PowerPoint and Worship?

March 3, 2004 == MEDIA ADVISORY

PowerPoint used to be seen as a savior for businesspeople needing to give an
effective presentation. Now, says Calvin College professor of communication
arts and sciences Quentin Schultze, many churches are falling into the same
trap with poor results.

"It's ironic," says Schultze, "that people in business are taking a new look
at ways in which to use presentational tools appropriately and effectively.
Meanwhile churches are charging ahead without considering the downsides as well
as well as the benefits."

Schultze addressed some of those downsides in his recent book, entitled
"High-Tech Worship?: Using Presentational Wisely" (Baker Book House). Now, he
will host a free public workshop on using presentational technologies in
worship settings, sponsored by the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship.

The workshop, "Using PowerPoint Wisely in Traditional and Contemporary
Services: A Workshop for All Involved in Planning, Leading and Participating in
Worship," will be held at Calvin on Monday, March 11 from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Joining Schultze will be Calvin Theological Seminary student Steve Koster, who
has conducted a technology survey of all churches in Kent and Ottawa counties,
and Jake Bosmeijer, chief engineer in the department of communication arts and
sciences at the new DeVos Communication Center at Calvin.

Together the trio will demonstrate some of the "best practices" of churches of
all sizes and styles of worship, teaching workshop attendees how to use
presentational technologies appropriately for the benefit of authentic worship.
 Best of all there is no charge to attend.

Last year Koster surveyed all churches in Kent and Ottawa counties in West
Michigan to determine how many are using new technologies and what sorts of
advantages and drawbacks they have experienced.

When asked what motivated churches to adopt visual media technologies, 84
percent of the respondents said "to gain contemporary relevance" and 77 percent
said "to gain youth relevance." Schultze doesn't think the reasons are
necessarily bad, but he does worry that many churches are putting too much hope
in the power of technology alone to revive worship, attract youth, and
evangelize.

He notes that an in-depth study of seven technology intensive churches across
the country -- including CentrePointe in SE Grand Rapids -- found that the real
benefits are much more subtle yet very important. Using technology tends to get
more members involved in planning and conducting worship. It also leads even
more contemporary churches to consider older forms of visual communication in
worship, from sacred dance to greater attention to decoration of the
sanctuary.

Contact Quentin Schultze at 616-526-6290 or via his Web site at
http://www.calvin.edu/~schu

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Received on Wed Mar 3 12:05:52 2004