The provision, design and effectiveness of websites for local Methodist churches

Abstract

This study is about the nature of the relationships between Websites – which enable global access to data and interaction – and local churches – which are congregations whose core focus is on particular, geographically-located, communities. It considers the thesis that there are significant inequalities in the provision, design and effectiveness of local Methodist church Websites which, if addressed, could result in a more consistent approach to Website provision within the Methodist Church and in better mission outcomes from the resources that are invested in Website design. The argument presented plays a part in the integration of the fields of missiology and information technology, making an original contribution to knowledge because of the way in which macro-missiological issues related to the use of technology are considered along with the micro-missiological issues related to local church Websites and the local mission priorities of individual churches. In conjunction with the gathering of new data about local church mission priorities and Websites and the production of original statistical information, new insights are revealed concerning the deployment of information technology in the context of Christian mission and, in particular, new insights into the deployment of Website technology in the context of local Methodist churches.