Bill Moore's Rationale
for a Church Website.
Why does a parish Church need a worldwide website?
Ans:
When I was a teenager, one of my beloved pastors
told me that one possible
reason that Our Lord appeared on this earth
when He did (to the extent that we dare to
probe into the Mind of the Almighty)
is that the Roman Empire had the best
worldwide communication, up to that time or since,
with the exception of now.
The fact that Saint Paul could commute
between Jerusalem and Rome in a few weeks,
and could communicate with congregations
in Latin or Greek all along the way,
was pretty amazing in those days.
My pastor could not have foreseen
the Internet. The Appian Way is replaced
by the information superhighway;
Latin is replaced by English;
clay tablets are replaced by keyboards;
and the Roman alphabet is still here!
The Internet is alive with chat rooms
on every religious topic that you could imagine.
If Jesus were alive today, I'll bet that
He would have a home page on the web.
Parish churches are the foot-soldiers of Christianity.
Every parish church with a serious mission
in the community should exploit this modern
tool of communication.
Who discusses Christianity on the worldwide web?
Ans:
Probably most of the intense Internet discussants are teenagers
or immediate post-teenagers.
These teenagers are talking about
the fundamental issues of religion
with the world.
Remember, Our Lord was barely
a teenager when he began His ministry,
debating with the Rabbis in the temple (Luke 2:41-52).
The more main-line Christian churches
need to get more involved in this drumbeat.
How do you start up a Church website?
Ans:
I don't know the general answer to this question,
but I can tell you about the our experience.
First, you have to encourage a techie
or two in the congregation to set up a website.
It doesn't hurt if the rector uses email and the Internet,
and that there are a few established email junkies
in the congregation.
The techies should think of themselves
as the St. Matthews and St. Lukes of the third millennium,
getting out the good news on the Internet.
How do you finance a Church website?
Ans:
Financing is a significant issue.
Website costs start at a few hundred dollars per year,
including an email address for the rector,
which is absolutely essential.
Presumably the church office at least already
has a computer for printing up church documents.
If not, then your church is really living in the dark ages,
and it is amazing that you get the Word of God
out beyond shouting distance.
If your church is this benighted,
then you probably won't find a sympathetic ear
even for using nineteenth century tools of communication.
An Internet setup costs enough money
that the average impecunious vestry
probably won't spring for it.
It is ideal if you can identify
a member of the congregation
who will underwrite the effort,
without affecting his/her pledge,
in exchange for some editorial control of the website.
What should be the Vestry's role in a Church website?
Ans:
As close to none as possible.
Vestry non-involvement can be a big plus,
because vestries notoriously
act IN THE FULLNESS OF TIME
to carry out small tasks,
and slowness is the enemy of the Internet.
It's a good thing the Jesus
did not have to obtain permission,
before He began His ministry,
or else His Death and Resurrection
would still be pending vestry approval.
How do you get a Church website started?
Ans:
After you have a willing techie and
a source of financing, the rest is gravy.
The beauty of the web is that it is
a huge community, where everybody is
exchanging ideas and web-programs.
You can start by
stealing website logos, colors, and designs
from the Episcopal Church of Christ the King (ECCTK) website.
In fact, we would have no way to stop you if you did.
Our webmasters would be delighted
to correspond by email with any future
Church webmaster.
What is the website of the
Episcopal Church of Christ the King (ECCTK)?
Ans:
http://www.ecctk.org