Day conference on Presence, Communication and Digital Media Technologies
On Friday 13 December 2019 there was a day conference at Cliff College to explore questions about the nature of online life and Christian experience.
The purpose of the day was not only to meet together for reflection but to help inform the Faith and Order Committee’s work on the nature of online life. It was an opportunity to hear and take account of the varieties of usage of communication technologies amongst church communities, and reliable research into benefits and effects on relationships, habits, mental health, social cohesion, and so forth.
The day focused on the theme of ‘presence’ which included
thinking about the character of gathered or dispersed communities
distinctions between online activity and face-to-face interactions
connections between data and identity
ownership of media platforms and spaces
the broad variety of experiences with media technologies, and their continuous evolution