired in hearts, then ask ‘how can we make it happen’
the agencies can help us take this chance by putting some monetary funds into church environments where they do not have the filming capabilities. if they don’t have the funds, then connect them to the churches that are willing to partner (as ryan mentions). individual churches and bypass all the agency red tape. hate to say it, but its true.
thanks for the conversation folks. lets keep dreaming
matt, grassroots, unfortunately is about how anything seems to have to happen in the church these days. that said, there are people who are progressive thinkers to who can imagine something like this & help coordinate. i don’t know a church in korea, kenya or russia to talk too.
ryan, so your idea of finding some churches that have partnerships would be achievable. so we need to talk it up.
blake, lets keep tossing the idea around in the air. i think people will start to imagine and become inspired in hearts, then ask ‘how can we make it happen’
the agencies can help us take this chance by putting some monetary funds into church environments where they do not have the filming capabilities. if they don’t have the funds, then connect them to the churches that are willing to partner (as ryan mentions). individual churches and bypass all the agency red tape. hate to say it, but its true.
thanks for the conversation folks. lets keep dreaming
This is an intriguing thought with some possibilities & some challenges as others have mentioned. Of course, many of the international churches have other ministry issues, and perhaps just survival issues, so technology to do this might not be a priority. And don’t get me started on our UM agency priorities! 🙂 Many US congregations already experience a level of partnership such as
This allows for a US church to assist the ministry and connect with the international church. Check my mission blog for ideas from our annual west African mission. I’d be glad to help your good thought along as we ALWAYS receive more in our life and faith than we give in these missions.
This is an intriguing thought with some possibilities & some challenges as others have mentioned. Of course, many of the international churches have other ministry issues, and perhaps just survival issues, so technology to do this might not be a priority. And don’t get me started on our UM agency priorities! 🙂 Many US congregations already experience a level of partnership such as
This allows for a US church to assist the ministry and connect with the international church. Check my mission blog for ideas from our annual west African mission. I’d be glad to help your good thought along as we ALWAYS receive more in our life and faith than we give in these missions.
I found this program a few weeks back. Essentially, it’s internet-in-a-box for areas without electricity. Couple the internet-in-a-box with digital video camera and a church is off and running. Imagine the ability to participate in a worship experience anywhere in the world? Yes there are holes in my suggestion, but the fun is in working out the details.
I found this program a few weeks back. Essentially, it’s internet-in-a-box for areas without electricity. Couple the internet-in-a-box with digital video camera and a church is off and running. Imagine the ability to participate in a worship experience anywhere in the world? Yes there are holes in my suggestion, but the fun is in working out the details.