As churches
try new methods to deliver their message, one Toronto-area
minister believes video podcasting has a future in the
ministry.
Rev. Tim Elliott, honourary assistant at The Church
of the Redeemer, and former rector of Christ Church
Deer Park recently released a video podcast of his presentation
Jazz for life: A pathway to balance.
The presentation is a mix of jazz piano, scripture
and speech, and proposes that improvisation, rhythm,
listening and freedom are keys to living a balanced
life. Rather than being limited to a select group who
attended the event, anyone can view the presentation
by downloading a copy of the podcast.
A podcast is an audio or video file published on the
Internet and available for download. Users can subscribe
to the podcast and will automatically be informed of
new episodes as they are posted, said Sean Paddison,
president of Northstreams Inc., the company that filmed,
produced, and hosts Rev. Elliott’s podcast.
Video podcasting provides an opportunity for churches
to reach out to people who may not normally be interested
in attending a service, Rev. Elliott said.
“If the message is available, if you don't have to
go to church but you could download the message and
watch a podcast, then you might actually be interested
in going to attend one [service] and becoming a part
of the Christian community,” he said.
Because podcasts are published on the Internet, they
are available to the entire world, making anyone a potential
viewer or listener.
“Podcasting is a great way to broadcast your message
via the Internet. It allows you to take any recording
of your service or sermon and publish it online as a
podcast,” Paddison said.
“Once they have been uploaded to the Internet, podcasts
are usually archived. So not only can someone see the
most recent service, they can download a service from
a week, month or even a year ago, if they wanted to.”
“Podcasting is the cutting-edge of Internet technology.
Lots of people are doing it, and even more are watching
and listening to them. They are a great opportunity
for people to create quality productions without huge
expense,” he said.
Churches often distribute cassettes, and in the past
have broadcasted services on the radio. Rev. Elliott
believes podcasts have the potential to be the next
step in the evolution of distributing recordings of
sermons and services.
A podcast could also appeal to those who are away on
weekends or traveling and want to stay connected to
a church, or anyone looking for a message, he said.
“People that can't come to church - that's the elderly,
the shut-ins and the sick - the church traditionally
has always been concerned about those folks,” he said.
Podcasting has potential because the clergy is innovative
and often embraces new methods and technologies to deliver
their message.
“Most of the clergy that I know are highly creative
people, and are usually looking for opportunities for
their own congregations to move forward and do interesting
things in ministry,” he said.
He points out that the clergy were some of the earliest
users of the Internet because it provided access to
a large variety of music, so publishing services as
podcasts is quite viable.
Although Rev. Elliott sees the potential for podcasting,
he still thinks the best way to worship is as a group.
“I don't think there's any substitute for being together
in person, but it isn't always possible these days.
And so if people want to stay connected, there are technological
ways you can stay connected without having to be there.”
Tim Elliott's podcast Jazz for Life: A pathway for
Balance is available at http://www.timelliott.ca/fc.html
Visit his website at http://www.timelliott.ca/
Northstreams Inc., specializes in the production and
hosting of audio and video podcasts and electronic press
kits (EPKs) for clients in the Greater Toronto Area.
For more information visit the website: http://www.northstreams.com/
Adam Peck is a freelance journalist in Toronto,
Canada.
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