WCC News: European Christian Internet Conference in Cologne inspires churches to embrace the digital age

Exploring the intersection of theology and technology in the churches today, 27th European Christian Internet Conference (ECIC) gathered digital communicators from churches across Europe in Cologne, Germany this week. The stained glass window in the the Cologne Cathedral, designed by German artist Gerhard Richter features more than 11 thousand glass squares/’pixels’ in 72 colours, arranged randomly by computer, with predetermined reflections and repetitions among the lanes. Photo: Ivars Kupcis/WCC 29 September 2023 With the theme “Embracing the Digital Age: The Intersection of Theology and Technology in Today's Church”, the annual ECIC conference explored what it means to be a church in the digital age, how churches can establish a reliable and impactful presence on digital platforms, and what are the challenges for the churches’ missional identity at a time of war. After being held online for the last two years, the ECIC conference in Cologne gathered digital communicators and pastors working with communication from churches in Germany, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Italy, Poland, Switzerland and Ukraine. Participants of the conference learned from each other, discussing the engagement of churches in the digital platforms in their countries and sharing their most recent work. Topics of discussions included strategies for leveraging technology to deepen faith and connect with congregants, the accuracy and accessibility of the church content in the digital age, using data to increase church presence & visibility, and how to navigate the challenges of artificial intelligence. During the annual meeting of the ECIC network its board for the next 4-year term was elected, the board members: Agnieszka Godfrejow-Tarnogorska (chair of the board), Henna Ahlfors, Lutz Neumeier, Christoph Breit, Ivars Kupcis. Participants of the meeting decided that the next annual conference in 2024 will take place in Geneva, Switzerland. The European Christian Internet Conference (ECIC), established over 20 years ago, brings together a diverse array of digital professionals - from online pastors, digital strategists and content creators, to web and social media managers and beyond. They represent a broad spectrum of churches and Christian organizations, reflecting the many expressions of Christianity across the continent. Video recordings of the keynotes at ECIC 2023 Learn more about the European Christian Internet Conference 27th European Christian Internet Conference in Cologne gathered digital communicators from churches all across Europe. Photo: ECIC See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland