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Abstract
During the spring months of 2020, online or digitally-mediated worship became a necessity for congregations in many parts of the United States. Governmental restrictions on physical gatherings placed congregations in precarious situations. Seemingly overnight, nearly all Protestant pastors became televangelists—learning to record, edit, and post content online. In the pandemic frenzy, few questioned what digitally-mediated worship would mean for the Church long-term. Now that COVID-19 has become endemic, conversations around the widespread usage of digital media for worship online are essential and telling as they represent a convergence of biblical, ethical, theological, and practical concerns.
Digitally-mediated worship services have struck a nerve in the collective consciousness of the Church; myriad opinions on the matter exist. Some claim digitally-mediated worship dilutes the communal, gathered nature of the Church and thereby threatens its future. Others see digitally-mediated worship as a boon, arguing that such developments fling wide the Church’s doors and encourage the inclusion of those who have traditionally felt left out for one reason or another. Should digitally-mediated worship be part of the congregation’s worship life? This qualitative research project sought to engage that question in light of the Reformed/Presbyterian tradition, published literature, and themes expressed about analog and digitally-mediated worship by members of Foothills Presbyterian Church in Western North Carolina.
