Comments on: Pragmatic pondering on projected pastors http://heissufficient.com/2007/11/18/pragmatic-pondering-on-projected-pastors/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=pragmatic-pondering-on-projected-pastors A personal walk in a wilderness of words Tue, 13 Mar 2012 21:07:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: ElShaddai Edwards http://heissufficient.com/2007/11/18/pragmatic-pondering-on-projected-pastors/#comment-413 ElShaddai Edwards Tue, 20 Nov 2007 11:27:40 +0000 http://heissufficient.net/2007/11/18/pragmatic-pondering-on-projected-pastors/#comment-413 Thanks for the thoughts, Jim. I agree that a video screen is helpful in a very large setting where the preacher would otherwise be the size of an ant, but this is an ordinary sanctuary. Yes, a little of an odd size as they've clearly expanded a bit since it was originally built, but the sight lines aren't obstructed in any way. Interesting that you mention the "franchise churches". John Piper's ministry is based here in Minneapolis and his church, Bethlehem Baptist, has added two campuses in northern and southern suburbs. <a href="http://www.hopeingod.org/MultiCampus.aspx" rel="nofollow">The website</a> says that: <blockquote>"the campuses are all part of Bethlehem with a single vision, a single strategy, a single theological foundation, a single eldership, a single constitution, a single band of missionaries, and a single budget."</blockquote> The supporting graphic shows a congregation watching a video feed of a pastor, presumably from the "main campus" in downtown Minneapolis. So there's a live band and video sermon - no thanks. Thanks for the thoughts, Jim. I agree that a video screen is helpful in a very large setting where the preacher would otherwise be the size of an ant, but this is an ordinary sanctuary. Yes, a little of an odd size as they’ve clearly expanded a bit since it was originally built, but the sight lines aren’t obstructed in any way.

Interesting that you mention the “franchise churches”. John Piper’s ministry is based here in Minneapolis and his church, Bethlehem Baptist, has added two campuses in northern and southern suburbs. The website says that:

“the campuses are all part of Bethlehem with a single vision, a single strategy, a single theological foundation, a single eldership, a single constitution, a single band of missionaries, and a single budget.”

The supporting graphic shows a congregation watching a video feed of a pastor, presumably from the “main campus” in downtown Minneapolis. So there’s a live band and video sermon – no thanks.

]]> By: Jim Swindle http://heissufficient.com/2007/11/18/pragmatic-pondering-on-projected-pastors/#comment-412 Jim Swindle Mon, 19 Nov 2007 17:42:05 +0000 http://heissufficient.net/2007/11/18/pragmatic-pondering-on-projected-pastors/#comment-412 At the church where I'm a member, they use the video for in the lobby and also for baptisms, since the baptistry is located at the side of the main worship center. I find it helpful. I can also see using video behind the preacher if he's in a huge stadium or something, but I'd agree with your reluctance about using it when not really needed. I'm uneasy with the idea of churches franchising themselves so that people can meet in Arizona and watch Pastor X on screen from his other church in Illinois. Here's why I'm uneasy: **How can a pastor tend to the needs of a flock that he doesn't see regularly? **Does this not communicate in a host of ways that the church is dependent on that preacher, not on the Lord? I realize that the preacher may not want that to be the message, but the message still would seem to be there. **Such churches will make it extra-hard for the cause of the Lord if one of those pastors fails in some spectacular way. I'm not sure that's happened with the franchised preachers yet, but it seems very likely to occur in the not-too-distant future. At the church where I’m a member, they use the video for in the lobby and also for baptisms, since the baptistry is located at the side of the main worship center. I find it helpful. I can also see using video behind the preacher if he’s in a huge stadium or something, but I’d agree with your reluctance about using it when not really needed. I’m uneasy with the idea of churches franchising themselves so that people can meet in Arizona and watch Pastor X on screen from his other church in Illinois. Here’s why I’m uneasy:

**How can a pastor tend to the needs of a flock that he doesn’t see regularly?

**Does this not communicate in a host of ways that the church is dependent on that preacher, not on the Lord? I realize that the preacher may not want that to be the message, but the message still would seem to be there.

**Such churches will make it extra-hard for the cause of the Lord if one of those pastors fails in some spectacular way. I’m not sure that’s happened with the franchised preachers yet, but it seems very likely to occur in the not-too-distant future.

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