Worship Leader Magazine: Technology Bonus Issue Part 2 "Welcome to the Blogsphere: The Postmodern Wittenberg Door"

The next article of interest in the latest technology bonus issue of Worship Leader magazine is titled "Welcome to the Blogsphere: The Postmodern Wittenberg Door" by Karen M. Ward. She is the abbot and lead curate of Church of the Apostles, an emerging, monastic, incarnational, Christian community in Seattle, WA.

First of all, what is an emerging, monastic, incarnational, Christian community? Sounds very New Age or Universalist if you know what I mean. I could be wrong though. After perusing her blog site I'm still not sure.

Anyway, back to the article. Karen Ward writes of the culture changing impact that Martin Luther had when he posted his 95 thesis on the church door in Wittenberg, Germany. That document started the reformation.

Ms. Ward credits Martin Luther's ability to make a document such as the 95 thesis and also his ability to translate the Bible into German on the new technology of movable type printing process. This process was invented by Johann Gutenberg and revolutionized the distribution of information and therefore the culture of the day.

Ms. Ward then compares that culture changing phenomenon to today's blog. I would have to say that she is right. She list 4 things about blogs that are culture changing:

1. Blogs personalize mass communications.
2. Blogs eliminate the need for information middlemen...and the process of seeking outside permission to be heard.
3. Blogs provide direct and immediate linkage between writers and readers. (fresh content)
4. Blogs return the means of production to regular people, so the merits of what is being said are what matter, rather than needing money, power and privilege to find an audience and get a hearing.

Karen Ward continues with a breakout that states ministry uses for blogs such as church events, youth groups, building projects and pastor's sermon vault blogs. I know I'm considering a group blog for my ministry team.

Ms. Ward also list some blogging systems to use such as blogger.com, typepad.com, movabletype.org and livejournal.com

I like the idea of having my own site for mass communications and being able to put out whatever content allowable by law to whoever wants to come by and read what I'm thinking about at the moment. Plus they can immediately comment on what I'm thinking and it starts conversations, contacts and communities. Wow! What an awesome medium we have here to communicate with the world.