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Council for Mission webinar on future of ‘Online Church’

Monday May 24th 2021

The Church of Ireland Council for Mission will host a webinar on Zoom on Thursday June 3 from 2-3.30pm on Online Church – Practical Lessons from the Frontline.

Now that in-person worship has resumed, the webinar will look how online worship can continue to be a feature of how the Church connects with people in the future.

Dr Nick Shepherd, a member of the Church of England Digital Labs Conference, will be the keynote speaker. 

Nick writes: “The last year has seen many churches ‘pivot’ to provide online worship and keep connected as a community through digital means. Many commentators see this use continuing as ‘hybrid’ models of physical and digital meeting become ‘normal’. This session explores some of missiological and pastoral benefits this might provide and reflects on the theological basis for approaching worship and Christian community in this context.”

Three Church of Ireland rectors from across the island of Ireland will tell their stories of remaining online as the Covid-19 restrictions ease and they share how they believe that livestreaming church online can be a missional opportunity. 

Each of the rectors will lead a webinar about their online journey, the technologies they have used as well as reflecting on why they do it. They might also confess some of their many mistakes and bloopers!

The Rev Nicola Halford is rector of Enniscorthy and Monart Union of Parishes in Ferns Diocese, Co Wexford.  She has a web camera in her church and uses Facebook Live from her smartphone to livestream her services.

The Rev Andrew Quill is rector of Holy Trinity Dromore, in Clogher Diocese. Andrew also uses Facebook Live, and has integrated graphics and recorded many hymns and worship songs in the form of videos that can be used in their online services.

The Rev Cliff Jeffers is rector of Fanlobbus Union of Parishes in Cork Diocese and has been using Zoom to stream services online to Facebook and control the video feeds, including PowerPoint and videos of hymns, interviews and parishioners participating live from their homes.

The webinar will be presented on Zoom by the Church of Ireland Council for Mission.  It will be recorded so that those who cannot attend will be able to view it at a later. 

The timetable for the webinar will be as follows:

• 2.00pm            Welcome – Dean Tim Wright (Kildare) – Council for Mission
• 2.05pm            Keynote address by Dr Nick Shepherd
• 2.30pm            Webinar 1 – Rev Nicola Halford – ‘Keeping it simple’
• 2.40pm            Webinar 2 – Rev Andrew Quill – ‘Integrating graphics and Videos’
• 2.50pm            Webinar 3 – Rev Cliff Jeffers – ‘Online participation’
• 3.00pm            Breakout Groups (participants can choose which one they attend).
• 3.20pm            Plenary session – bringing back together – Rev Adam Pullen
• 3.30pm            Finish

To book a place at the Online Church – Practical Lessons from the frontline Seminar, please email the Rev Colin McConaghie, Secretary of the Church of Ireland Council Mission, by Monday May 31 at councilformission@ireland.anglican.org

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