September 14, 2005
Survey Shows Church Shift to High Tech
Churches are replacing pew Bibles with large-screen projection systems.
A new study shows that during the past five years, Protestant churches have been incorporating technology into their ministry efforts at a brisk pace.
The study indicates that double-digit growth has occurred in relation to the use of websites, large-screen projection systems, electronic fund transfer, satellite broadcasting technology, and the use of e-mail blasts for congregational communication.
During the same period, a decreasing percentage of churches have used “pew Bibles” in their sanctuaries.
Church Websites
Nearly six out of every ten Protestant churches (57%) now have a website. That is up from just one-third of all Protestant churches in 2000, an increase of 68%.
Large-Screen Projection Systems
More than six out of every ten Protestant churches (62%) presently use a large-screen projection system in their communications. That is up 59% since 2000, when just 39% used this technology.
E-Mail Blasts A majority of churches sends e-mail blasts to their congregations. Such technology was relatively inaccessible to churches at the start of the millennium, but 56% now rely on the process for reaching their people.
Electronic Funds Transfer
Once considered a “killer app,” EFT has expanded, but not at the rate many experts anticipated. In 2000, only 7% of churches offered EFT as a means of donating money to the church; in 2005, only 12% do so.
Satellite Dishes
Receiving communications via satellite broadcast has had the smallest growth of any of the technologies studied in this research, rising from a 7% share of the church market in 2000 to just 8% in 2005.
Video and Live Dramas
Six out of ten Protestant churches (61%) integrate video content into their worship services. That is double the proportion of Protestant churches that did so just five years ago. Incorporating live drama into worship services is also typical these days, with 62% of churches using such presentations in those settings.
Pew Bibles
Traditionally, churches have made Bibles available for use during services by visitors and others who did not have a Bible with them. Known as “pew Bibles,” the necessity of providing such volumes has diminished with the advent of big screens that show biblical texts during the service. That helps to explain the reduction in the number of churches that provide pew Bibles, from 86% in 2000 to 80% today.
(Barna)
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