Faith Matters 9: For the Gardner News, September 23, 2006
Exploring Church Websites
Are you looking for a church home in your new town? Do you want to “get back to church” after a lapse of some time, but you’re not sure where to go? Many people nowadays begin their search for a church on the internet.
Most churches now have a website that allows you to “check them out.” It can be a good way to see if a particular church might be a good fit for you, without feeling pressured in any way. All church websites should at least have the basics—directions and contact information, as well as the worship and Sunday School schedule. But more than that, you can often pick up the “flavor” of a particular church community by looking at its website.
Don’t get distracted by the glossiness of the website. They are often maintained by church members with limited computer skills. In prosperous churches, this might even be done by outside computer specialists. Rather than the slickness of the website, ask yourself, “what kind of message does this church send? Is it welcoming? More importantly, does its welcome extend to you?”
As you surf through the site, what can you learn about the church’s faith and priorities? Some websites offer a taste of the church’s worship style, either through photographs, descriptions, or sometimes by posting recent sermons. Are there opportunities for learning and growing in faith, both for children and for adults? What are the church’s mission and service priorities? How does it serve the community and the world? Does this church offer opportunities for social gathering and community building? Can you see yourself as part of this community?
The internet also lets you also explore the local church’s denominational affiliation. A few decades ago denominations were much more important in the American religious landscape. There were distinct differences between them, and worshippers often maintained denominational loyalty and allegiances even when moving to a new town. These denominational differences and distinctions have become less important with the passage of time, with many newer churches deciding not to officially affiliate with any larger group. The internet is a good way to explore if a local church is part of a larger denomination, and if so, to learn something about that denomination. Sometimes the local church website has a link to the national or state denomination website. Here you can usually learn about the history of the larger church and its priorities, which often trickle down and impact the worship style, music, mission giving, and programs of the local church.
For those with a denominational preference, national websites are a good way to find a local church. Almost all denominations have directories that allow users to type in their town or zip code and find affiliated churches close to them. Local chamber of commerce, town government, or regional business organization websites can also be a resource for those looking for a church. They often list community churches with links to their websites. These tend to be the least up-to-date, at least in my own experience. Another helpful resource is the listing of churches in The Gardner News, which often gives the church website, making it easy to compare them.
All of this comes with one great caveat: a website may not always accurately portray a church, any more than the cover of a book always reflects its contents. It can be a first step, or an invitation to find out more. The website might lead you to contact the church for more information or to ask around to find someone who worships there. Ultimately, the only way to judge whether a church is the one for you is to go and worship there. See if you feel welcomed and if you leave with your soul nourished. You will know if it is the right one for you. And if it’s not, let your heart lead you to one that is!