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Technology in Protestant Ministry

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Abstract

As Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) have entered homes and more, so Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) research has expanded to examine new motivations for coordination and communications. Recently this has grown to include a focus on religion. But, yet, while the uses of ICTs by practitioners of a variety of faiths have been examined, far less is known about how officials within religious institutions adopt, use and reject ICTs. In this paper, we report findings from a study of American Protestant Christian ministers’ use of ICTs. We present findings and discuss the use of systems in church management, worship, pastoral care, and outreach, and the challenges in integrating ICTs into religious practice. Despite these difficulties, we found that ministers, chose to experiment with ICTs because of their ability to sustain, reinforce and grow their church (laity and ministry collectively) community.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the Intel Corporation for both their sponsorship and support of this research, and Paul M. Aoki and Genevieve Bell in particular. Thank you to all the ministers who took time to explain how technology has infused their faith community. Lonnie, we miss you.

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Correspondence to Rebecca E. Grinter.

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Grinter, R.E., Wyche, S.P., Hayes, G.R. et al. Technology in Protestant Ministry. Comput Supported Coop Work 20, 449–472 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10606-011-9136-0

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