Resource Spotlight: Digital Ministry & Inclusion

This piece by the Rev. Brittany Harrold Porch, published in The Presbyterian Outlook, deepened how I think about what online worship means for people with disabilities. Her argument is a clear one: livestreaming isn't a technical afterthought — for many people with hearing loss, sensory needs, chronic illness, or mobility limitations, it's the only way into the life of a church.

That framing changes what matters. Accessibility isn't just about ramps and captions in the building — it's about whether the camera actually shows a clear picture, whether the audio comes through cleanly, whether someone watching from a hospital room or a quiet living room is ever acknowledged as part of the congregation. Those are inclusion decisions, not technical ones.

The harder question isn't whether to keep streaming. It's who is only there because you do.