“You Can’t Fight What’s Already Happening, Right?”: A Case Study of Christian Live-Streaming

Abstract

Abstract Since the onset of covid-19, live-stream has become a popular addition to contemporary church technologies. This case study includes interviews with six church leaders representing two churches of varying sizes, demographics, and resources in Austin, Texas, in 2019. This study applies Heidi Campbell (2010)’s Religious-Social Shaping of Technology (rsst) framework to the operationalization of community on live-stream compared to physical gatherings. Interview data and observational field notes were thematically analyzed following the four tenets of rsst. Findings show both churches use live-stream to serve three self-identified audiences: (1) members with accessibility needs, (2) the unchurched who need an introduction to Christianity, and (3) an imagined community of “burned” ex-churchgoers who still desire connection. Live-stream was unilaterally deployed to (1) meet people where they are, (2) promote healthy discourse, and (3) expand the church. Implications for deploying technology in churches without critically examining affordances, disconnection, and organizational mission are discussed.