The Wired Church: Information Technology and the Local Church

Catalog description

This course examines the ways in which information technology may be used to enable and enhance the congregational life and ministry of the 21st century local church. It will provide an overview of technologies that are available including such tools as church management software, financial software, and communication tools, examine principles governing effective implementation of technology in the local church, and illustrate these with case studies of effective implementations. Students will explore the positive and negative impact of the Internet as a tool to enable ministry and as a vehicle of communication to internal and external audiences. The budgeting and strategic planning aspect of technology use will also be examined. The course builds upon a foundational consideration of the "theology" of technology, the ways in which technologies shape message and interactions, and the ethics connected with the creation and use of technology.