church technology from Barna

Our friends at the Barna Group released a new study a couple days ago on the use of technology in churches. The survey covered eight applications: large screens, the use of movie clips, email blasts, a church website, a blog from church leadership, a social networking page for the ministry, podcasts, and training via satellite. Only the first has to do with a church's facility, so that's what I'm covering. For the other seven, go here.

If you're using large projection screens at the front of your worship space, you're in good company.

• 65% of Protestant churches have large screen projection systems in their facilities.

In 2000, that number was only 39%. In 2005, it shot up to 62%. It's strange, then, that the number of churches using this system seems to have plateued.

The use of projection screens is related to the size of the church:

• 53% of churches with <>
• 76% of churches with between 100 and 250 adults/week use projection screens.
• 88% of churches with > 250 adults/week use projection screens.

Mr. Barna muses, "Many small churches seem to believe that new tools for ministry are outside of their budget range or may not be significant for a church of their size. It may be, though, that such thinking contributes to the continued small size of some of those churches."

So while we don't necessarily subscribe to the "if you build it, they will come" philosophy in terms of seating capacity - large projection screen systems may be another story. Your congregation may be small, but that doesn't mean it can't be digital. It also doesn't mean there aren't people outside who need to/want to come in.

If you feel it's something you need to do in order to better reach a post-Christian generation, a very traditional church may need to be eased into technology on a Sunday morning. Don't put up a couple screens and blast people with an elaborate multi-media extravaganza. Put up a couple screens and show one, short movie clip to emphasize the sermon. Don't even use them for worship or sermon notes for a while. Explain your heart to minister to teenagers and young adults. There may dissenters, but - well there always will be.