Churches encouraged to embrace new media
The worldwide web is here to stay and churches should get on board: that's the message of the Rt Rev Dr Alan Wilson, Bishop of Buckingham, to the UK's first New Media conference for churches next month, organised by Premier Christian Radio and CODEC.
Bishop Alan, who also writes for the Guardian's Comment is Free website, has maintained a blog since 2007, which receives up to 400 hits a day.
Bishop Alan, who In an interview with influential political blogger Norman Geras admitted to having been a teenage atheist, told Premier it was crucial for the church to communicate effectively: "We're living in a society where the vast majority are communicating in many different ways. Christianity is about communicating good news and we're involved as Christians in communication. It's about communicating who we are to people in an authentic way. There are lots of great possibilities in New Media. Our problem is we've lost our world communication and that's something we can bring to the New Media stage."
Bishop Alan is one of more than 20 experts with practical experience in the fields of New Media, church leadership and theology, who will share their skills and knowledge at the London conference on 16 October.
Urging church leaders to embrace the New Media revolution, Rev Steve Chalke MBE, founder of the Oasis Trust, said the church's task was to make itself known and its message clear, and that meant embracing New Media. He urged churches to sign up to the conference: "The church should always be using the resources of the society around it, and using it well. It's a bit like the vicar who refused to get a car or a phone. Not being interested in publicity and image is not the way out."
Information on the
Reaching out in the Digital Age
conference, which is sponsored by micrositez, can be found at
www.christiannewmedia.com
. Early Bird prices start at £25.
CODEC is a research centre at St John's College, Durham, which explores the realities and possibilities of new communications media.