Growing Community Everywhere

I get tired of seeing the constant debate about online vs "real" community,  as if one had nothing to do with the other.  BOTH are a piece of a whole.  Community is realtionship,  and tools help us to explore relationships.  Online community tools enable conversations to continue,  or perhaps even to start and migrate into face to face meetings between people who have found commonality online.  It also allows face to face conversations to continue in an environment where it can be expanded at times convenient to all parties,  and lead to increased motivations to meet together in person,  or to "show up" where particpants to these conversations are gathering. 

The serendipitous engagement with issues dear to the heart of participants that is often not likely to happen in the highly programmed "public events" can be hosted online in a way which can be "found" online easier than in the usual "mass gatherings" that dominate Church programs and schedules.  Searches and Forum listings can list subjects and highlights of discussion that can be sampled by visitors,  giving them a much more specific indication of whether that conversation holds something for them.  In most large group gatherings,  we are not aware of the ongoing conversations among smaller groups which which could be a point of common concern with us.

Online conversations provide a way to expand the reach of dialogue around a range of issues.  The way that forum conversations and Weblogs can move forward and also allow newcomers to "catch up" by being able to enter the beginning of a conversation gives the online community a unique way to contribute to community.  It has a way of contributing a historical perspective which is closely related,  I think,  to the way the Scriptures provide a way for the community to share a history.

Online Community is not, therefore,  primarily a danger to traditioanl community,  but rather a new dimension which can be a port of entry for online seekers.  Someday,  hopefully soon,  I'll be able to demonstrate this in the context of my paid vocation.  It has already been a way through which I have been introduced to so many of my present friends,  and a way for people to get to know more of me. 

My original post which linked to this article: Engaging the Church Audience

© Copyright 2003 Dale Lature. Last update: 9/23/2003; 3:39:56 PM.