Needed but Lacking: Impact of Pastors’ Technology Background During the Pandemic

Abstract

“Needed but Lacking: Impact of Pastors’ Technology Background During the Pandemic” is the first in a series of white papers which identifies specific areas of technological knowledge and digital media experience church leaders needed in order to successfully transition to online worship services during the pandemic. Needed but Lacking, draws its conclusions from the analysis of 50 Tech Talk sessions with 478 congregational leaders hosted by the Center for Congregations in 2020 and 2021, exploring their tech challenges and problem-solving strategies when implementing digital media. The paper explores three key takeaways from the Tech Talks about how pastors will adapt to online streaming: (1) pastors need to learn the basics of how to use media equipment, (2) pastors should have a general understanding of how the internet works and its effects on churches, and (3) pastors need to know how to problem-solve technological problems as they arise.

Tech Trend papers provide a concise, but in-depth analysis of key themes raised in research reports coming out of the Tech in Churches During COVID-19 project (https://www.techinchurches.org). Needed but Lacking offers a response to the report “When Pastors Put on the ‘Tech Hat’: How Churches Digitized during COVID-19” released by the Tech in Churches project in November 2021.