Online meetings becoming the new option

Pastors Mike Hardy of First Baptist Greensboro, left, and Keith Etheridge of Double Branches Baptist Church in Lincolnton, right, hope new technology lets churches miles apart – 60 in their case – work together more efficiently in Georgia Association.

WASHINGTON — Pastor Mike Hardy of First Baptist Church in Greensboro loves the rural setting of Georgia Association. The town he serves nudges the southern edge of the Oconee National Forest. A trip to the association office in Washington takes him through the hamlets of Union Point, Jacksonville, Bethesda, Daniel Springs, and Tyrone, across fields and country farmland.

Beautiful as it is, Hardy’s excited about seeing less of it.

Since coming on board earlier this year, Georgia Associational Missionary Andy Perryman has been tinkering with teleconferencing and videoconferencing so pastors like Hardy can be involved in the association while not losing time tending to their churches. Pastors who once lost half a day or more going to Washington or another part of the association can now log in from anywhere to discuss associational business. An added benefit is that fuel expenses drop with reduced travel.

“We wanted to provide an option for our folks to attend meetings without driving,” explains Perryman. “We’ve had three test runs – all of them successful – in anticipation of offering it for our annual meeting Oct. 24.”

A computer, webcam, and microphone are all that’s needed for pastors to participate in discussions, says Perryman. The association pays the annual $89.55 fee through Godtalk, a Christian website based in Canada that provides the conferencing option.

Georgia Association stretches from Lake Oconee to the South Carolina border, incorporating churches in Greene, Taliaferro, Warren, Oglethorpe, Wilkes, and Lincoln counties. Past Lincolnton the only thing separating moderator Keith Etheridge, pastor of Double Branches Baptist Church, and South Carolina is Strom Thurmond Lake. He testifies how the miles can catch up.

“Our association is very spread out and I’m on the furthest edge,” he says. “If there’s a meeting on the other side of our area I may drive 120 miles round trip. As moderator I’m expected to attend all meetings and not just some. Keep in mind I drive a Dodge Dakota that gets 16-20 miles per gallon.

“The trouble we’ve had is if we have something going on in Lincolnton, people in Greensboro aren’t as likely to come because of the distance and vice versa. Senior citizens also don’t like to drive after dark. We’re hoping this will boost attendance.”

Perryman notes there have been a few grumbles. After all, Baptists half-heartedly suspect there was an extra commandment on fellowshipping Moses left behind on Mt. Sinai.

“We’re hoping those at the satellite locations will have their own time of fellowship,” he answers. “The bottom line is it’s an option. If they want to come [to the main site] they can. If not they can go to a satellite location. In fact anyone, anywhere can watch and even ask questions, but can’t vote unless they’re registered at one of the sites.”

Soon after Perryman arrived to lead the association he began talking about teleconferencing. The idea stuck with pastors like Hardy.

“I was excited about the possibility. I like computers and could see the potential in us utilizing this. The trial runs have gone well for us and I’ve even used it for an individual meeting. One of our church members participated in a committee meeting using it.

“All pastors are busy,” adds Hardy, the only minister on staff at First Greensboro. “There are a lot of meetings I’d miss if it weren’t for this option. It helps me and my church participate.

“Fellowship is a viable concern. We have to ensure there are other opportunities for it. However, this is a web-based approach for meetings, planning, and organization. It’s not intended to replace being partners in ministry. This is a tool that should help us in planning and preparing so that we can have more participation in the actual ministry events.”

Perryman had used webcams in communicating with family, but never for ministry before arriving in Washington. When gas prices started to skyrocket at the beginning of the year he began looking at the technology as a viable alternative to offset travel costs.

He knew navigating through hosts such as Yahoo and AOL meant skating by questionable material and images. At the Southern Baptist Convention in June he made a motion asking LifeWay to investigate the possibility of providing the service for associations.

“I’d like to see more associations and SBC entities use this,” says Perryman. “I see it as a tool for homebound folks as well. The church needs only a webcam and a microphone. The user needs only a computer and Internet access. The implications are really limitless.”

He added that plans are being made for training in teleconferencing and videoconferencing at the Georgia Baptist Convention’s Associational Missions workshop in February, held next year in Toccoa. For more information Perryman can be reached at (706) 678-7381.

Joe Westbury/Index

Lincolnton Baptist Church served as the easternmost of three sites for a recent online meeting of leaders in Georgia Association. Sitting left to right are Lincolnton Baptist Church youth minister Stan Adams, Double Branches Baptist Church pastor Keith Etheridge, and Lincolnton Baptist pastor Dan Rosser.

Joe Westbury/Index

First Baptist Greensboro pastor Mike Hardy prepares to establish the online hookup from his church’s sanctuary.

Joe Westbury/Index

Andy Perryman, missionary for Georgia Association, conducts the meeting via his laptop with other leaders spread among two other locations. Perryman has been testing the technology as a way of cutting time and travel costs while improving cooperation and networking among pastors.