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 already here, and it's poised for explosive growth. SimChurch invites you to explore the vision, the concerns, the challenges, and the remarkable possibilities of building Christ's kingdom online. What is the virtual church, and what different forms might it take? Will it be an extension of a real-world church, or a separate entity? How will it encourage families to worship together? Is it even possible or healthy to 'be' the church in the virtual world? If you're passionate about the church and evangelism, and if you feel both excitement and concern over the new virtual world the internet is creating, then these are just some of the vital issues you and other postmillennial followers of Jesus must grapple with. Rich in both biblical and current insight, combining exploration and critique, SimChurch opens a long-overdue discussion you can't afford to miss.
SimChurch: Being the Church in the Virtual World
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Editorial Reviews
Review
Estes offers the most even-handed, informed, and insightful overview to date of what virtual-world ecclesia means not only within its own confines, but also to ecclesia in the physical world. At the risk of over-stating the case, it is increasingly incumbent upon clergy and lay leaders alike to familiarize themselves now...right now...with the information Estes renders so clearly. --Phyllis Tickle
Review
'If your church is even thinking about starting an internet campus (or has one already), this book should be required reading. It brilliantly connects the dots between church history, technology, and current thought about online spiritual community. While it doesn't answer every question (and no book could, given the newness of the subject matter), it goes a long way toward resolving the query: is church online 'real' or not? As an internet campus pastor, I think this book tells it like it is and what it will be. A worthwhile read for anyone interested in real ministry and real connection in the virtual world.' -- Brian Vasil, Internet Campus Pastor Flamingo Road Church <br><br>
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More About the Author
Douglas Estes is Lead Pastor at Trinity Church, Mesa, Arizona. He received his PhD in Theology from the University of Nottingham, UK, and completed a PostDoc at the Dominican Biblical Institute. His books include The Questions of Jesus in John (Brill, 2012), SimChurch (Zondervan, 2009), and The Temporal Mechanics of the Fourth Gospel (Brill, 2008). He has served as an adjunct professor at Western Seminary.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By Chad Estes
Format:Paperback
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 churches build communities? Will they be global or local? What are the dangers associated with churches based on virtual social connectivity?
* Will virtual churches open up the Gospel to all people? What will virtual churches teach us about the nature of being the church?
If you've been already been asking some of these questions then you will love the head start this book will give you towards the discussion. If you haven't been asking these questions, maybe you should be- if not for yourself, for the generation around you.
The truth is some people are more present and participatory in a virtual church setting than many people who passively attended a brick and mortar church. Some people who attend normal churches find more significant relationships online than they do on Sunday mornings. And those who see themselves as missional need to recognize that there is a new world for them evangelize, a whole new continent where many people are living. How will we be the church with them?
Even if you never attend a church service in Second Life, or one of the other virtual platforms, I hope you will consider reading this book to help understand and engage with the world you are living in.
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 churches build communities? Will they be global or local? What are the dangers associated with churches based on virtual social connectivity?
* Will virtual churches open up the Gospel to all people? What will virtual churches teach us about the nature of being the church?
If you've been already been asking some of these questions then you will love the head start this book will give you towards the discussion. If you haven't been asking these questions, maybe you should be- if not for yourself, for the generation around you.
The truth is some people are more present and participatory in a virtual church setting than many people who passively attended a brick and mortar church. Some people who attend normal churches find more significant relationships online than they do on Sunday mornings. And those who see themselves as missional need to recognize that there is a new world for them evangelize, a whole new continent where many people are living. How will we be the church with them?
Even if you never attend a church service in Second Life, or one of the other virtual platforms, I hope you will consider reading this book to help understand and engage with the world you are living in.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Covers all the topics, but doesn't really answer the key question
February 5, 2010
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Here is my review of this book, which I originally posted on my blog last fall. You can find this review and reviews of other books related to faith and technology at my blog [...].
For those of you unfamiliar with this new movement, the idea of online church is not just putting a recording of your church service online. Instead, it is actually conducting an entire live church service online, complete with worship, teaching, offering, fellowship, and possibly even communion and baptism. This can include both churches with Internet campuses and those who conduct services in virtual worlds, such as Second Life. The author tackles questions surrounding the validity of online church and asks some tough questions. He ends the book by challenging online churches to break the mold and attempt to do things that no physical-world church can.
If you have read my blog before, you know that I have been a critic of online church. However, as a lover of technology and the Internet, I am always open to thinking in new ways about things and want to see how technology can be used to share the message of Christ. But I am also a realist: I know that just because we can do church online does not mean that we should. So I read this book with an open mind and heart - looking for new ways of thinking about online church.
Some highlights of SimChurch for me included:
- a definition of virtual church as "a virtually localized assembly of the people of God dwelling in meaningful community with the task of building the kingdom."
- the author taking on those who would use the church as described in Acts 2 as a way to discredit the virtual church. The early church existed at a special time in history and we will never fully be able to recapture it. Churches today cannot expect to do everything that the Acts 2 church did.
- the discussion of how our Western worldview clouds our understanding of "presence". Defining presence as the location of our bodies is not a God-given or Biblical idea.
- a challenge to Christians to be ever vigilant on how we conduct ourselves. Since everything we do virtually is recorded in some way, we should be completely transparent about our online lives. Identity and authenticity will be key issues in the virtual church.
- to be seen as real churches, virtual churches must begin to offer communion. The exact methods as to how to do it must be worked out by each individual church within their traditions and understanding. Baptisms should also be offered.
- The online church will need to leverage their strengths to do things that physical-world church cannot do (or at least cannot do well).
- Douglas Estes is a supporter of online church and in this book he makes a very good case that it is important that these churches continue to move forward and meet the challenges they will face head on. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and was encouraged to think deeper about online church.
Unfortunately, I am still not convinced that the participation in a church service accessed over the Internet and mediated via a computer is the same as actually attending a church physically. In my experience, the types of worship, fellowship, and community experienced online is anemic compared to what one can get by fully participating in a physical-world church (not to mention the issues with communion and baptism). Now this would not be a big issue to me if it were not for the fact that these online churches never encourage those participating online to find to a physical-world church. I was hoping that SimChurch would address this question, but it did not.
Now let me reiterate, I believe it is imperative that Christians take to the Internet as a mission field and learn to understand it well. I wouldn't spend so much of time helping churches do this if I did not feel it was important. Using the Internet should be an integral part of a church's ministry. And being there to meet with and minister to those in the virtual world should be part of what they do. And yes, even providing the ability for someone to experience a church service online can be part of the ministry - but it should be made clear that every believer needs to find a physical community to be a part of as well.
Overall I think that SimChurch does a great job of exploring online church and its implications. If you are looking for a deeper understanding of this phenomenon, then I recommend this book. And if you never have participated in an online church service, I encourage you to do so at the now over forty different Internet campuses available. Just remember to also attend church in "real life" as well.
For those of you unfamiliar with this new movement, the idea of online church is not just putting a recording of your church service online. Instead, it is actually conducting an entire live church service online, complete with worship, teaching, offering, fellowship, and possibly even communion and baptism. This can include both churches with Internet campuses and those who conduct services in virtual worlds, such as Second Life. The author tackles questions surrounding the validity of online church and asks some tough questions. He ends the book by challenging online churches to break the mold and attempt to do things that no physical-world church can.
If you have read my blog before, you know that I have been a critic of online church. However, as a lover of technology and the Internet, I am always open to thinking in new ways about things and want to see how technology can be used to share the message of Christ. But I am also a realist: I know that just because we can do church online does not mean that we should. So I read this book with an open mind and heart - looking for new ways of thinking about online church.
Some highlights of SimChurch for me included:
- a definition of virtual church as "a virtually localized assembly of the people of God dwelling in meaningful community with the task of building the kingdom."
- the author taking on those who would use the church as described in Acts 2 as a way to discredit the virtual church. The early church existed at a special time in history and we will never fully be able to recapture it. Churches today cannot expect to do everything that the Acts 2 church did.
- the discussion of how our Western worldview clouds our understanding of "presence". Defining presence as the location of our bodies is not a God-given or Biblical idea.
- a challenge to Christians to be ever vigilant on how we conduct ourselves. Since everything we do virtually is recorded in some way, we should be completely transparent about our online lives. Identity and authenticity will be key issues in the virtual church.
- to be seen as real churches, virtual churches must begin to offer communion. The exact methods as to how to do it must be worked out by each individual church within their traditions and understanding. Baptisms should also be offered.
- The online church will need to leverage their strengths to do things that physical-world church cannot do (or at least cannot do well).
- Douglas Estes is a supporter of online church and in this book he makes a very good case that it is important that these churches continue to move forward and meet the challenges they will face head on. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and was encouraged to think deeper about online church.
Unfortunately, I am still not convinced that the participation in a church service accessed over the Internet and mediated via a computer is the same as actually attending a church physically. In my experience, the types of worship, fellowship, and community experienced online is anemic compared to what one can get by fully participating in a physical-world church (not to mention the issues with communion and baptism). Now this would not be a big issue to me if it were not for the fact that these online churches never encourage those participating online to find to a physical-world church. I was hoping that SimChurch would address this question, but it did not.
Now let me reiterate, I believe it is imperative that Christians take to the Internet as a mission field and learn to understand it well. I wouldn't spend so much of time helping churches do this if I did not feel it was important. Using the Internet should be an integral part of a church's ministry. And being there to meet with and minister to those in the virtual world should be part of what they do. And yes, even providing the ability for someone to experience a church service online can be part of the ministry - but it should be made clear that every believer needs to find a physical community to be a part of as well.
Overall I think that SimChurch does a great job of exploring online church and its implications. If you are looking for a deeper understanding of this phenomenon, then I recommend this book. And if you never have participated in an online church service, I encourage you to do so at the now over forty different Internet campuses available. Just remember to also attend church in "real life" as well.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By John M. Hall
Format:Paperback
For many ministry leaders, the subject of virtual reality evangelism is about as relevant as polyester suits and mile-wide ties. Few if any have enough time to spend time checking emails or on Facebook, much less on virtual reality networks such as Second Life. Its just not a realm of which they ever enter or are even aware. In SimChurch, Doug Estes, takes up the daunting task of engaging the virtual world with the gospel and why it should matter to you.
A good portion of SimChurch is dedicated to explaining exactly what is the virtual world. Estes unpacks the verbiage associated with virtual environments. This is both helpful and necessary to building his comparison of the church in the "real world" and the church in the virtual world. What many ministry leaders will appreciate is how Estes demonstrates fidelity to sound ecclesiology while discussing its implications to ministry in the virtual world. Commenting on those who would eschew the validity of virtual world ministry Estes writes,
"...it is easy to point to examples of all the unorthodox behavior that goes on in virtual churches - avatars in lingerie, questionable prophets with Christian conspiracy theories, and marauding trolls. Come to think of it, it's easy to do the same with real-world churches too. Church in the virtual world sounds just like church in the real world - lots of confused and broken people who "share" their confusion and brokenness with others."
It is excerpts like these that draw attention to the fact that "real world" pastors and churches overlook the parallels to their virtual world counterparts at their own peril.
SimChurch is not all about explanation and awareness. Estes also spends time casting a vision for how churches and families that are removed from the virtual world can engage it with the gospel. He also describes the possibilities for leveraging the virtual world to engage and equip people who might not otherwise darken the doors of a brick and mortar sanctuary. Estes writes,
"What if in the future, virtual-world-based small groups were more powerful than today's small groups because they are full-on worship experiences? What if we invite our friends over to our house not just for nachos and chili-cheese fries and some discussion but to participate in a virtual-church worship service - especially one that is able to harness the power of the virtual world to allow for attendee participation? What if a virtual-church pastor spoke to hundreds of these "worship parties" around the real world?"
That is the extent of the positive message that Estes conveys. It is a challenge to redeem the virtual world and claim it for the gospel.
I found this book to be extremely practical and thought provoking. I had my assumptions about the virtual world challenged just as I had my understanding of ecclesiology sharpened. SimChurch is as much for those who regularly engage in technology as for those who dont. In either case, it will cause you to think about opportunities exist for taking the gospel to a largely overlooked amalgam of people groups worldwide.
A good portion of SimChurch is dedicated to explaining exactly what is the virtual world. Estes unpacks the verbiage associated with virtual environments. This is both helpful and necessary to building his comparison of the church in the "real world" and the church in the virtual world. What many ministry leaders will appreciate is how Estes demonstrates fidelity to sound ecclesiology while discussing its implications to ministry in the virtual world. Commenting on those who would eschew the validity of virtual world ministry Estes writes,
"...it is easy to point to examples of all the unorthodox behavior that goes on in virtual churches - avatars in lingerie, questionable prophets with Christian conspiracy theories, and marauding trolls. Come to think of it, it's easy to do the same with real-world churches too. Church in the virtual world sounds just like church in the real world - lots of confused and broken people who "share" their confusion and brokenness with others."
It is excerpts like these that draw attention to the fact that "real world" pastors and churches overlook the parallels to their virtual world counterparts at their own peril.
SimChurch is not all about explanation and awareness. Estes also spends time casting a vision for how churches and families that are removed from the virtual world can engage it with the gospel. He also describes the possibilities for leveraging the virtual world to engage and equip people who might not otherwise darken the doors of a brick and mortar sanctuary. Estes writes,
"What if in the future, virtual-world-based small groups were more powerful than today's small groups because they are full-on worship experiences? What if we invite our friends over to our house not just for nachos and chili-cheese fries and some discussion but to participate in a virtual-church worship service - especially one that is able to harness the power of the virtual world to allow for attendee participation? What if a virtual-church pastor spoke to hundreds of these "worship parties" around the real world?"
That is the extent of the positive message that Estes conveys. It is a challenge to redeem the virtual world and claim it for the gospel.
I found this book to be extremely practical and thought provoking. I had my assumptions about the virtual world challenged just as I had my understanding of ecclesiology sharpened. SimChurch is as much for those who regularly engage in technology as for those who dont. In either case, it will cause you to think about opportunities exist for taking the gospel to a largely overlooked amalgam of people groups worldwide.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not for me
I found this book to be unrealistic in what could truly take place as we get deeper into virtual world churches. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Crafty Carrie
5.0 out of 5 stars
A solid grounding for a new field
I would recommend this book for any church leader thinking about the online world.
First, Estes has a solid grounding in the theology and history of the church, so he is... Read more
First, Estes has a solid grounding in the theology and history of the church, so he is... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Laura J. Hunt
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Second Life
Estes, Douglas. SimChurch: Being the Church in theVirtual World. Zondervan, 2009, 256 pages.
Of all the books I have read in preparation for a class next month on Church... Read more
Of all the books I have read in preparation for a class next month on Church... Read more
Published on February 9, 2011 by Clint Schnekloth
5.0 out of 5 stars
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... Read more
Published on February 1, 2010 by Kyle Gilbert
5.0 out of 5 stars
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. Read more
Published on January 4, 2010 by Matthew Bailey
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very Intriguing Concepts
When I received a copy of this book from a friend of mine, I was not sure what to expect. I've never really spent much time considering what it means to be a church, or how the... Read more
Published on December 6, 2009 by J. Woods
5.0 out of 5 stars
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. Read more
Published on November 10, 2009 by Mark R. Simonds
5.0 out of 5 stars
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. Read more
Published on October 5, 2009 by Gary A. Appel
