Technology Advice & Experience for Churches Responding to COVID-19
Across the Anglican Communion churches are innovating with technologies to keep the church engaged during the COVID-19 crisis. Many churches are using livestream technology but it can be a new frontier for many to explore as they deal with HDMI cards, cables, streaming services and internet upload speeds.
A good starting point if you have already taken the dive into technology during this time would be to go here to listen to six panelists from around the world share their tips, insights and ideas:
Brazil
Marcos from Brazil, a sound engineer, suggests using this Roland GO: Audio Mixer for Smarthphones (roughly $100). Figuring out the audio inputs can be a real challenge so this could be an effective solution.
To start an Instagram Live video go here: https://help.instagram.com/126662934757177
North America and ACNA
- Lee Nelson, Rector at Christ Church, Waco, Texas provides this pithy list of suggestions in this Facebook post here: https://www.facebook.com/leenelson/posts/10117741346925424
- Here is an excellent article from the Anglican Church in North America to help your church as you consider using these technologies.
- Life https://churchonlineplatform.com/
- Gafcon Communications Director, Ernie Didot, finds the Rode Wireless Go (roughly $200) to be an excellent microphone for quickly switching to other users as opposed to using the lavalier microphones which have wires that need to be hidden.
UK
- Susie Leafe from Gafcon - UK has pulled together an excellent PDF guide for using Zoom (download it at the bottom of this page). Everything from setting up breakout rooms to the bits and pieces of running a meeting smoothly are all shared in this comprehensive guide.
- Rev. Philip de Grey-Warter from Anchor Anglican in Fowey, Cornwall, UK shares, "Glen Scrivener in the UK has done an excellent podcast [here] which discusses the merits of different approaches to livecast/zoom/webex, etc. They also tackle some of the issues of how leading/preaching differs because of the medium. It would be a good place to sign post people to, beyond zoom basics." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmNH6NivjKA
- Facebook live streaming advice here: https://www.facebook.com/help/587160588142067
- YouTube live streaming advice here: https://www.youtube.com/live_dashboard_splash
Australia
- Daniel Willis reports that Sydney has been using this video as a helpful aid to get setup in livestreaming.
- This Facebook group, "Online Church - Ideas and Resources" has lots of tech advice.
- @IggyWong shares about Church Online Platform "It's what life.church (creation of you version bible app) in the USA uses. They are giving their platform away for free. The main appeal for me is the easy clear access to key links/resources which Facebook live can't provide. Instant prayer requests looks good too!" They also have an good blog page full of tech advice
- For those wanting to use zoom for ministry this is a great Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/zoomforministry/
Recording advice from Glenn Scrivener, Speak Life:
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