Why Online Churches Are Valid Communities of Faith
It is interesting to me when people want to debate or ponder the validity of online churches or digital communities of faith. My short answer to questions like this is that online community is sometimes life-saving. Anything that promotes life, saves life, and nurtures spiritual life is valid. Whatever strictures we might think must come to bear to create boundaries around or block access to institutional validity collapse, in my view, under the weight of Jesus’ words about the Sabbath being made for humankind, not humankind for the Sabbath. Jesus refused to withhold healing or food from the wrong people or during the wrong day, and so we should not hold back the body of Christ from people who congregate in the wrong venue or wrong modality.
For many queer Christians or strong allies with queer loved ones, finding an “affirming church” is relatively easy. These city-dwellers can do a quick Google search or scan the map on GayChurch.org, and the very next Sunday, you might find them crossing the threshold at a local PC(USA) or Episcopal or UCC (or quite a few other traditions) church.
But what about those living in a rural area where the GayChurch map is barren, with not a red pin in sight? If not for online churches, these people’s options would be to subject themselves to death-dealing theology at a non-affirming church, move to a city, or give up on being in a community of faith. The first option is terrible, the second is simply not possible for most people, and so the third is the most likely outcome. Digital ministry spaces represent the only path for such folks to be part of a community of faith that does not actively undermine and condemn their queer identity.
Two other factors that commend online churches, in my experience, are trauma and accessibility. Some people, whatever their social location might be, have experienced significant religious wounds in their past. Even if they can find a church down the street that might be a good fit, the idea of walking through the door and sitting down in a pew might be unthinkable. Certainly, some people with this background will just be done with church for a time, and maybe forever. But some people, despite the significant trauma, have a profound desire to be in a spiritual community. The ease of signing onto a Zoom call and keeping their camera off might be the exact step they need, the only one they are able to take, when it comes to attending church. And finally, some people cannot physically make it to a local church for health-related reasons. While some congregations do a great job with house visits and communion distribution, an online church allows for homebound folks to gather with an entire congregation, not just visit with one or two people who make rounds.
Whether or not online ministry checks off certain boxes in theologians’ minds or ecclesial handbooks, it is providing a spiritual lifeline to people every single day. And checkboxes were made for humankind, not humankind for checkboxes.
Jon Mathieu is the founding pastor of Harbor Online Community and the community engagement editor at the Christian Century.