A study by the Centre for Rural Policy Research at the University of Exeter and the Arthur Rank Centre in the UK showed that 50% of those surveyed have been live-streaming services or using Zoom to worship.
One person said: “I have loved Zoom church. Seeing people’s faces; the equality where we’re all reduced to a square on a screen. The power of Zoom to bring together parishioners from a parish benefice; the simplicity of being able to worship from home and the opportunity for different types of worship.”
Some participants believe that the churches left out older, less tech-savvy members and those who do not have access to the internet.
National Rural Officer for the Methodist and United Reformed Churches in the UK, Reverend Elizabeth Clark said that churches are those who struggle with technology and believes online services will become permanent.
“There are ways that church communities are helping with that: we’ve got younger people in the church community. They can, over the phone, teach you how to get online… I think there’s potential there, certainly for small, very dispersed congregations to perhaps come together in different ways once the church is open.”
“I know there is one rural church that used to have a weekly prayer meeting. They put it in a drafty church hall and used to get three people attending. Now they get 15 people via Zoom, and everybody’s much more comfortable. Even if they could meet face to face, they are still going to do this as their prayer meeting online.” – Reverend Elizabeth Clark
45 per cent of the respondents prayed more during the pandemic while 35 per cent believe that they are closer to God.
Technology has facilitated many new people joining, Rev Clark wants to encourage people to pray for inclusivity.
“I think we need to give thanks so many people have been able to worship in this way,” she said. “And be careful not to leave anybody behind.”
Source: Premier Christian News
