You Are Us, You “Count”
Nearly without fail, the attendance taker on Sunday worship is at a loss on how to count those that watch online. I mean logistically I get it, the attendance taker can only “count” the units that show up in Facebook analytics or chat in while watching live. A “unit” could be one person or three from a family watching together. Denominational institutions require us to annually report attendance numbers. How do we count online viewers?
That, beloved, is the wrong question. Online viewers are not just a number or a “second-class” member. A pandemic informed congregation recognizes that online folks are us. We are each a circumstance or two away from being an online viewer. And even if that isn’t true- what does it matter?
Folks engage in online worship for a variety of reasons. Since moving out of state, I attend, as a ministry partner, online with my congregation [which meets on Saturday evening] in Dallas while living in Kansas. Admittedly, many of the ministry partners are from out of town, completely relying on virtual worship. Because of distance I will not be attending the in person worship times. At the same time, I feel very much part of my community.
The importance of online worship should be reflected by the pastors and the congregation, together. We need to move beyond just having a camera and recording the service (live or YouTube). That is a good place to start, we can always being doing more to have folks viewing feel more of the service - not just peering into a portal. I think where we are still trying to figure out ways in which folks “watching” can become engaged in the life of the congregation. As a pastor of a congregation that is intentionally in a “rebuilding” phase, I feel strongly that online is one of the prominent new church ministry opportunities (for all of us).
The church I currently serve a congregation that is intentionally inclusive of queer folks. We need to be just as intentional in being inclusive of online folks. We seem to acknowledge that many people watch a service online before attending a service “in person.” Yet, equally important are the folks that will remain online “members” because that is what fits their lifestyle.
I certainly do not have the answers, but am willing to continue to explore ways to expand the “walls” of the church. One thing I know for sure is the “screen” is another doorway into the life of the church.
Rev. Laurie Anderson is an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and currently serves as senior minister at Pine Valley Christian Church.
In 2025 PVCC applied, and was awarded, a grant for a transformational ministries with the Kansas Region: “I am thrilled to be working with a congregation who is looking to rebuild who they are as we transform the be the beloved community together.”
She has also served in Dallas, and congregations in Kansas City metro (Overland Park and Raymore) and in Southeast Kansas (Girard).