Chicago, Illinois
2020
To study digitally mediated worship and preaching practices as it relates to the embodied experience, presence, and active participation from the perspectives of the worshipers.
Researcher(s): Lis Valle-Ruiz, Yara González-Justiniano
Academic Discipline: Homiletics and Liturgics
Project Summary
This research studies digitally mediated worship and preaching practices using phenomenological and anthropological methodologies in order to establish the embodied experience, presence, and active participation from the perspectives of the worshipers depending on the technology that the worship leaders employ and what embodied knowledge is transferred depending on the socio-cultural system of human communication that the preacher employs. This research will serve Christian worshipping communities mostly in seminary chapels and in congregations offering worship leaders criteria for discernment of the digital mediations and communication systems best suited for their worshiping community.
What questions have you asked about worship in the past year? List at least two questions that have generated theological reflection and have helped shape your project.
- What is worship?
- What is preaching?
- What does worship and preaching should look like when digitally mediated?
- The study uncovered diverse definitions of worship and preaching among worshipers, pastors, and persons who teach preaching and worship.
- The study revealed how quickly a community get used to a pattern of worship that becomes their expectation.
- The study revealed an emphasis on mastery of technology over orthopraxis.
In what ways has or will your project strengthen the worship life of congregations?
Our hope is that the data will strengthen worship life of congregations by leading them to critical reflection upon their practices of digitally mediated worship and preaching and refocus on the goals of worship and preaching and aligning technology to those goals as a secondary step.
What have been your greatest challenges (or challenging opportunities)
Diversity among study participants resulted in a broad range of understandings and expectations on worship and preaching. This phenomenon represented an opportunity to learn from one another and expand our definitions of what may count as orthopraxis (in this case "right" practice of worship and preaching).
Another challenge was miscalculating the time and effort needed from the researchers and study participants, which resulted in a great disconnection between time and effort required and the compensation offered.
Finally, it is extremely challenging to conduct research during the academic year in a small institution, operated by overworked staff and faculty and in the midst of global and national crises.
What advice would you like to share with other Teacher-Scholars?
Less is More. Be realistic. Compensate fairly. Distribute the tasks.
What products will emerge from your project?
Three short videos sharing and explaining the results of the study, one per aspect of the research question: embodied experience, presence, and active participation during digitally mediated worship and preaching.