Initiative Advocates for Importance of Intertwining Digital and Physical Church
DALLAS, July 22, 2021 – Premier Insight, born from the largest Christian media organization in the United Kingdom, is rolling out its latest project, the Hybrid Church Charter, which outlines a set of principles serving to guide churches in establishing a healthy hybrid model. It seeks to ensure equality and accessibility regardless of how people choose or are able to participate in their corporate church experience.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced churches to move to an online forum in order to keep individuals safe and healthy while also normalizing virtual congregational engagement. As restrictions have lifted and case numbers diminish, churches are returning to buildings and in-person services. However, populations remain who would prefer to join online -- those who are especially vulnerable, those who have disabilities or physical limitations, and those for whom large crowds pose other challenges. Through the charter, Premier Insight hopes to encourage the global Church in the importance of retaining a hybrid church model.
“Church is not only for those who can physically attend,” said Peter Kerridge, Premier Insight CEO. “We can not limit God to the confines of a building -- His people are the Church. Our God is outside of time and space, and when we get caught in thinking the only way to worship Him is inside of a building, we lose sight of what the Church is and cut off access to many of His people.”
A few of the principles the charter seeks to establish are:
Enabling digital participation at church meetings, events and conferences;
Ensuring that the Church both onsite and online provides safe places to explore faith and engage through effective safeguarding procedures;
Engaging in digital outreach, providing evangelism and discipleship opportunities to those that connect online; and
Empowering those with creative, digital and spiritual gifts to become leaders in the church’s digital ministry.
“Theology should, in fact, influence our digital engagement as we extend messages, traditions and community to the people we can’t connect with physically,” said Pete Phillips, Premier Insight Digital Theologian. “For many churches, their largest audience is no longer inside of the building and this is a crucial fact to note when thinking about the future of the Church. We want to reach as many people as possible and that will not happen without the hybrid model.”
Premier is also sponsoring the first of its kind Master’s degree in Digital Theology at Spurgeon’s College, London, England. The program offers students the opportunity to enter theological reflection on digital culture and how it impacts contemporary religious practice, especially within the context of Christianity.
"If you're looking for the future of church, it's hybrid,” said Carey Nieuwhof, Canadian Blogger and Podcaster. “Everyone you want to reach is online and when the church fuses in person ministry with digital ministry, we can reach more people than ever."
Churches can join the charter free of charge to demonstrate a commitment to accessibility, inclusion and digital outreach. To learn more and download a pdf of the charter, visit https://www.premierdigital.info/charter.
About Premier Insight
Through its various programs, Premier Insight offers something unique, born from the largest Christian media organization in the U.K. with 25 years of ministry experience in a post-Christian context, combined with a tremendously rich Christian heritage. Premier Insight seeks to be both a connector and a facilitator that unapologetically points to the unchanging truth and insight of God’s Word in a culture in dire need of redemption.
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