Chapter 2
Review of Literature
This study aims to assess the effectiveness of using internet technologies in
every worship service in order to keep the church together and maintain a church
connectedness amid pandemic. This section presents a review of existing literature and
studies regarding the variables under study.
Related Literature
The Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project (2020), emphasizes
about attending and watching religious services in the age of the coronavirus of the U.S
religious attendees. The Americans who said last year that they typically go to religious
services at least once or twice a month, plus those who report having gone in person in
the past month – said their congregation was open and holding religious services at the
time the survey was conducted in mid-July. This includes 55% who say their
congregation is open with certain coronavirus-related modifications in place and 6%
who say their congregation is open and operating normally, just as it did before the
outbreak began. Many houses of worship appear to have opened since April, when 91%
of people who said in a 2019 survey that they attend religious services regularly
indicated that their congregations were closed entirely. A majority of attendees also say
they feel at least somewhat confident that they could safely attend religious services at
their congregation without contracting or spreading the coronavirus. Still, just one-third
of respondents who typically attend religious services at least once a month say they
have done so in the past month. Far higher numbers say they have watched religious
services online or on television. Looking ahead, however, most people indicate they
plan to resume their pre-pandemic religious attendance routines once the outbreak is
over.
Furthermore, the Religion and technology: When the church started using apps.
Retreived (M.T.B.L.P. Haegel, 2015) emphasizes that the American website Life Church
had already launched an app to read the Bible in 2008. With versions translated in more
than 600 languages and audio reading of the Bible, this religious app is the most used
one in the world. Available on Android, iOS and Windows Phone, this app has already
been downloaded more than 140 million times and is currently available in its fifth
version. It was in March 2010 that the Messe Info app was launched in France,
gathering mass schedules, as well as great Christian events. Then in November 2010,
the leading portal of the Catholic Church unveiled its mobile application : Eglise Info,
allowing to follow the latest developments of the Church live. The Diocese of Montreal
launched an app to be closer to its worshippers. Using an interactive map, it is possible
to locate the closest church and to know the upcoming mass. The app also allows to be
informed of the latest events concerning the religion and sends directly to Youtube
links. The app also works as a calendar for the users because of the events and
activities initiated by the Diocese are reported. As an online community for worshippers,
this app acts are a real social media where Catholics can submit a prayer, read prayer
intentions or pray for others. Moreover, the Diocese of Montreal hopes to help out
tourists who want to visit a church, diverting from the original strictly religious use of
the mobile app. However, these examples show and prove that religion and new
technologies are not incompatible.
Related Studies
In a study conducted by Vergel, A. (2010) Using Technology for Ministry: Trends,
Principles and Applications, emphasizes the technology applications that used by the
ministry which are: (a) Church Management Software, (b) email and desktop publishing
software, (c) technologies for virtual presentation, (d) congregational or ministry
websites, (e) webcasting and podcasting, and (f) web 2.0 applications. It showed that
one dramatic trend in American congregations during the last decade has been the
increased use of computer technology, described in detail by the June 2009 report of
the National Congregations Study, a longitudinal survey of a large array of
congregational characteristics and activities in America. The findings point to the
pervasive adoption of technology in American religious communities, even though the
study looks only at three specific implementations: visual projection equipment,
websites, and e-mail applications. More specific surveys of technology use in
congregations have been conducted as part of the Center for Congregations’
“Computers in Ministry Initiative.” The study provide evidence of a wide use of office
suites, i.e., software employed in tasks such as scheduling, record keeping and
publishing. In fact the documented increase in the use of visual projection equipment in
congregations may be construed as a hint of another trend, i.e., the increased use of
presentation software. Some of these applications have displaced previously used office
tools such as typewriters, ledgers, and personal organizers. Others have eased the
production of common congregational communication tools such as visual aids and print
publications, e.g., church bulletins. Beyond these “generic” office applications, however,
there is the phenomenon of Congregational Management Software (CMS), bundled
database tools customized for tracking members, visitors, and finances. Such software
is being widely adopted4 and seems to be evolving in the direction of a web platform
that can be integrated with a church’s website.5 Surveys exploring the use of other
types of technology by congregations would be helpful in gaining a more complete
picture of the use of technology in ministry. Such studies could give careful
consideration to the use of hardware and software to create digital audio, photographs,
graphics, and video, as well as “Web 2.0,” i.e., newer social networking applications. As
it is, inferences on the adoption of these other digital technologies can only be made
from extrapolations or anecdotal data. One example is the increased use of tools to
create and process digital audio, images, and video. This in turn feeds into a new level
of content both for websites and for more dynamic settings such as Facebook. Web 2.0
applications, with their characteristic focus on interactivity and user control, may have
great appeal for religious communities seeking to extend their influence to the Web. For
a sense of how congregations and their clergy are using Web 2.0 applications, it is
worth looking at their use as reported in both the general and religious news media.
Similarly, a study conducted by Christian A. Bolu (2012) on The church in the
contemporary world: Information and communication technology in church
communication for growth: A case study, analyzed the perception of church leaders on
internet usage for church growth programmes, adoption of electronic mails, telephone
and virtual learning environment for communication as well as the deployment of
church ICT infrastructure for church administration and human capital management. To
cater for the huge proportion of the younger membership, the church premises, and all
the meeting halls where members congregate should have internet access. This will
further catalyse local and indigenous software development in Nigeria as stressed by
(Uwaje, 2010). In the light of improving internet enablers and the global threat to mass
gathering by insurgencies, this study examined the adoption of Information and
Communication Technology in contemporary church communication for growth in
Nigeria. After analyzing the perception of church leaders on Internet usage for church
growth programmes, use of electronic mails, telephone and virtual learning
environment for communication as well as the deployment of church ICT infrastructure
for church administration and human capital management, it attempts to identify and
proffer potential structural shift in church growth communication strategy in
contemporary Nigeria.
Moreover, the study conducted by Arthur, J. (2015, March 30) on the use of
online technologies in the small church, it was found out that the online technologies
have a large role to play in the development of small churches and have the ability to
increase the involvement of members in church programmes. The study conducted a
quantitative research that was conducted in the form of a survey of four small churches
in the Johannesburg Metropolitan Area to identify the current usage and the potential
impact online technologies that could have upon the small churches. It was clear that
online technologies offer substantial benefits. Small churches should incorporate the
opportunities associated with online technologies in their strategic plans.
Lastly, the study of Magezi, Vhumani (2015) on Technologically changing African
context and usage of Information Communication and Technology in churches: Towards
discerning emerging identities in church practice (a case study of two Zimbabwean
cities), emphasizes the importance of understanding the various identities of the African
pastor emerging from responses to the use of technology, technological use in
churches, particularly focusing on the changing technological context of Africa. Many
pastors have embraced the use of technology in their religious and ministerial practices.
The study article uses Zimbabwe as a case study to assess and determine technology
use and the responsive emerging identities of pastors. Three identities of pastors arising
from increased technological use in Zimbabwe have been discerned. The first identity is
that of the pastor who is on a par with the world. He is a technology embracer and is as
sophisticated as the congregational members. He is a networker and entrepreneur. The
second identity is that of a pastor who is trailing society and technology. He is a
cautious technology embracer and is a confused technology consumer. The third
identity is that of a pastor in isolation. He is a technology objector, and is unconnected,
ignorant and feels that God is somewhat an enemy of technology.
The literature and studies cited above emphasized the importance of internet
technologies for the congregation in stay connected with their churches. Studies have
shown that many ministries have embraced the use of technology in their religious and
ministerial practices. The use of technology is now a congregational necessity that
comes with significant ministerial advantages. Moreover, studies emphasizes the
intentional use of these technologies has become a valuable tool for congregations to
expand their ability to do more with fewer resources. Technologies have a large role to
play in the development of ministries and have the ability to increase the involvement
of the members. However, some studies suggest that not all members can afford to
have internet technologies and also might have a problem in their geographical location
in adapting good internet connectivity. This warrants the need to examine so as to
make appropriate actions or interventions as may be needed.
