Networks and Communities

I'm reading a facinating article from the book The Future Does Not Compute. Here are some of the comments from the chapter titled Networks and Communities:

"It is not surprising that in a culture widely cited for its loss of community, the word 'community' itself should come in for heavy use."

Does the Internet represent "a return to the fundamental dynamics of human existence: communication and community" as Michael Strangeglove writes in The Internet Business Journal?

We talk about online community [MySpace, FaceBook, etc.] all the time (especially where I 'live'). For 'natives' of the digital-cyber age (NetGen) this may be 'real,' for those of us more 'immigrant' it's a hard concept to grasp. I realize and see validity in the cyber community, but I doubt that we, as human beings, can get all of our relational needs met through a distant electric (computer or telephone based) social group. How do you really recieve a hug, handshake or kiss online? Is there more to emotional affirmation? Is not touch (physical sensation) necessary to the well being of the psyche?

Just food for thought.

Back to the article to close (for now): "There is no doubt that physical networks will dramatically affect the form of our communities. But if we fail to distinguish radically between such networks and the personal sources of community, then the only sure thing is that we will continue to degrade what community remains."

Interview with a person who has long served in the Church

The Church was designed, in part, to function for koinia (fellowship); does it serve this function well or is it lacking?

Generally, the way the American church is set up, I don't think it functions that well at fellowship. Small home groups do somewhat better. But if you get into a larger church with busy American lifestyles, most people stay somewhat superficial. I've never been able to see fellowship as a chili feed after carolling around the neighborhood every Christmas, for instance. Or an ice cream party after the church business meeting. People just chat. Chatting doesn't fit my definition of fellowship.

How does effective communication aid the function and process of koinia?

What is meant by "effective communication"?

What connects and has results.

Generally, people (Americans) don't share their hearts and lives in a deep meaningful way unless they feel safe. And safety is usually built over time and consistency and a small enough group setting. If people take time, yes, effective communication can happen.

What has been your experience in the Church: Does it communicate well (both within and without)?

I was in a small church for years that communicated well on some levels within, but was never very good at communicating without. At least, not communicating in a way that made large numbers of people feel like they were part of it. To this day, as dearly as I love many of the people, they have their own "in" language and culture and have no real idea how very exclusive that makes them appear to others. I know how to speak their language, but after being out of the church for years it kind of makes me gag.

Now I'm involved in a larger mainline church where the pastor struggles constantly with trying to find out how we can effectively impact our world for Jesus. But, to be honest, most of us are extremely busy with jobs and family responsibilities, and after doing our best to live as consistent Christians in those settings, there isn't a lot of energy left over for communicating with each other or for communicating to the community from the setting of the church. And people are so hungry to connect that they'll chatter through a few of the worship songs before getting around to joining the worship.

I really think that if our current church just shut its doors, some missionaries around the world would notice the drop in support and grieve. But I don't think in [my city] would notice. And this is a church that does try.

How might communication improve in the Church?

I think communication improves best in the church when there are committed small group settings ... led by a gifted leader who doesn't rely on videos and study questions. Those have been the church settings where I've opened my heart the best. And to this day the people in the small church where we spent 16 years know me better than anyone at my current church over the last seven years.

How does communication relate to and/or effect community?

True community is built and supported by effective communcation. But it's not just going to happen because of a quick book study (like our church did with a month-long book study on Bill Hybels' book Just Walk Across the Room.) True communication takes lots of time and practice. Hype and gimmick and programs don't cut it.

Interview with a Pastor of a Mega Church

The Church was designed, in part, to function for koinia(fellowship); does it serve this function well or is it lacking?

Yes and no, The church was established by God to extend hope to theWorld through a relationship with our creator. We live to glorify God bygoing into the world to seek and save the lost. The church I serve in ismaking a difference. Our focus should be on creating opportunities forfellowship with Jesus, our koinia with each other is just a buy productof our mission.

How does effective communication aid the function and process of koinia?

Coming together to fellowship does create better Koinia and theenvironment fosters better communication. There are several aspects andtypes of communication all have to be effective, timing, polish,demographics, presentation, etc.

What has been your experience in the Church: Does it communicate well (both within and without)?

Are we talking about my church or (The Church)?

The Church.

Bulletins are becoming lessand less effective. Video Adds seem to get better response, I do notthink the announcement loop thing is working well, often the people whoneed to hear the most tend to get to church late and get zero exposure.Currently Phone contact is becoming less and less effective.

Most oftenyou never reach a live person and leaving messages are often not evenheard. Several time a week I hear people call leave a message only to hear back later that "no one ever called me" So in effect we tie up pastors and staff making calls that we get no results from.

The expectation is that the church needs to call at the perfect time andmake live contact. There are as many different schedules as there are people. Seems like everyone wants to believe that they are the only ones that are after something from their pastor. With a church of 5000 people and approximately 15 pastors, That's about 333 potential calls, emails,visits per week or some times two or three times per week. There simply needs to be a better way.

How might communication improve in the Church?

Increase the staff size. Educate people to keep trying, not expectingthat they are so important that the pastor or his staff will put theother 332 people on hold while they get communicated to. They need to believe that their pastor really wants to connect, rather than take thepossition that we don't want to connect.

How does communication relate to and/or effect community?

The better we connect the more people feel loved and then when they feel like a part of the community they invest more and attend more events.This all translates to getting the word of God out into the world. Getting more people to understand how deep, how wide, and how full the love of God is for them.

Interview with a Small Church Pastor

The Church was designed, in part, to function for koinia (fellowship); does it serve this function well or is it lacking?

I think the church at large is lacking in the koinia department. I think this is due to people being “too busy,” and churches being too big. This is not to say that big churches are an inherently bad thing, its just that most attenders of big churches do not avail themselves of the opportunity to be involved in a more intimate, “small group” setting. This could be either because of a lack of motivation, understanding, opportunity, or even a lack of priority placed in it, either by the church or the attender.

At the church I pastor Koinia happens quite often and naturally. It is a smaller church, and we live life in common. Much of what is displayed as genuine fellowship in Acts 2-5 is evident in the church I pastor. We meet each others material needs sacrificially and voluntarily. We do life together, sharing meals and such. It is actually part of our purpose statement to foster a family like atmosphere, believing that this is why they have favor with everyone in Acts 2.

How does effective communication aid the function and process of koinia?

I would say effective communication is every bit as critical for koinia as it is for any other relationship. It promotes intimacy. It keeps people from feeling left out. If there are no needs being communicated, how can the body meet those needs?

What has been your experience in the Church: Does it communicate well (both within and without)?

I think for the most part the church communicates well. Most churches are mechanized enough to be able to offer communication methods such as phone tree, bulletin, newsletter, and some churches enter the technical age of communication with such things as email, web site, forums, blogging, etc. This is only the method of communication, however. One must also consider the content being communicated. I think this is where the church needs to improve.

The effectiveness of the content is at least as important as the method. For true communication to occur the message must be received and comprehended as intended by the initiator of the communication. I think the church assumes the message is getting out there, but is it being understood properly? Do we have a way of confirming that?

I am mainly an emailer. I find it to be most convenient. I mean, gosh, I already spend several hours on the phone anyway, it is nice to be able to sit down to the computer and get message out to as many people as have email addresses. I must remember, though, that there are certain people in our body that either don’t have email, or prefer to have a “real” conversation with someone. I could email them, but that would not be effective. We try to communicate things using as many different methods as possible.

How might communication improve in the Church?

Oh, I think I already started answering that! I think the church needs to focus on the effectiveness of the content, and develop better ways of confirming the message is received as intended.

How does communication relate to and/or effect community?

I believe that community equals fellowship.

Digging a Little Deeper

Before I move on and explore Comm-unity, Comm-unication and Comm-union further, we need to look a bit more at our word "culture." We've looked at the term in light of making yogurt. Here are some other definitions:

1. the cultivation (tilling up) of soil



2. a growth of bacteria intentionally or specially made



3. improvement by study or training, especially of mind, manners and taste (refinement)



4. the ideas, skills, arts, tools and way of life of a certain people in a certain time (civilization; see anthropology)



5. the arts (to be cultured one observes the arts)
   

These are ALL ways in which the Church can be more cultured. "What?" you say, "We're to plant gardens?" It wouldn't hurt if it would feed the hungry, however you probably know it's a metaphor.

It was Jesus that first gave this metaphor in the parable of the seeds. The Great Awakening evangelist Charles Finney spoke also of “breaking up the follow ground” using cultivation as a metaphor for stirring up the human heart. Whether an individual’s heart or the organism of an entire church, God as the farmer, can so turn the dirt that growth and a bountiful harvest result. This, I believe, is the primary reason for existence of the church—growth and harvest.

A healthy church does a lot of soil cultivation. A church that works the earth will have a harvest. And a church cannot grow unless the fields are worked. Put plainly I mean to say that the church will endeavor to fulfill the Great Commission that we all can regurgitate, but often fail to prioritize.

“You go into all the world and preach the good news to all people, baptizing them and teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” ~Matthew 28

So, who goes? You go.
Where? Part of the world? All the world.
Do what?
Preach, baptize, teach.
To whom? Some people? All people.
Teach what? To
do what Jesus commanded.

Pretty simple, huh? Well, simple to break down anyway. Maybe a little harder to put into practice, but that's where we need to start.



Next time I'll be adding some thoughts from interviews I've conducted with pastors and take a look at what THEY say about the church and communication.

A New Thing?

Behold! I Am Doing a New Thing

In the book of Isaiah God says, “Behold, I am doing a new thing; can you not perceive it?”

There’s a lot of talk in church circles today about being “culturally relevant.” It’s a buzz phrase with little or no meaning because it means different things to each person. Many, however, think that the church can become relevant by slapping a screen on the wall and everyone will just get it. Not true at all.

In his book morph! pastor Ron Martoia states, “Electronic technology is a very visible and interesting change going on around us, but other cultural, attitudinal, and spiritual shifts are no less real and just as critical.” His book illustrates many of the ways a church can be relevant, but simply being "hip," technologically or otherwise, is not enough. Just doing something becuase everyone else is doing it is stupid. The church must be intentional. There must be a method to our madness--a good, solid mission in mind will drive our methodology. Anything less is a waste of time, money, and man-power.

I think this all begins with two questions: "Are we efectively communicating the message we wish to communicate?" and "How can we better communicate?" There are several layers to which these questions will apply. Communication must be effective both inside and outside the church. I'll address these ideas and issues over time, but for now just think about them on your own. Let me know your thoughts.