From the Globe and Mail:
Faced with declining enrolment and revenue that will force it to shutter churches on Vancouver Island, the Anglican Church is turning to the social medium where millions of followers already flock: Twitter.
The Anglican Diocese of British Columbia last weekend voted to close seven churches outright and move those congregations to “hub churches.” The meeting, during which several members tweeted updates to followers, came on the heels of an ominous recent report that predicted that the once powerful church was headed for extinction unless dramatic changes occur.
In addition to recommending that churches close, the report described Canada as a post-Christian society and urged a change in attitude to attract new members, including embracing modern forms of evangelism.
Among other things, the report suggested members and lay people go “outside the walls of our parish buildings,” to talk to people about the church and even invite them to a service. Some clergy have already begun this modern missionary work, using social media, such as Twitter and Facebook, to reach new followers.
Rev. Christopher Parsons said the notion of evangelism has traditionally struck a raw nerve among churchgoers, but he argued that the status quo hasn’t worked for years. “Over the years, the church has been able to rest on its laurels,” he said. “You could open the church and its door and people would pour in.” That’s not happening any more.
Canon Parsons, who has his own Twitter account, said finding new faithful through social media isn’t a gimmick. “On the one hand it’s modern. On the other hand it’s incredibly ancient,” Canon Parsons said.
“The idea of doing church differently . . . there are examples of this happening all through the history of the church,” Canon Parson added.
If anything, Canon Parsons drew comparisons to the church and Twitter groups. He attended a recent tweetup, (a social gathering organized by Twitter users), which he described as similar to church.
“The times I’ve gone, they know who I am. They know what I do, so we talk about church. And I say: ‘What is church for you? What is important about this [tweetup]?’ And they say: ‘I find meaning. I find belonging. I find like-minded people.’ I think: ‘This is exactly like church.’ “
This leaves me wondering how Jesus managed with 12 disciples who had no telephone, email, Twitter or Facebook; he did have the Gospel, of course.
Personally and theologically I have no problem with using present day technology to spread the word of God and to encourage people to become members of a Church. That being said, technology should not be a replacement to true Communion. Nothing replaces people gathering together in one place to Worship.
As far as the Diocese of British Columbia goes though, I think this attempt to stop the tide is like using a finger to stop a leak in the damn. It is too little too late. Furthermore it does nothing to address the real problem. Only when they give up their sinful ways(homosexual marriages and clergy, easy divorce and remarriage rules, woman ordination, etc.) and return to following God will they have any hope of reversing their decline.
As the ACNA proceeds with Agnlican1000 the idea of using twitter (and other present day technologies) may provide some opportunities. Let’s not discount this approach simply because it is already being employed by a Diocese of the ACoC.