Many early television shows were simply photographed radio shows. It took a few years before new patterns emerged. We're in the same position with video screens in worship. We're still discovering what the screen is in worship because it is like many things but nothing in particular. Part of the problem is that the screen does not naturally have a strong model that's already part of worship. The Function of a ScreenSo, what is the screen like?
Some of these models might offer some possibilities, but none are a direct fit. None of these models both take full advantage of the capabilities of the medium and reflect the purposes of worship. Incorporating the Screen with Traditional VisualsOne helpful approach to considering the role of visual media in worship is to look at what visuals we already use in worship. 1. Architecture. Whether your sanctuary is ornate or plain, it visually says something about what's important in worship. If the screen is an architectural element, it should function in conjunction with the room, not compete with it. Maybe that means placing the screen in as unobtrusive-yet-visible position as possible. The perfect screen disappears when not in use, not so much by retracting but by blending into the background by using a default color palette for graphics that matches the room. When the screen should not be the focus of attention, it could display a plain, simple image that reflects the style of the room rather than leaving a stark white rectangle on the wall. 2. Liturgical furniture. Like architecture, the furniture declares something about what we value in worship. The screen is often a de facto piece of liturgical furniture, serving as a focal point for leading worship. As with architecture, the goal is to avoid having the screen compete with other elements. In many churches, for example, the most functional place for the screen is centered on the front wall, often right over a cross. Since Christ's cross crystallizes the very reason we worship, covering it is not an insignificant problem, but neither is it insurmountable. If the cross must be covered, it should reappear somewhere else. Consider using a freestanding cross to replace the one on the wall. That removes the competition for wall space and also moves the cross into the action. 3. Stained glass. If the screen is like stained glass, we'll project simple symbols or Bible stories. Stained glass is static. It provides consistency as the same images hang in the walls for years, effectively becoming part of the architecture. The screen could emulate this consistency by projecting such images repeatedly. Or the screen could expand these images somewhat by telling one story through a series of images rather than in just one. Maybe the screen could focus our attention on particular symbols or stories depending on the time of year or special occasion. The key is seeing the role of visuals as shaping the worship experience through enduring symbols that shape our identity. 4. Banners. Of all the visual elements listed so far, the screen is most like a banner, but even more flexible. As a thought experiment, imagine someone who comes out with a pole, taking down one banner and hanging another throughout the service. Instead of simply declaring with one banner "it's Christmas time," a series of banners could be used to tell the Christmas story. Seeing the screen as a versatile and powerful banner that sets the tone and tells the story gets us a long way to appreciating the power of the screen for leading worship in a way that complements all the other aspects of the environment. 5. Pipe organs. If the screen functions visually like a banner on steroids, it behaves rather like a musical instrument. In fact, a pipe organ might be the best corollary for how a screen is used in worship. Like the screen, a pipe organ is a big lump of expensive technology. It needs to be installed in a worship space in a way that complements the surrounding architecture. It is used primarily to lead worship, particularly congregational actions. Just as a piano tuner is not necessarily the best person to manage a full music ministry, a "computer geek" is not necessarily the best person to run a media ministry. The same sorts of questions and thinking that go into choosing music for worship should be used to guide a visual ministry. In short, the screen is like a lot of things, both secular and religious. But maybe the best way to think about the screen is that it applies the power and preparation of a musical instrument to the visual role of an infinitely flexible banner. —Steven Koster; Adapted from "The Screen Is Like … " Leading With Light, www.leadingwithlight.com. Used with permission Discuss1. Which of the roles mentioned above (songbook, television, bulletin, and so on) do our screens play? 2. How well does our screen fit with the existing visual elements of worship in our sanctuary? 3. Why is it important to have a model for how we use screens in worship?    Developing a Volunteer Creative TeamProvide proper guidance for those with creative gifts to make a truly meaningful ministry.  Blending Worship StylesResources to aid thoughtful worship planning. One Lord, One Faith, Two Services How to reach people who seek a different approach to worship. A Deeper Relevance Liturgy can take our worship to new places, and we don’t have to re-invent the wheel to get there.
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