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Technology and the Church

Information & Communication Technology

What is ICT?

Information & Communication Technology, or ICT is any technology that is used to communicate information, which can be images, text, sound or video. It has been around for a long time - inventions like the telephone and television count as ICT. But it has really come to the fore in recent years with the rapidly expanding use of computers, fax machines, mobile phones, and of course the internet. This has led to a lot of new possibilities for churches, not only in day to day communication, but also in services, study groups, and spreading their message to the outside world. 

What about the wider impact on society? 

Some people have argued that the growth of ICT could be seen as creating a gap between the 'information rich' and the 'information poor'. Technology to receive e-mails and access the internet costs money. This could also be seen as exacerbating inequality between rich and poor countries across the world.

But in its favour ICT is leading to some positive changes. ICT training and jobs are booming in places like India and China, helping development in those countries, and helping to raise the general standard of living.

Here in the UK the government has invested effort to make ICT available to as many people as possible. Now you don't even need a computer to access the internet, it is possible to use mobile phones and Digital Televisions. 50% of homes are now connected to the internet, and as many as 96% of the population are aware of a place where they could get on line if need be. See the UKonline Annual Report 2003 into the spread of internet use.
http://www.e-envoy.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/00/60/69/04006069.pdf

What about spam, computer viruses, and the darker side of the internet?

These are some of the disadvantages that can put people off getting connected to the internet. But there are now several easy ways to block out the unwanted from your computer screen and e-mail inbox.

On the whole the advantages of speed, convenience, and long term savings mean that the new technologies are set to become a fact of life for everyone in the future.

In the end the technology is just the medium. It's there to spread the message, to be used for God's purposes - as John Wesley did in the days when information & communication technology had four legs and a tail...

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See also Using Technology in Worship and Mission (PDF 198K)

Print this resource out as a double-sided A5 booklet