Virtual gatherings in the "new normal"

As COVID-19 concerns and precautions begin to fade, many of us are anxiously looking forward to getting back to the active life and ministry we once knew. A big temptation in this moment can be to jump right back into the routines and patterns we had pre-pandemic and try to pretend the last year and a half never happened. As difficult as the pandemic has been for all of us, we need to stop to consider the blessings that have come out of this season and the things that we can carry with us moving forward to strengthen our ministry. I believe one of the blessings the Church has been given during the pandemic is the widespread adoption of virtual meetings.

I know many people are sick and tired of sitting through virtual meetings. Many also have valid ecclesiological concerns about "virtual church" and people leaning too heavily on the convenience of logging on rather than making the effort to physically gather with the body of Christ. I'm not advocating that we cancel all of our physical gatherings, but I do think there are many instances when virtual meetings can complement the regular ministry of the church. A couple of years ago, it may have been difficult to imagine many people in your congregation being willing or able to participate in a virtual group, but now the pandemic has made gathering virtually as common and accessible as sending an email. 

Before you delete your Zoom app, consider some of these circumstances where virtual meetings may actually be able to enhance the effectiveness of your ministry:

Solving the problem of childcare

If you've ever tried to implement small groups outside of a traditional Sunday School model, you've likely run into the issue of childcare. "What are parents supposed to do with their kids if we want them involved in a midweek small group?" You've probably found yourself thinking through hiring babysitters, throwing all the kids in a room with VeggieTales on the TV, or maybe even just deciding to abandon the idea altogether. Virtual groups may be the solution you've been looking for.

This summer we've launched several reading groups at our church that meet weekly. Most of the groups are meeting in person, but we have one group focused on parents that meets virtually later in the evening. This virtual group allows parents to put their younger kids to bed and log in to the meeting for an hour to engage with a group in a way that wouldn't otherwise be possible. Virtual groups drastically lower the barrier to entry for parents who want to be a part of community outside of Sunday mornings. 

Short gatherings

Another great use of virtual meetings is short gatherings that wouldn't make sense to host in person. Consider hosting a weekly 15-minute virtual prayer group or encouraging accountability groups to schedule a quick time to consistently check in on each other. You could ask a church member to lead regular time when people simply read a passage of Scripture together. Virtual meetings give people easy access to community on a more consistent basis by enabling them to gather for shorter times with a simple focused goal.

Task-Oriented Meetings

We all love catching up with others over a cup of coffee, but sometimes you just need to get some things accomplished. Whether you're checking in with team leaders, going over policies with volunteers, or finalizing plans for an event, you can take advantage of virtual meetings to stay focused and respect people's time. Many of the same benefits we've already seen apply in this scenario. Meeting virtually allows people to attend your meeting without worrying about commuting time, childcare, bad weather, or any of the other scheduling concerns we typically run into when trying to plan a meeting in person.

Distanced Connections

Finally, you can use virtual meeting platforms for what they were originally intended for: connecting with people from a distance when traveling is impractical or impossible. Join or host a gathering of pastors from your city, state, or even around the world. Host a meeting with your congregation and a missionary you support to get an update from the field. Take advantage of virtual meetings to break down geographic barriers to gathering.

There are many benefits of meeting face-to-face that a virtual setting can never replace, but there are also many ways that gathering virtually can come alongside regular patterns of physical gathering to strengthen community and even create new opportunities for ministry. Get creative with ways to use virtual meetings in your ministry and resist the hesitation to run back to old patterns without thoughtful consideration.

Corey Wright serves as the Director of Operations at The Church on Seven Hills in Worcester, Massachusetts.