Those [insert appropriate adjective here] screens

Our church staff often gets interesting feedback from the congregation when we choose to use the video projection system in the 11:00 worship service as we did last Sunday. Doing so is never a frivolous, last-minute decision. The staff weighs very carefully the pros and cons in our decision making process. We have heard myriad opinions on the screens, both against AND for; and we anticipate that we will continue to hear them. Further, we do listen to what people say … especially when they say it politely. (The 8:30 congregation has issues as well, but they are rarely about the projection system).

One of the reasons we do not use the screens more often in the 11:00 service is that we have some members who find it quite difficult to pay attention to what God might be saying to them in worship if the screens are used (or if certain pieces of furniture are not arranged according to their liking). In light of that understanding, your staff tries to apply the principles taught in Romans 14:13 – 15:6, I Corinthians 8:7-13, I Corinthians 10:23-24, and 10:31-33, seeking to enable as many as possible to worship as freely as possible and to do so as often as possible. Last Sunday we felt that the images shown would remind us of God’s work in and through this church under the leadership of a former pastor (who served here for some 27 years before retiring) … and in so doing, give us cause to praise and glorify God. Knowing that some of our members find it a stumbling block, we consider very carefully each decision to use the screens in 11:00 worship.

Some may find it interesting that the opinions on the use of the projection system do not fall along predictable age lines. It is at least important to know. I have been told, “those of us in my generation don’t want the screens” followed closely by enthusiastic appreciation from another member of the same generation … perhaps from the same Sunday School class or WMU circle! To whom do we listen? All … in equal measure.

While disunity is unsettling to me (especially over something so eternally meaningless as whether to use screens in worship), I am reminded of the wisdom of my great-grandmother passed down to me 20 years ago as my wife and I were preparing for our wedding – “If two people agree on everything, one of them is not necessary.” That’s enough to think about for now.