{"id":880,"date":"2009-09-16T04:01:53","date_gmt":"2009-09-16T04:01:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/markdroberts\/2009\/09\/christian-web-conference-a-review.html"},"modified":"2009-09-16T04:01:53","modified_gmt":"2009-09-16T04:01:53","slug":"christian-web-conference-a-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/2009\/09\/christian-web-conference-a-review.html","title":{"rendered":"Christian Web Conference: A Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last week I participated in the Christian Web Conference<\/a> at Biola University in La Mirada, California. I represented The High Calling of Our Daily Work<\/a>, a sister ministry of Laity Lodge, which helped to sponsor the conference. The CWC is the newest update of GodBlogCon, a conference originally focused on blogging. Now the conference looks at a wide range of online media, especially social media such as Facebook, etc. I thought I might share with you a few observations about the CWC.
\nFirst, I was impressed once again by the hospitality of Biola University, especially the Torrey Honors Institute<\/a>. This institute was the main sponsor of the CWC, and the Torrey students were the heavy lifters for planning and programming. They did an exemplary job. The Torrey students are bright, committed, and hard-working. They are well on their way to being the top leaders of the future. Dr. John Mark Reynolds, founder and director of the Institute, has done a fantastic job. He and his people are to be highly commended. (Photo: Biola University)
\nSecond, I was impressed by the maturing of Web-based ministries. When we first got together at GodBlogCon, most of us were just beginning to expore the power of the Internet. Now, many of the participants and leaders at the CWC are wise and sophisticated users of the Internet. The original euphoria about the power of blogging and the Web is mostly gone, replaced by a more grown up perspective on its benefits and detriments.
\nThird, that’s not to say that some people aren’t\u00a0 dangerously ensnared in the Web and its allurements. I was impressed (and, frankly, distressed) to have several conversations with people who are truly convinced that its is possible to have church that is 100% an online experience. That’s right, no human contact that is not mediated by the Internet. “What about the sacraments?” you ask. Some of the folks at the CWC were seriously arguing that one could even have communion and practice baptism virtually, by using web cams, texting, etc. No joke! Let me add that many of the leaders of the CWC, while seeing potential for the Internet to help the church, are strongly opposed to the idea that one could have a full church experience via the Internet alone. Neverthless, the idea is out there and thriving in some circles. It is closely related to the growing popularity of multi-site churches, where, for example, a preacher preaches in one location, and is beamed to several others.
\nFourth, I was reminded again of the fact that the Internet is simply a tool, an extremely powerful tool, but only a tool. It can be used for all sorts of purposes, but is, itself, rather purposeless. We who use the Internet need to employ it wisely for the work of the kingdom of God. This is not as easy as it sounds.
\nFifth, one of the highlights of the CWC was a guided tour of Downtown Disney by Mel McGowan, one of its chief designers. It was fascinating to hear a world leader of architecture and urban planning talk about how he and others envisioned the amazing space that adjoins Disneyland and California Adventure in Anaheim, California. Mel, who is a vibrant Christian, is now putting his immense creativity to work in Visioneering Studios<\/a>, a company that seeks to give visual and spatial expression to “re-integrate sustainable Christ-centered community into urban redevelopment and new mixed-use community development globally.” Through what some have called “architectural evangelism,” McGowan and his colleagues seek “to tear down the walls that separate Christians from Community, the Church from Culture, and Christ from the lost.”
\nSixth, on a personal level, I was reminded at CWC of how thankful I am to be part of a ministry that seeks to use the Internet in creative ways for God’s purposes. I’m referring, in particular, to The High Calling of Our Daily Work<\/a>, a Web-based ministry of the Foundations for Laity Renewal, the parent organization of Laity Lodge. Joining me at CWC was Marcus Goodyear<\/a>, one of the writers and editors at the High Calling, and a pioneer of the High Calling Blog Network<\/a>. Marcus, and our colleague “Ramblin’ Dan” Roloff<\/a>, are great partners to me and teachers in things related to the Internet. Together, with the rest of our team at the Foundations for Laity Renewal, we are continually looking for how best to advance the “high calling or our daily work” through the power of the Web.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Last week I participated in the Christian Web Conference at Biola University in La Mirada, California. I represented The High Calling of Our Daily Work, a sister ministry of Laity Lodge, which helped to sponsor the conference. The CWC is the newest update of GodBlogCon, a conference originally focused on blogging. Now the conference looks…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":214,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[81],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-880","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-internet"],"yoast_head":"\nChristian Web Conference: A Review - Mark D. 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Roberts","description":"Mark D. Roberts: Thoughtfully Christian Reflections on Jesus, the Church, and the World","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/#\/schema\/person\/1ff094a57b7e41f534434b1723df3d73","name":"Mark D. Roberts","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-content\/wphb-cache\/gravatar\/f2d\/f2ddf5f080861f66ea230384f9d1bab2x96.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-content\/wphb-cache\/gravatar\/f2d\/f2ddf5f080861f66ea230384f9d1bab2x96.jpg","caption":"Mark D. Roberts"},"description":"The Rev. Dr. Mark D. Roberts is a pastor, author, retreat leader, speaker, and blogger. Since October 2007 he has been the Senior Director and Scholar-in-Residence for Laity Lodge, a multifaceted ministry in the Hill Country of Texas. Before coming to Laity Lodge, he was for sixteen years the Senior Pastor of Irvine Presbyterian Church in Irvine, California (a city in Orange County about forty miles south of Los Angeles). Before his time at Irvine Pres, Mark served on the staff of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood as Associate Pastor of Education. (Thanks to Janel Pahl for taking the photo to the right.) Mark studied at Harvard University, receiving a B.A. in Philosophy, an M.A. in the Study of Religion, and a Ph.D. in New Testament and Christian Origins. He has taught classes in New Testament for Fuller Theological Seminary and San Francisco Theological Seminary. Mark has written several books, including No Holds Barred: Wrestling with God in Prayer (WaterBrook, 2005), Dare to Be True (WaterBrook, 2003), Jesus Revealed (WaterBrook, 2002), After \"I Believe\" (Baker, 2002), and Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (Word, 1993). His most recent book is Can We Trust the Gospels? Investigating the Reliability of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John (Crossway, 2007). He is currently working on a commentary on Ephesians that will be published by Zondervan in 2014. Mark writes a devotional for The High Calling of Our Daily Work, a website associated with Laity Lodge. His \"Daily Reflections\" can be viewed online or sent as a daily email. If you wish to receive this email, just visit TheHighCalling.org and sign up. Mark serves on the editorial board of Worship Leader magazine, where he publishes articles and reviews, including his regular column \"Lyrical Poetry.\" Additionally, he has published dozens of articles in leading magazines and journals. He often speaks for churches and other Christian groups, and has been interviewed on over seventy-five radio programs nationwide. Mark is married to Linda, who is a Marriage and Family Therapist, a Spiritual Director, and a retreat speaker. They have two children, Nathan and Kara.For Publicity Photos and Bio Statements for Mark, please check here. Mark's Dossier Professional History: Senior Director and Scholar-in Residence, Laity Lodge, October 2007 to present. Senior Pastor Irvine Presbyterian Church, June 1991 to September 2007 Adjunct Assistant Professor Fuller Theological Seminary, 1994 to 2007. Courses: New Testament Theology and Exegesis. Adjunct Instructor San Francisco Theological Seminary, 1995 to 2001. Courses: New Testament Greek and Exegesis Associate Pastor of Education First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, 1987-1991 Teaching Fellow Harvard University, 1980-1983 Education: Ph.D. in the Study of Religion. Harvard University, 1992. Area: New Testament and Christian Origins M.A. in the Study of Religion Harvard University, 1984. A.B. magna cum laude in Philosophy Harvard University, 1979. Phi Beta Kappa; Danforth Fellowship Books: Can We Trust the Gospels? Investigating the Reliability of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Crossway, 2007 No Holds Barred: Wrestling with God in Prayer. WaterBrook, 2005 Dare to Be True: Living in the Freedom of Complete Honesty. WaterBrook, 2003. Jesus Revealed: Know Him Better to Love Him Better. WaterBrook, 2002. After \"I Believe\": Experiencing Authentic Christian Living. Baker, 2002. Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther in the Communicator's Commentary Series. Word, 1993. Contacting Mark: You can reach Mark at: E-mail: mark@markdroberts.com mroberts@laitylodge.org Phone: Laity Lodge: (830) 792-1216 Address: Laity Lodge 719 Earl Garrett Kerrville, TX 78028","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/author\/mroberts"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/880","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/214"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=880"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/880\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=880"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=880"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=880"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}