IT: the branch of engineering that deals with the use of computers and telecommunications to retrieve and store and transmit information.
When a person thinks about Church, or The Church, IT is hardly ever the first thing that is thought of. In many cases, it is the last thing that is thought of. A good IT infrastructure is essential in a business, but where does IT fit in The Church?
The first thing to consider is that all money used to purchase any equipment is either directly or indirectly derived from gifts given by the congregation. The second thing to consider is the IT infrastructure is only as good as the ability to manage it internally. The other major point to consider are the goals of the church in reaching out and if technology helps or hinders those goals.
With these considerations in mind, I see IT becoming a critical piece in an effective church in the very near future. Whether it be as simple as an effective website or a high-scale internal network, the younger generation is pushing the ministry into an increasingly digital arena. Almost every young(er) person has an email address and would prefer to communicate over email instead of snail mail. Social Networking is a trend that has made connecting and communicating so easy for anybody. When people are looking to find a church home, more and more people are looking for a website before they step foot in the door.
With this, what resources should a church invest in IT? A church that is conscious of the future should budget a minimum of 2%-5% of it’s income for maintenance and progression. If the budget is not needed for maintenance, then a church should pursue technologies that will help further their ministry. This budget number is strictly for normal maintenance, workstation replacements, server upgrades, etc. It does not account for any special needs based on projects.
The questions I ask are: How do downtime and instability effect the ministry? How much time is spent resolving issues that could be addressed before they become an issue? How easy is the network to manage? Most importantly, what can be done to increase the effectiveness of our ministry and to facilitate growth?