Comments on: The End of Worship Media (As We Know It)

By: kernelpanic3

kernelpanic3 — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 02:00:03 +0000

…and here I thought I was alone with the idea a professionalism as a “needed and wanted” trait in the sanctuary. Glad to hear there is a core of similar minded people!

I am struggling with two outlooks at our church; 1) I deeply desire more professionalism and focus/alignment in our worship service and sermon message screen content and I desperately try to accomplish this. 2) There seems to be a lack of importance attached to the above by staff. As if its not really needed to convey the message. If I don’t take the steps to push the technology, they’ll go ahead without it – no big deal.
Sure there are occasional congregation who come up after and say, “My was that a wonderful picture during such and such a song,” or “Neat video clip you showed this morning.” But no drive on the part of staff to support development of this ‘focus and alignment’ or improvements to the underlying equipment and technology providing the visual connection.

How can I light fire under these guys?

By: Daniel Hahn

Daniel Hahn — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 02:58:03 +0000

Very well put! It’s way past time for churches to stop proving to the world that we halfway do things! We’re God’s people, and we’re blessed with talent. Can we please get rid of the pixellated images and rough cut videos and get on with some professionalism!! Thanks for that call to excellence!

By: A Week Has 5 Days #2 « Calum Henderson

A Week Has 5 Days #2 « Calum Henderson — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 00:01:15 +0000

[...] The End of Worship Media [...]

By: Brett Allen Pfender

Brett Allen Pfender — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 23:41:02 +0000

My friend, I’m glad you took the time to read my post and respond to it. Yes, I am aware of your early work, as well as that of your successor, at Ginghamsburg. I own The Wired Church and I’ve read it. I believe I got the timeline correct in my post. If I’m not mistaken, your reply confirms that. I accept your suggestion that I learn more about the history of my business as the brotherly helping hand I’m sure you intended it to be. We all have lots to learn. But, this isn’t about business or history. It’s about your incendiary email. What a strange way to invite conversation about the state of media use in worship today: Ridicule it, dismiss it, and replace it. If it is a conversation you seek, then let’s engage in one. But, before doing so, let me suggest that you re-read your email through the eyes of pastors and volunteers whose body of work over the past ten years deserves more than your dismissal.

By: The MO Guys

The MO Guys — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 04:13:23 +0000

Kenyon, thanks for your post. I (Len) wish we could summarize the scope of what rattles around in our brains into one comment. Another poster below you, Marilyn Weiler, did a pretty nice job of outlining some of the basics. Basically we?Äôd make the theological argument that advocates bible as narrative, and worship as an extension of bible, making worship narrative. And we?Äôd suggest from a communication systems perspective that what is still emerging re: digital technology, image, art, screens and the like is just the very beginnings of epochal shift beyond our comprehension, just like Gutenberg?Äôs press created an epochal shift. And that ultimately changes in the way we communicate will alter how we practice our faith. Scary stuff. Hopefully our conversations will just stay verbal and not lead to blows as they did 500 years ago!

Check that link above, Communicating Visually, as a starting point. I hesitate to offer any how-tos in this space, although we do elsewhere on our site, because the foundations are what we think need the most exploration. It sounds like you?Äôre doing some good stuff at your church, and moving from a generic background to what we call the “illustrated text” approach is a good stepping stone. We?Äôd suggest you read some of our books, particularly Digital Storytellers and Taking Flight, for a more in-depth look, or for the free version check out the Big Ideas section under Reading on our site. Also read Len Sweet’s writings, particularly Post-Modern Pilgrims.

By: The MO Guys

The MO Guys — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 03:59:04 +0000

Thanks for your post Brett. We realize you have a business to run and we certainly don’t want to imply or suggest that people not use your products and services.

We would suggest you learn a bit about the history of your business. I (Len) started the media ministry at Ginghamsburg, the church of which you speak, in 1995. I began leading workshops and conferences on the ministry in 1996. Jason joined me at Ginghamsburg in 1997 and we wrote-designed our first book, The Wired Church, in 1998. At the time there wasn’t much out there for church professionals about media ministry. Ask our friend Tim Eason about us if you want some perspective about the state of things in the mid-90s.

By nine years ago, when we left Ginghamsburg, we had seen enough to write this post, and in the hundreds of church visits around the country since, our opinions have sadly remained the same. We have been advocates for excellence and artistry in worship media design since we started, and for the most part the need for this advocacy remains. And while we certainly don’t mean to offend you, other commenters here, or anyone, it needs to be stated, that this is largely due to the lack of a deeper biblical and theological understanding of the screen as a communication system. We would love to be a part of a conversation about how to improve the foundations upon which we all work.

For a possible starting point on this conversation, we would suggest our Communicating Visually series.

http://www.midnightoilproductions.com/reading/communicating-visually/

We wish your business well.

By: Brett Allen Pfender

Brett Allen Pfender — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 03:16:38 +0000

Folks, your goals are laudable, but the accusatory tone of your email is not. Contrary to your assertions, “worshippers everywhere” have not been subjected to an endless parade of mediocrity. The explosion of media creativity didn’t occur just five years ago. I’ve been creating media for and consulting with churches for a decade. Tim Eason, founder of ChurchMedia.net, was a trailblazer a dozen years ago with online resources, the first online church media community, and workshops that crisscrossed the country. Large churches such as Ginghamsburg Church in Ohio and Willow Creek in Chicago launched excellent creative workshops for churches of all sizes ten years ago. My point is that there is a vast community of creative people which has been improving the quality and relevance of worship media, year after year, for years now. I’m a part of that community as are you. There are also a couple dozen other folks just like us who have made this a full time or, at least, part time effort. I’m sure we all want to continue to develop this one area of the church life in which God has directed our talents and assist others in doing the same. But, your email paints of portrait of gaping-mouthed idiots standing in middle of their sanctuaries who stare at blank PowerPoint screens wondering when some enlightened, serious person is going come along and reveal to them how stupid they’ve been all these years. Brothers, we can get plenty of condescension from the secular world.

By: Rev. Marilyn Weiler

Rev. Marilyn Weiler — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 19:44:52 +0000

I agree wholeheartedly with your desire to go to the next level. I am soooo tired of just words on a colored screen or unrelated pictures that are just “pretty” backgrounds like I see at other venues of worship. I too was influenced by your thematic images. I saw them as “stained glass windows” picturing our theology in a contemporary way. When I started using the projector technology, I was designing worship around Dr, Leonard Sweet’s EPIC model–experiential, participative, interactive, and connective. The service focused on God’s Word and EVERYTHING else evolved out of the sacred Word. The goal was to experience the presence of God NOT to impress folks with projected whiz bang. The visual was an integral part of the experience and contributed to connecting the Word with the people in a visual way throughtout the service but not in an “IN YOUR FACE” way or disjointed way with images changing with every slide. Howard Garner’s work regarding the way people learn (The Seven Intelligences) tell us that people learn in different ways and if we want to reach across our entire congregation, we must offer the Gospel in more than a verbal way. Thank you for leading the way to the next level of using current technology–the theological level.

By: Bill

Bill — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 18:22:26 +0000

I hear where you are coming from and don’t entirely disagree. We try to avoid simply using a pretty background (though as Kenneth said, why not show a beautiful flower filled field when displaying the lyrics to the Hymn Sweet Beulah Land?) but one of our biggest problems is that our pastor very often feels led by the Spirit late Saturday night or even Sunday morning for the message he’ll deliver and it’s clear God works through him. From a media standpoint, it’s difficult to prepare without planning. Though I do plan to meet with him soon to discuss developing presentations around biblical topics he will probably cover at some point in the coming months. It’s my prayer that God will lead us all with whatever tools He’s blessed us with. At my church we need to constantly be reminded that our work is a ministry as well.

By: Kenneth Keifer

Kenneth Keifer — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 15:59:27 +0000

It would seem to me, that you want to take the use of projected media as communication to a higher, deeper level. That is noble. But I don’t understand why you have to trash other media elements, components, and tools to elevate and make your point. For instance, why does nature footage or floral backgrounds (“Holy Flower Gardens” as you condescendingly call them) have to be bad for what you advocate to be good. You should aspire to the former without trashing the latter.
Every piece of media cannot be an all-inclusive package that communicates a message or truth with great profundity. That’s great if one does that and that’s where you direct your focus. But sometimes a worship leader or preacher just needs a background for the message in song or sermon they’ve already developed/decided upon. Some media isn’t provided to be a “foundation for our forward movement.” Sometimes you just need beautiful backdrop imagery for a Scripture, quote, or song that enhances it, not steals the show.
One could, for instance, negatively comment on your frequent utilization of fast time-lapse clouds by saying, “Where’s the theology? Why does it have to look like bad 80s music video?” I don’t want to make those comments myself but someone could, and, they would be snide and wrong to do so. Other media outlets could be made fun of for their incredible array of “grunge” and growing vines (and other “cool” video FX). Again, it would be wrong to make such comments.
Please go forward. But remember as you do that Christ himself used “lilies of the field,” sparrows, trees, and more as “metaphor” to communicate and it was through Him that those were created. Videography/photography can provide powerful imagery to present OR just merely adorn a message. Media, presentation, illustration, story, metaphor; these aren’t the message. They are the vehicle for communicating the message.
Your media is great and you are better than having to “put a stake through media as we know it.” By all means, go deeper. It is a good thing. However, please refrain from the shallowness of being critical to boost your point. To enjoy a steak, I don’t have to trash broccoli. Please, as you have done so well, continue communicating the Gospel of Jesus but don’t trip on the ever-popular emergent trend of acting as though only you have a “handle” on the proper, primo, and profound way of “doing church.” Hope you see what I mean and know that I appreciate the core of what you are saying. Keep putting out your great media and providing provocative discussion on what it is that we do and communicate.