SimChurch: Being the Church in the Virtual World

by Douglas Estes

Book Overview

The meeting place for the church of tomorrow will be a computer screen. Don't laugh, and don't feel alarmed. The real-world church isn't going anywhere until Jesus returns. But the virtual church is... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0310287847
• ISBN13: 9780310287841
• Release Date: September 2009
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.3" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Great Insight for Online Churches

As an internet campus pastor with almost a year under my belt doing church online, I approached the book with a little bit of skepticism, but my skepticism was completely unjustified. I finished the book last night, and I wish I had read this book sooner! The author's research into the biblical text, church history, and current online practices was exceptional. I'm now reconsidering many things that I had taken for granted regarding ministry online. Honestly, the book left me more excited than ever about the importance of this kind of ministry. Even if you're not currently engaged in much online ministry, this book is certainly worth your while.

Every Christian Leader Should Read

Virtual Church is something I was not aware of until recently, but which got me thinking a lot as to the relevance of such a thing. I have found there are a lot of strong opinions on the matter, many against. However, none of the reasoning seems as well thought out and researched as does, Sim Church. Mr. Estes has gone to painstaking detail in explaining just what virtual church is (and is not). He also uses examples of how this is not the first time Christians have been wary of something new. (Chapter mentioning John Wesley and the Methodists for example) And it might be yet another time those concerns are unfounded. For the real purpose of online church is to reach out to people, to witness, and to spread the word of God to a section of people (which is significant and growing) who might not otherwise hear it. The argument should not be "well these people are wrong, because they need to get to a "real" church. That is not witnessing that will convince anyone. This is another mission field. One that will spread the word of God to even more corners of the world. Mr. Estes has written a book that is thought provoking and backs up his thoughts with research and scripture. It should be required reading for the subject.

Virtual Church for the Real World

I just finished reading SimChurch by Douglas Estes this morning. I am thrilled to say both what it did and didn't do. What the book did was to provoke me, a real world pastor of a small church in Western Pennsylvania, to think seriously about what it means to be the church. By moving from our "real" physical world to the uncharted areas of the virtual world, Estes provides a format to examine what a church ought to be, whether "physical world" or "virtual" without the baggage of considering "the way we've always done it." The book offers important practical considerations for those who would consider doing virtual ministry to be sure, but for me a latecomer to digital ministry and a pastor unlikely to even visit the worlds Estes explores, It was a refreshing way to begin thinking again about what we do in our church and what things are church and what things are just "churchy" activities. What the book isn't, that I also enjoyed, is that it is NOT an attempt to convince me to opt into a new program or hard sell my church on what it "must do now" if it is to be faithful to Jesus Christ. Estes pastoral approach guides those who would attempt virtual ministry to consider what it will take to be a "real" church in the virtual world. He also challenges the rest of us to consider the importance of virtual worlds, "telepresent" people, and technological connectedness that are a part of the world in which we now live. I recommend this book to any who would want to clarify their own thoughts on what it means to be the church in any world, physical or virtual, and whether agreeing or disagreeing with Estes conclusions, begin to see how we might be called to do whatever we do better and more faithfully. SimChurch: Being the Church in the Virtual World

A Brave New World

This was a great introduction to the virtual church. Before reading the book, I didn't even know that virtual churches existed. Douglas Estes describes the virtual church, and then differentiates it from traditional churches that maintain an Internet presence, focusing on the problems and opportunities available for the virtual church. Many of the problems facing the virtual church, he points out, are the same problems facing any church. Looking at these problems from a virtual viewpoint might cast a new light on how we should be handling these problems in our own churches. As stated in the book, "The Christian church is engaging far less than 1 percent of the seventy million people who are active in the virtual world." This is a huge opportunity. Any church can now conceivably reach millions of people who would likely never even consider entering their building for a Sunday service. As also pointed out in the book, the virtual church also provides an opportunity for those who cannot, or just find it difficult to attend a regular church service. Our young adults today have maintained virtual social networking for years already, so what I didn't even know existed - the virtual church - may be exactly how they will best relate to the church, at least initially. While not every church should "build" a virtual church, many churches should at least consider the opportunity. Another important question - should those of us who attend church regularly consider also attending a virtual church, not necessarily for our own church experience, but so we can be rubbing virtual elbows with seekers who might benefit from our virtual presence. A must read for anyone considering a virtual presence on the Internet, and a very worthwhile read for those who are just curious.

Can a Church Exist in Cyberspace?

When Zondervan sent me a copy of 'SimChurch' by Douglas Estes (no relation) I assumed I was holding a book that encouraged traditional churches to update their decade-old websites and get their weekend services online. Boy was I wrong. Apparently while I wasted time mastering Rock Band in my basement other nerds have been experimenting how to have a virtual expression of the Church. Viewing church services on the Internet is mostly a passive experience, just like watching an TV evangelist. Virtual churches have made a major leap beyond the one-sided nature of viewing a service. Community happens through the Internet; it just may not be the same definition of community that we grew up with. Each generation learns how it is going to connect with each other and technology is a major factor in that decision. The same can be said for churches. What the printing press, automobiles and air conditioning did to change the way society interacts, and the way churches meet, is happening again with the Internet. Whether or not we like the changes, it is here to stay. If a church wants to stay ahead of the curve, learning how to connect with this generation then they need to get plugged in. If, instead, they jump up and down on their pews, pound their pulpits and tip over the baptismal because they think their way of doing church is `right' they need to remember that most churches through history have had none of the conveniences they just threw their temper tantrum trying to defend. This book was not written by someone on the inside trying to state a case for their virtual gaming world or new church software. Douglas Estes is the pastor of a real, brick and mortar church in San Jose, California; he has a PhD in Theology and is an Adjunct Professor of the New Testament at Western Seminary. He has put together a very thought provoking study of this new expression and isn't afraid to ask very specific, important questions: * Is a virtual church a real, authentic, and valid expression of the Church of Jesus Christ? * Can virtual community really work? How can virtual churches reenergize Christian community? * Can avatars know God? Can the people of God experience spiritual growth as avatars? * How will virtual churches change the way we `do' church? Are virtual sacraments and other faith practices possible or valid (or just inevitable)? * How should virtual churches relate to traditional authority? Can virtual churches harness the power of decentralization without further fractioning Christianity? * How can virtual churches confront sin and brokenness in the virtual world? What are the ethical issues facing virtual churches? * What must a church do to turn a jumble of digital content into an Internet campus? What are the ingredients of healthy, virtual-campus life? * Can a virtual church be a missional church? How will virtual churches engage in various forms of ministry? What types of virtual ministries will arise? * How will virtual churche