40 Days and 40 Bytes

Making Computers Work for Your Congregation

Aaron Spiegel, Nancy Armstrong, Brent Bill

• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
• Year: 2004
• Edition: 1
• eBook ISBN:
  9781566994538
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Christian Church

"Today we are awash in computerized Bible games, pastoral care software, and church management systems with members' personal information and giving records," observe authors Spiegel, Armstrong, and Bill, but "too often we blindly accept and use technology without asking the big questions. Questions like, is it appropriate to our mission and ministry?" 40 Days and 40 Bytes will help your congregation explore technology so you can decide, from a ministry and culture standpoint, what you need to do. The goal: godly service—not technological glitz. The authors are uniquely qualified to help you think about the role of technology in your congregation. All three are staff members with the Indianapolis Center for Congregations, which launched the innovative Computers and Ministry Grants Initiative in 1998 to help congregations address the challenges they face when using computer technology in their ministries. In this book, they share what they have learned in their work with 102 congregations. There's no question your congregation is going to use computer technology. The only question is, "How?" 40 Days and 40 Bytes will help you design technology that fits your ministry and mission.

Table of contents

• Preface
• THE MICROCHIP CHURCH
• Acknowledgments
• 01 A Tale of Two Congregations—and Technology
• 02 If an iMac Was Good Enough for Moses A Brief History of Congregational Computing
• 03 Of Heilsgeschicte and Harddrives Learning Basic Computer Lingo
• 04 Technology Goes to Church A Software Review
• 05 What Has Bill Gates Done for Us Lately? General Business Software and Congregations
• 06 Managing Your Congregation Congregational Management Software
• 07 Preaching and Teaching Worship and Education Software
• 08 Tending the Nets Networks and the Internet
• 09 Disciples of the Disk Creating a Technology Team
• 10 Finding the RAM in the Thicket Designing Your Hardware
• 11 Building the Tower—or Two Assembling Your Hardware and Software
• 12 Eternal Security Protecting Your Congregation’s Systems
• 13 I’ve Got a PC in Glory Land that Outshines the Sun The Future of Congregational Computing
• Appendix A Technology Assessment
• Appendix B Congregational Culture Questions
• Appendix C What Do You Want to Do that a CMS Can Do?
• Appendix D Things You Can Do
• Appendix E Sample Technology Plan budget
• Appendix F Creating a Technology Plan: Summary Sheet
• Appendix G Sample Church: Technology Acceptable Use Policy
• Glossary