When Churches Discovered the Digital Divide: Overcoming Technological Inaccessibility, Hesitancy & Digital Reluctance During the covid-19 Pandemic

What is it about?

During the pandemic, many church leaders had to learn to manage the digital divide within their congregations. Research showed that this technology gap was primarily due to poor internet access within churches, age-related technology issues in congregations, and leaders' own reluctance towards digital media. This article explores the nature and traits of the digital divide many American churches encountered during this pandemic. This study of responses from 478 church leaders from Indiana on the specific challenges they faced in adopting digital media and adapting their services to the online environment revealed three challenges churches faced related to the digital divide. Specifically, the article explores the lack of internet experience and accessibility, generational gaps in digital knowledge, and leaders who were resistant to change and technological transitions influenced churches' technological transition, or digital reluctance, during the Covid-19 pandemic and what this says about the future of church ministry.

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