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In April 1963 a Pentagon scientist named J.C.R. Licklider argued the time had come for a universal computer network to speed scientific collaboration. Not surprisingly, over the next few years an Internet of computers began to take form. Today it gains speed, complexity, and scope every hour, and the Internet has become the universal network that connects disparate people across disproportionate distances.
Church leaders who spent the formative years of their ministry without the Internet as we know it today may seek to control the medium. Postmodern or millennial leaders, on the other hand—those who have grown up in today's electronic mesh—know that accessibility is key to maximizing the potential of digital networks.
Modern leadership miscue: Seek to control networks
The modern leader has lived most of life in a realm of "command and control." Command and control is necessary in crisis situations, such as warfare or firefighting. For Baby Boomers born after World War II, the command and control way of leadership became a popular leadership style in business and the church.
Modern leaders of this generation believe the way to succeed is to control through power, rewards, and punishments. Slow cycles that grew out of an agricultural economy began to affect business principles, where the agricultural approach of "command and control" began to be applied to the business world. Like breaking a horse, "The worker must be trimmed to fit the job," Frederick Taylor famously intoned. Subsequently, modern leaders bristle at the thought of losing control.
When wrestling with the freedom found in emerging networks, the modern leader tends to try to exert control through ownership. In the ever democratizing world of electronic communication, control through ownership is increasingly difficult.
Modern leaders attempt to take possession of networks that shape them. In business, this often means controlling access by charging a fee and thus reinforcing a modern notion of ownership. In the church, we may do this by restricting access to those times and places the modern leader deems fitting. Former Silicon Valley executive Rusty Rueff noted, "Movie theatres have long tried to control mobile phone signal in their movie theatres. They say it is because it disturbs people. Really, they don't want teens text-messaging their friends that the movie is dreadful." From the days of passing notes in church, to text-messaging a friend far removed from the church sanctuary, church leaders have also tried to limit the location and occasion of electronic communication.
Millennial leaders who have grown up in the expanding world of communication networks view these networks as public property. And, to restrict access or monopolize them seems tyrannical. Modern leaders may recall similar unfair restrictions. At one time, restaurants and businesses charged a fee to use the restrooms. Charging a fee or otherwise restricting network access should seem just as illogical to leaders today.
Millennial leadership attitude: Networks should be accessible
Rueff, who serves as an advisor to the president at Purdue University, recently showed a picture of a classroom at that university. Of the almost 100 students assembled, every one was sitting behind a laptop computer. "Think of when this will happen in your church," he said. "What do you do in church? Is there a place for those who want to communicate with laptops? Or would an usher ask them to put their computer away?"
In a millennial world where unfettered networking is routine, millennial church leaders are starting to accommodate instant feedback. Some young churches have an "ask-assertive environment" where those who disagree are encouraged to state their differences of opinion, even during the sermon.
Millennial congregations such as Solomon's Porch in Minneapolis regularly invite questions or challenges from the audience during the sermon. Even millennial megachurches such as Mars Hill Church in Granville, Michigan, sometimes welcome a congregant on the stage to ask the preacher questions during the sermon (since the audience is too vast for everyone to shout out a query). Leo Safko, author of the Social Media Bible calls this "a fundamental shift in power … no longer does the consumer trust corporate messages … they want to be educated by, hear their news from, and get their product reviews by people they know and trust."
Though modern leaders might initially resist such quick and honest feedback in the church, the day is not far off when immediate, even critical feedback will be visually displayed in our churches in much the same manner that words are displayed to a song.
Nurturing accessibility
The accessible church describes a church that is accessible via as many social networks as possible.
Meeting the needs of the disenfranchised is a priority among millennial leaders. Expanding network access should not be limited to just Christians who attend a church, but to those outside as well. One congregation in Edmonton, Alberta started a church plant in an Internet café. Unexpectedly, the free Internet access they offered met the needs of a large Asian-American community in the neighborhood that did not have computer access. As a result this accessible church created an ongoing network with a growing Asian-American community.
Because Christianity is an experience- and knowledge-based faith, access to information can foster a better understanding about God. Many modern leaders bristle at the thought of laptops and smartphones being used during church, but so did professors several years ago (only to lose the battle). At one time sound systems, video projectors, guitars and even pipe-organs were banned from many churches.
Though uncomfortable at first, new ways of communication and exploration will emerge, first among these cutting-edge millennial congregations, and eventually among everyone else. When speaker Stan Toler speaks to younger audiences he often uses instant messaging so attendees can ask their questions while he is still speaking. He then displays their questions on the screen and answers them during his lecture.
Online communities often enhance offline friendships. A church offering a 12-step program can create an online group in which participants can dialogue between meetings. Groups, committees, Sunday School classes and small groups can create, share and edit documents via Web-based word processors, such as Google Docs. These online documents allow collaborative work (such as designing a Bible study) prior to face-to-face meetings.
Leaders having little experience with online communities may wonder about their cohesiveness, value and permanency, but those who have seen them in action know that increasing accessibility to the church community only enhances the faith experience.
This article is excerpted and adapted fromOrganix: Signs of Leadership in a Changing Church, Chapter 6, "Networks."
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Bob Whitesel (D.Min., Ph.D.) is a foresight coach, professor, and award-winning author of 14 books. For over 30 years, he has guided leaders and churches to pivot and engage what’s next. He holds two earned doctorates from Fuller Theological Seminary and teaches on leadership foresight, church health, and organizational change. His website is www.ChurchForesight.com. Learn More » |
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