Denver Dispatch | Day i
11 July 2008
Denver Dispatch | Day i
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Greetings from the Rocky Mountain State where I'm attending the Global Internet Evangelism Network, an official General Conference and North American Division initiative that connects technologists with the mission of the church.
Some pretty amazing things are happening here. First up, friend of Spectrum, filmmaker Paul Kim (who currently runs media projects for the NAD Church Resource Center) gave a provocative talk about what's real about Adventism in the world of online interaction. He included a very provocative video of an Adventist baptizing someone else in Second Life and asked if it was real in the eyes of God.
Paul used the model of "natives" and "immigrants" in the digital world. Immigrants being those who did not grow up spending several hours a day online, while natives are those who are immersed in multimedia environments both for entertainment, communication and business, even human relationships.
I appreciate that he encouraged lay (user-generated content) that allows folks who actually interact between a variety of communities to represent their own personal witness of Adventism.
The always fascinating historian, Julius Nam (coming soon to the San Diego Forum) told five stories of how Adventists from Ellen White to Stephen Haskell to H.M.S. Richards Sr. used emerging media (often against the prevailing comfort) to expand both the voice, and interestingly, the vision of Adventism. I was reminded of the great Marshall McLuhan quote: the medium is the message.
It's pretty clear that there is a significant desire among the participants - from a GC Vice-president to lay technologists - that new ideas of the Adventist witness and how to do it in demand.
Coming in the next Denver Dispatch.
Some thoughts from my breakout session on blogging in Adventism
As well as a very exciting announcement on an initiative to spur media innovation in the church.
A shout out to the GIEN folks who are reading along.
Search
- Real Cartoonists on Fascinating Adventist Mathematics
- Donna Haerich on Mt. Ellis on the Brink of Winning Big
- Elaine Nelson on Fascinating Adventist Mathematics
- Steve Moran on Mt. Ellis on the Brink of Winning Big
- Bonnie Dwyer on Mt. Ellis on the Brink of Winning Big
- Donna Haerich on Fascinating Adventist Mathematics
- victor on Fascinating Adventist Mathematics
- Andre Reis on Hate Speech?
- Your Friend on Fascinating Adventist Mathematics
- Your Friend on Hate Speech?
Comments
In the city where I live, churches of all different denominations "pitch in" and spend a Saturday building homes for Habitat, helping in other much needed community activities that lack sufficient public monies.
When asked about Adventist's involvement, the reply was that they did their work on Sunday. The first group of churches got much publicity for their endeavors; the SDAs were not recognized because alone, their numbers were so much smaller.
Why can't Adventists cooperate with the other churches in their communities in working together, rather than having separate facilities that largely go unnoticed? If the SDAs want more public recognition, they are usually too small in most cities to ever get this on their own. The seeming reluctance to cooperate with other Christian groups in their charitable services only results in anonymity. If this is what is desired, it is successful.
Adventism is not about publicity as much as it is about the truth. Being true to the convictions associated with Sabbath keeping is much more important than evanescent recognition.
What should be commended is the fact that the "few" were willing to do their part. Do sarcastic remarks about such activities reflect the real tenor of exchanges in this blog?
Anything that SDAs do that other churches do not do is to be attacked.
The (only) sin is in uniqueness.
Righteousness has already been found in the United Church of Christ.
SDAs now only have to be shamed into following.
Building a home for people in need is considered forbidden Sabbath work. That's why the Adventist churches wouldn't participate. Let's see... it's not for personal gain; it's not for personal profit; it's not to promote business interests; it's simply to help people in need!!! I hear you on this one, Elaine.
Once again, we miss the spirit of the law for the letter!
Thanks...
Frank
I'm not sure how "marketing" or the UCC flew into a discussion about how the church can continue to expand our media witness.
As I listen to thoughtful Adventist administrators and entrepreneurial technologists, the more I'm realizing any attempt to tie a bow on the status quo and call it a present misses the rich history of Adventists who did not spring unique from the 19th century.
I just don't follow the thinking that says that we lose our true Christianity by working with other Christians.
In 1968, the year of the Tet Offensive in Vietnam, hundreds of refugees came streaming to our school in Saigon on a Sabbath. Without hesitation we missionaries and Vietnamese workers cancelled worship services and worked to adapt the school rooms for sleeping and the grounds for cooking. We even dug a hole for a latrine. We felt that that work was very much "doing good on the Sabbath."
Because of that experience I would be inclined to lead my church into Sabbath work with Habitat for Humanity.
Ralph Neall
Ralph, your comments raise the question: What type of good work can we not perform on the Sabbath? If a person daily performs good and honest work, how can it be wrong on only one day of the week?
Here's Julius' post on his GiEN presentation.
Streams of Light: The Progressive, Expansive Vision of Historic Adventism
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