The iPhone 3Gs, the toy I want for Christmas; better yet, let's make it Easter. For information on specifications and price, go to http://store.apple.com/us.
By Magdalena I. García
Today I attended the annual training day for my presbytery, better known as LEAD( Leadership, Education and Development for the Whole Church), along with a couple of lay leaders from the congregation I serve. As in previous years, this full-day event included continental breakfast and lunch, worship, bookstore, a table of crafts from around the world sold by Ten Thousand Villages, and, last but not least, two sessions of workshops on a wide range of topics.
In the morning I attended a workshop titled “Facebook (etc.) for Dummies,” which was an overview of new social-networking technologies—such as Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr—and the way these are being used to support and enhance ministries within our congregations, especially with children and youth. A group of about 20 mature leaders sat around a long table, facing two screens where a live connection to the internet was projected so that we could tour the referenced sites. About half the group seemed somewhat knowledgeable and comfortable with the subject, while others seemed clueless and perhaps a bit too overwhelmed with so much knew information to even dare ask any questions.
As the presentation progressed, we landed on the subject of smartphones (an interesting, and somewhat offensive term that suggests all other devices are dumb phones!). According to Wikipedia.com, “There is no industry standard definition of a smartphone. For some, a smartphone is a phone that runs complete operating system software providing a standardized interface and platform for application developers. For others, a smartphone is simply a phone with advanced features like e-mail, Internet and e-book reader capabilities, and/or a built-in full keyboard or external USB keyboard and VGA connector. In other words, it is a miniature computer that has phone capability.”
Then we learned that there are conversations underway to explore the use of smartphones during presbytery assemblies. Of course, we know this is already going on, as we see people handling their electronic devices instead of giving full attention to the discourse on the floor of the assembly, although few of them are on call for a life or death situation. Multitasking? Ahhhh...yes; however, in my book this is not exactly the same as knitting. But the workshop presenters continued to sing the glories of “real time” communication.
As I look back, I wonder...is immediacy the most important aspect of communication, especially for the church? Will the presbytery provide smartphones, training, and a stipend so that all commissioners—including lay members who don’t get allowances paid by the church—can afford this technology? Will we be creating second or third-class commissioners by allowing the use of powerful tools—for communication, strategy and politics—that only some (perhaps a minority at this point) can afford?
It seems to me that we already have enough disparities in the house, and an urgent need to tear down the walls that impede in-depth conversation. I clearly see how introducing smartphones into the mix can be a clever move for the elite, but I honestly fail to see how this would be a smart move for an already fragmented and segregated church. I’m going to chew on this for a while, knowing that I might just be persuaded, especially when the next generation of Apple iPhone starts making espresso!
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