On multi-site churches:
Likewise, in the preaching itself — the preacher (if using a video feed) really knows very little of the congregation — relationally speaking. The only relationship between speaker and congregation is virtual. And this might be okay if Christianity were merely a set of principles or propositions to be embraced. But Christianity by nature is highly relational and highly incarnational (“The Word became flesh and lived among us…”). The incarnation is the missional DNA for everything that happens as the church seeks to become a faithful witness to and participant in the kingdom of God.
From Brad Boydston
wow, i’m so glad i found your blog! your name definitely sounds familiar (i know and have met a lot of people affiliated with your church)…i found your blog via “kingdom grace’s”. look forward to reading more. 🙂
In the experience I’ve had with a church that went to multi-site video-feed services the body of worshipers was already way too large for there to be many relationships between the preacher and the congregation. Of course, I’m sure there is something to learn about a group of people just by standing in front of them. 🙂
I think about it from a preacher’s perspective: while there is a place for guest preaching in contexts where you do not know a specific community, I cannot imagine preaching week after week to a bunch of people I did not know. My sermons are steeped in my relationships with my congregation. I would love to hear how video-preachers do it!
Margaret,
Fun to “meet” you here! I hear a lot about your church as well!
NorthPoint Community Church, based in Alpharetta, GA does satellite services and the preacher is on 3-D realistic video feed, so it looks as if he’s really there with you. They have a “campus” pastor for each location. They draw thousands each Sunday so it apparently is popular…but is it for the show or the message, or what?
Seems like franchising a brand, in this case, Andy Stanley.
Having never done it, I can’t say what it would be like from a preacher’s standpoint, although it does allow speaking to more people than you could in person…but you’re speaking to the masses and in generalities I would imagine.
Great site! I can’t recall how I stumbled onto you, but you do a great job. Thanks.
Craddock includes an instructive little exercise for preachers in his wonderful book, Preaching. He calls it (if memory serves me well) “What I know about those I do not know.” The idea is simple: compile a list of everything you know about each person you meet. the list is rather long and provides quite a bit of “connection points” for homiletical purposes.
Your point may well be valid re video preachers, but it is nigh unto impossible (imho) to be very involved in the lives of individual parishioners in a church that runs much over a hundred. Add to that the fact that we tend to mask our fears, hurts and failures when we gather, and you have even less difference between the ability of the small church (live) preacher and the mega church/multi-site preacher to “know” church members.
Sorry, I got in a hurry describing the Craddock exercise, but you’re likely familiar with it anyway.
so poignant erika thank you
sorry, that was meant for your missional post