Hybrid Church: Rethinking the Church for a Post-Christian Digital Age

by James Emery White

Publisher:

Zondervan

, 2023

We live our lives in both physical and digital community.

We need to do ministry the same way.

Because of COVID-19, nearly every church in the US was forced to adapt to a quarantine and adopt new ministry strategies, including digital technologies they may have avoided before. When services began to be offered in-person once more, many church leaders said they hoped they'd never have to "live stream" again for the rest of their lives. But then came the shock: people didn't return in droves, and declining attendance steepened. The pandemic had only accelerated the profound cultural changes that were already marginalizing the church and reducing its relevance.

In Hybrid Church, James Emery White argues that the post-pandemic church must commit to a hybrid strategy as the only means to reach a post-Christian culture in a digital age.

This book will help you rethink the church's approach and stretch you to move beyond the mentality of "that's the way we've always done it." First outlining the dynamics and depths of the new realities we face, White then walks you through major ways of rethinking digital community, strategic thinking, discipleship, and outreach—tackling practical topics like:

• How to create an online presence that removes unnecessary barriers to engagement and community.
• How to rethink your church's delivery, both online and in-person.
• How to meet the spiritual and communal needs of a younger, digitally-native generation.
• How to shift from a focus on gathering and attendance to a more biblical vision of togetherness and discipleship.

 

Hybrid Church is written to enable pastors and church leaders to see the positive opportunities in the radical changes of the day and to help model a dynamic new approach to ministry.

Product Details

• Title: Hybrid Church: Rethinking the Church for a Post-Christian Digital Age
• Author: James Emery White
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Print Publication Date: 2023
• Logos Release Date: 2022
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Ebook
• ISBNs: 9780310142973, 9780310142966, 0310142962, 9780310142980, 0310142989, 0310142970
• Resource ID: LLS:9780310142973
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2023-04-21T06:48:47Z

About James Emery White

James Emery White is the founding and senior pastor of Mecklenburg Community Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. He is also adjunct professor of theology and culture at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, where he previously served as the school's fourth president. Dr. White holds MDiv and PhD degrees from Southern Seminary, where he was awarded a Garrett Teaching Fellowship in both New Testament and theology. He has also done advanced university study at Vanderbilt University in American religious history, and continuing education at Oxford University in England. He currently serves on the Board of Reference at Union University, and as the adjunct professor of Christian Theology and Culture at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary/Charlotte. An international speaker and consultant, White is the author of over a dozen books, including such Gold Medallion nominees as Serious Times and A Search for the Spiritual, Christianity Today Book of the Year award-winner Wrestling with God, as well as The Prayer God Longs For and A Mind for God. White also served as the consulting editor as well as contributing author to The Holman Bible Handbook and The Holman Concise Bible Commentary.