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Best Practices
June 22, 2011

T Merton

"Some of us need to discover that we will not begin to live more fully until we have the courage to do and see and taste and experience much less than usual... There are times, then, when in order to keep ourselves in existence at all we simply have to sit back for a while and do nothing. And for a man who has let himself be drawn completely out of himself by his activity, nothing is more difficult than to sit still and rest, doing nothing at all. The very act of resting is the hardest and most courageous act he can perform."

~ Thomas Merton

IN THIS ISSUE
Tim Garrison wonders how much media in worship is too much
Reading for Pastors: How pastors fail using social media
Quotes: "I always avoid prophesying beforehand, because it is a much better policy to prophesy after the event has already taken place."
News & ideas: Reach NYC newsletter
Events: National Conference on Innovation
Ministry

tim garrisonThe Tyranny of Technological Expectations

by Tim Garrison, Southern California Conference 

 

Last week I attended a wedding in a beautiful outdoor setting. The Pastor who performed the ceremony did an excellent job.  I did notice that instead of a leather bound Bible, he held an ipad in his hand, although an "ipad boy" did not carry it down the center isle and hand it to him!

 

It reminded me of a recent clergy conference I attended. I looked down my row of seats at one of the general sessions and there were countless "blue faces" in the darkened room, basking in the glow of our high tech age.

 

When I was at seminary in 1982 I wrote a paper on "The Positive Use of Television". The premise of the paper was the power of the screen and the need to train ourselves and our children how to best use it. I didn't realize how much of a prophet I was. Almost 30 years later screens are a dominate part of our culture.  Ever wonder how much texting and email-checking is going on during your sermon?  We look down at our "smart phones" and up at the countdowns, video clips and projected song words in church.  Our sermons are visually enhanced by POWER Point. I am waiting for the day we hand out 3-D glasses.

 

When does the medium cross the line from enhancing to surpassing the message?  When does the use of technology create unrealistic expectations?

 

Anyone who uses computers, projectors, screens, enhanced audio and theatrical lighting know that it's a myth that technology makes things easier. The fact is the more you use these current communication tools the higher you raise the level of audience expectation.

 

I must confess to what I call "tech temptation." I love browsing sermonspice.com or faithvisuals.com for the latest countdown or funny video clip. There is nothing more satisfying than a graphically enhanced well designed power point slide, or the amazing movement of the ocean waves on a lyric background slide.

 

The screen has great power. A video clip I used last week positioned scripture using the world "amazing" against scenes of Christ with an updated version of Amazing Grace. People were visibly moved and commented on how much they were impacted by a six minute visual.

 

The challenge for all of us who love and use these wonderful tools, is knowing when our worshipers are so overpowered by TECHnique that they miss the teaching.

 

What do you think?  When has the medium surpassed the message?  Post comments at our Facebook page.Find us on Facebook
Reading for Pastors  

Seven ways pastors fail when using social media. Quote: "We don't spend a lot of time debating the use of pens. ... Now, what if someone came up to you and said: "Please don't send me any notes or expect me to give you any written information. I'm just not into reading and writing." ... Ridiculous, right? Yet, that's exactly the mindset many Christian leaders have regarding social media websites like Facebook and Twitter." (Thanks, Bob Mason).

 

According to the WSJ, charitable giving rose last year, though still not to pre-recession levels. 

 

Should politics be religion-neutral? Possibly, but in the US a candidate's faith still counts - a lot. 

 

Fascinating speech by Trevor Phillips, head of Britain's Equality and Human Rights Commission - claiming that Christians have become more militant than Muslims in that country. Quote: "The most likely victim of actual religious discrimination in British society is a Muslim but the person who is most likely to feel slighted because of their religion is an evangelical Christian."

 

If you had a prominent politician in your congregation, would you still say what you believe? Tim Pawlenty's pastor, Leith Anderson, apparently does.  

 

Is there trouble ahead for congregations who rent public schools for worship services? Possibly. In New York school board v. Bronx Household of Faith, U.S. Circuit Judge Pierre Leval of the U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that having a church service in a school changes the nature of the school, at least for a short time - which may translate into unconstitutionality.

 

An atheist's challenge to the Pledge of Allegiance has expired in the Supreme Court. For now, "one nation, under God" stands. For church-state separation proponents, is this a good or bad thing?

 

France isn't thought of as a particularly pious country - but so many there are embracing the 2012 Mayan apocalypse that a government ministry has warned of the possibility of religious suicides.  

 

To the Point

In honor of Winston Churchill's "Finest Hour' speech in June of 1940, a collection of Churchill quotes:

 

Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.   

 

A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject.  

 

To build may have to be the slow and laborious task of years. To destroy can be the thoughtless act of a single day.  

 

A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.

 

True genius resides in the capacity for evaluation of uncertain, hazardous, and conflicting information.  

 

A man does what he must - in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles and dangers and pressures - and that is the basis of all human morality.  

 

History will be kind to me for I intend to write it.  

 

A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.

 

I always avoid prophesying beforehand, because it is a much better policy to prophesy after the event has already taken place.

 

All the great things are simple, and many can be expressed in a single word: freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy, hope.

 

Although prepared for martyrdom, I preferred that it be postponed.

 

An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.  

 

Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfills the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things.

 

Eating words has never given me indigestion.

 

Ending a sentence with a preposition is something up with which I will not put.

 

However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results.

 

Too often the strong, silent man is silent only because he does not know what to say, and is reputed strong only because he has remained silent. 

News, Ideas & Reminders  

  • For you Catalyst fans: Best rates on Catalyst tickets end on Thursday, June 23rd, so register now. Call 888.334.6569 to speak to a Catalyst Concierge, or register online at www.catalystconference.com. Use Rate Code FOB and receive a ticket price of $199 (savings of $120 off regular prices). Catalyst will sell out, so make sure and register early!
  • Always like to let you know about especially good pastoral communication. Tony Romeo of Reach NYC has a good short e-letter about urban ministries, always good thoughts and ideas. Get on it by writing Tony here.  
Got a tool, resource, site, article, idea or seminar that you like a lot? Share it with us at BestPractices@ameritech.net.  
Upcoming NAD Events

Do you have an event you'd like to invite NAD pastors to? Send details to BestPractices@Ameritech.net.

 

PSI International Conference on Philanthropy. Jun 21, 2011 - Jun 24, 2011, JW Marriott Indianapolis, 10 S West Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204. Planned by and designed for the chief executives and fundraising professionals of Adventist organizations, the conference's goal is to foster vision. Recognized internationally, Principles & Techniques gives you the foundation and inspiration to lead your nonprofit to its financial goals. It provides you with the framework for operating a successful total development program. Phone: 301-680-6133 or 6134.  For more information, email: Chris.Bearce@nad.adventist.org.

 

NAD Festival of the Laity, September 7-10, Dallas  

 

7th Annual National Conference on Innovation: where provocative thinkers collide and engage in meaningful, unexpected conversations. October 2-4, 2011, Crowne Plaza - 33 East Fifth Street, Dayton, OH  45402.  Presenters Include anna Lappe, Gabe Lyons, Ron Stout, Diana Fleming, Sid Lloyd. Online registration here.  

Best Practices is a Vervent publication of NAD CHURCH RESOURCE CENTER. Editor: Loren Seibold, Ohio Conference. E-mail: Best Practices. You are free to republish pieces from Best Practices in your own newsletter or blog, with attribution to the Best Practices newsletter and the author of the piece.