Two free ebooks explore issues around online Church during the coronavirus pandemic:
The Distanced Church: Reflections on Doing Church Online
Traditional churches have had to make an unplanned and swift transition towards technologically-driven forms of gathering due to the coronavirus pandemic.
This free ebook, edited by Heidi Campbell, includes the reflections of Church leaders on what it has been like to think through and implement new ways of doing church online, including a piece from Albert Bogle of the Church of Scotland.
It also has insights from a diverse group of international theologians and media scholars on what their research has to offer those negotiating their use of digital media and platforms in this new context. Those contributing include Tim Hutchings, University of Nottingham; Bex Lewis, Manchester Metropolitan University; and Pete Philips, University of Durham.
It can be downloaded from the Texas A&M University website.
Everybody Welcome Online
This ebook extends the training course for in-person church, Everybody Welcome. Authors Bob Jackson (Visiting Fellow St Johns College Durham) and George Fisher (Retired Director of Mission Lichfield Diocese) have asked many churches for stories and wisdom in the early weeks of lockdown of the Church.
It tries to make sense of what is happening, looks at who is being attracted to online Church and why, how best to communicate with and welcome everyone online, and what churches should be doing to prepare for ‘Unlock Sunday’.
It can be downloaded from the Centre for Digital Theology at the University of Durham.
