by Ida Smith-Williams and Cynthia Woolever
Three out of four congregations use email to communicate with their members and worshipers. What are they trying to achieve through this technology? Catholic parishes and Protestant churches use email in different ways for different purposes.
First, almost all congregations (the 74% who use email to contact members) use email to disseminate information (such as worship times or current news) and publicize congregational events. Catholic parishes are most likely to say they use email in these ways.
But other uses of email vary by faith group. Catholic parishes say they use email to help their members engage in ministry (89% report they do). And parishes use email to register members for congregational events (two out of three report they do). Protestant churches also use email in these two ways but to a lesser extent.
Protestant churches use email in two different and distinct ways. They report using the technology to inform members of the joys and concerns of other worshipers (76% of mainline Protestant churches report this; 60% of conservative Protestant churches report doing so). Only one in four Catholic parishes use email in this way. Sending devotional messages to members is a second popular use of email among Protestant congregations. Conservative Protestant churches (86%) are most likely to do this kind of emailing. Three out of four Mainline Protestant churches also send out devotional messages.
Congregational use of emails is a one-way street most of the time because congregations send out information but rarely ask for feedback. Only about one in four congregations report that they use email to solicit feedback.
Back in 2001, less than half of congregations were using email to communicate with their members. Congregations have come a long way in embracing Internet technology as a tool for their ministries. Yet their use of Internet technology is less interactive than it could be. Currently, congregational email use is more like an electronic newsletter – information goes out but there is little in the structure to allow for responses. Some congregations are already using social networking technology (such as Facebook or Twitter). These Internet technologies have greater potential for enhancing worshipers’ sense of community and belonging.
For additional information on congregational Web sites, read comments from Mark Chaves here.
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