Fostering koinonia : a critical evaluation of the value of digital social networks in urban congregations / Heinz Eugene Oldewage

• Main Author: Oldewage, Heinz Eugene
• Language: en
• Published: 2015
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10394/15486

The opening decade of the 21st century has seen a marked expansion in the influence of digital technology on virtually all fields of human endeavour. Nowhere else is the vitality of this new digital world more apparent than in its influence on human communication and social interaction – a reality lucidly reflected in the rise of so-called digital social networks over the last decade. Known to many in the form of popular Internet based services like the social media platforms Facebook and Twitter, these social networks typically allow individuals to construct a public profile, articulate a list of other users with whom they share a connection, and then interact with those connections. Since the internet has always been a natural place for those of faith to take their questions and practices, it comes as no surprise that social media is increasingly being adopted as a ministry tool in churches all over the world. The primary objective of these social media initiatives is simple: advancing the case of the local church by promoting a sense of community between believers – in other words, to foster koinonia. The term koinonia, denoting the ideas of communion, participation, fellowship and sharing, is a rich concept used to describe the deep sense of community encountered in the New Testament church. Yet, while fostering koinonia is a primary goal of social media use in congregational settings, it is still unclear whether the theoretical expectations we have of this brand new communicational tool will be met in practice over the long term. This leaves a central question: Can the use of digital social networks in a church context help foster true koinonia – especially in urban congregations, where the impact of lifestyle pressures on relationships is often more pronounced? Answering this question requires, firstly, a biblically correct picture of the characteristics of true koinonia, which must be understood against the backdrop of the Trinitarian nature of God, while also drawing from related references in the Old Testament, as well as Lukan, Johannine, Pauline, and other sources. These sources reveal koinonia as a concept with a deep relational focus, revolving around elements of unity, sharing, caring, and witnessing. Secondly, it is necessary to properly define the idea of a social network, and to demonstrate how these networks have been used in practice in the urban congregational environment. With this understanding of koinonia and a robust definition of social media as a foundation, a basic qualitative study is undertaken on three campuses of Hillsong Church, in Cape Town, New York, and Sydney, respectively. Semi-structured interviews reveal a high degree of interconnection between congregants across the campuses, and indicate that church members communicate with each other frequently through social media channels. Despite an awareness of the limitations inherent in computer-based interaction, congregants indicate that social media use has a positive impact on their relationships, contributing to a greater sense of unity. Moreover, church members reveal that they use social media as a platform for encouragement and witness, and indicate that online participation helps them overcome practical relational challenges associated with city life. Nevertheless, few participants consider the exclusion of those without Internet access, or the impact of constant connectivity on their lives. Based on this information, it is possible to develop a new praxis that is more closely aligned to the biblical ideal of koinonia. The effective management of computer-mediated relationships is paramount, while practical aspects related to dealing with addictive online behaviour also need to be considered. Connections between individuals and the larger communities around them are also of import, including the way that church members express their care for one another by sharing encouraging content online. The practice of using social media platforms to witness to others also comes to the fore, and strategies for dealing with the so-called digital divide are considered. In summary, digital social networks appear to provide the church with a unique opportunity to foster true koinonia, despite the limitations of computer-mediated communication. === PhD (Pastoral Studies), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015