This network aims to support
communities of faith seeking to enhance their ministry through technology. It
offers regular webinars and an interactive forum where participants might explore
topics such as theology, digital discipleship, ethical tech decisions, and
practical implementation.
- Regular workshops and webinars
- Peer-to-peer learning through discussion forums
- For both clergy and lay
- All experience levels welcome
- No question too big or too small
We’re excited to encounter God in these new ways!
Schedule for Fall 2024
September 24th 7:30-8:30 ET
Building a Sound Foundation for Worship with John
Bedell
The starting point of church “tech” is your sound
system. No matter what size your church is, it is essential to get the
most out of your system to emphasize clarity of spoken word and proper
reinforcing of music and song. Whether you’re trying to get the most out of
your old sound system or you’re looking at upgrading, join us as we discuss
terminology, planning and preparation, basic components, setup, control, and
challenges/troubleshooting.
John Bedell has been involved in church tech for decades
leading up to the creation of "Niagara Online Worship", a mobile
live-streaming project for Niagara Region United Churches in 2012, and creation
of the Facebook help forum "Canadian Churches That Live-Stream"
during the pandemic. Currently, John is the tech lead at St. John's
Stevensville United Church, where Niagara Online Worship is based.
October 16th 7:30-8:30 ET
Can’t See That! Best Practices for Projection in Worship
and Ministry with Sonja van de Hoef-Fraser
In a mere decade or so, using projection and slides in
worship and other gatherings has become the norm for many communities of faith.
But with so much flashy software out there, how do we know if our slide design
is as effective as possible? Join us for a conversation about how to make your
projection as clear and inclusive as possible – whether your worship is
in-person or hybrid.
SONJA VAN DE HOEF-FRASER, MMus is a Candidate for Ordination in
the UCC, entering her final year of studies at Atlantic School of Theology.
Prior to answering the call to ordination, Sonja worked for 20 years as a
choral conductor in sacred and secular settings. In her role as a part-time
instructor at the Don Wright Faculty of Music, Western University she gained
experience using visual technology to aid instruction in choral conducting.
Sonja resides in Mitchell, ON with her husband, Rev. Marc Fraser (PCC) and
their two sons. Sonja is passionate about continuing to learn and share best
practices for using technology in worship.
November 20th 7-8:30 ET
Spirit(s) of Tech: A Conversation
with Andria Irwin and Jason Byassee
The digital world provides many new opportunities to engage with
our neighbours “out there”. But how and why we do that are important things to
keep in mind as we faithfully engage tech for ministry. Beyond just advertising
events, how do we create disciples and live out our faith in the digital space?
How do we welcome people who may never set foot in our buildings to our
communities of faith? Authors of the book, Following: Embodied Discipleship
in a Digital Age, Jason Byassee and Andria Irwin will lead us in a
conversation on how to think through these issues theologically, and share
their thoughts on the future of tech and ministry.
