Zoom Transformation
Additional Presenters:
- Nathan Heigert (also the artist who created the illustrations)
- Stephanie Smith
- Rev. Ruth Rinehart
- Zoomies: Danielis Kuchins, Larry Emerson, & Maria Clay-Emerson
Note: The slides were created by Kelly Heigert.
Treating zoom participants equitably and caringly in multiplatform worship and other church activities is an expression of love and justice that can transform the community while teaching practical lessons in inclusion applicable to other justice contexts. We share what we’ve learned about the techniques, the costs, and the rewards.
Use the discussion questions a below to create a self-led workshop.
Watching the Video Will Enable You To
- Explain how zoom inclusion strengthens the ministry of the church, and what makes it so meaningful to both remote and in-person participants.
- Amp up your own zoom inclusion initiative using a list of tips and techniques.
- Identify the parallels between zoom inclusion learnings & practices and other inclusion initiatives, and how mastering zoom inclusion can position a community to tackle more challenging initiatives.
- Address situations where full remote inclusion isn’t practical.
Contents with Timestamps
00:00 Welcome / Overview (9:25)
08:39 Section 1: Impact of Zoom Inclusion (7:28)
16:08 Section 2: Tech Elements for Zoom Inclusion (2:12)
18:19 Section 3: Worship Enhancements for Zoom Inclusion (5:14)
23:33 Section 4: Zoom Inclusion for Children (1:48)
25:24 Section 5: Our Process — The Wins and the Challenges (8:13)
(Grappling with imperfection and with technology)
33:33 Section 6: Parallels to Other Inclusion Initiatives (9:26)
43:02 Conclusion (4:04)
Discussion Questions for A Zoom Transformation: Build Community, Practice Inclusion
Before the Video
Inclusion, fundamentally, is about who is inside your circle of love. Who feels they are inside the circle of love based on how they are treated. The goal of Zoom or Multiplatform inclusion is to show remote participants, through words and actions, that they are valued and loved; that their participation is important and their presence would be missed. It comes from the conviction that remote participants are just as important as in-person ones, and from our desire to hold each other in love.
Understanding your culture
What does your church culture say about the relative importance of in-person and remote participants? Is one group considered more important than the other? How does this show up (one way or the other)?
Picturing your remote participants
Are there people in your church community who can’t come to church in person (or can’t come often) because of distance or health or other life circumstances?
If you are a regular Roomie, how important is it to you for these people to feel loved and cared about?
If you are a regular Zoomie, do you feel the warm embrace of the community?
Identifying your offerings
What does your congregation currently offer via Zoom/ Multiplatform mode (Sunday Services, meetings, groups, classes, programming for children and youth, multigenerational events, etc.)? Have you utilized one or more of these?
Keep your responses in mind as you watch the video.
Play the Video
As you play the video, you can enable subtitles by clicking the gear icon in the lower right corner, selecting Subtitles/CC, then English (United States). The clicking “CC” left of the gear icon toggles the captions on and off.
You may want to pause the video after each section and explore the questions below. If you prefer that, we’ve suggested places to stop the video. Or your group may prefer to watch the entire video and then reflect on these questions.
[Optional: Stop the video at the start of Section 2 Tech Elements for Zoom Inclusion, 16:08]
Impact of Zoom Inclusion
As you heard on the video the comments of Zoom participants, did these resonate with your own experience or cause you to think of specific members of your congregation for whom these things might be true?
[Optional: Stop the video at the start of Section 3 Worship Enhancements for Zoom Inclusion, 18:19]
Tech Elements for Zoom Inclusion
Which of your congregation’s Zoom/ Multiplatform tech elements are working well?
Are there things that happen in the physical sanctuary that are not accessible to remote participants? (Not visible, not audible, etc.) If so, how does this feel if you’re remote?
What might you easily add or change to improve the experience?
What would you like to put on a longer-term “tech wish list’?
[Optional: Stop the video at the start of Section 4 Zoom Inclusion for Children, 23:33]
Worship Elements for Zoom Inclusion
What is your congregation doing well for your Zoom/Multiplatform Worship services?
Are remote participants able to participate fully?
What could you add or change to enhance the experience for Zoomies and Roomies?
Do you have a Zoom/online Greeter each week? If so, how has this affected the Zoom Sunday experience?
[Optional: Stop the video at the start of Section 5 Our Process, 25:22]
Zoom Inclusion for Children
How does your congregation use Zoom/Multiplatform to include children and youth? On Sundays? Other days/times?
What special challenges does the children/youth programming have in offering such online accessibility?
How might you help solve these challenges?
[Optional: Stop the video at the start of Section 6 Parallels to Other Inclusion Initiatives, 33:34 ]
Our Process – The Wins and the Challenges
Has your team, your congregation grappled with the fact that Zoom inclusion takes effort?
Have you decided it’s worth the effort?
How does your congregation handle the inevitable imperfections that occur with Zoom/Multiplatform offerings?
What insights about handling these incidents did you gain from the video that might be helpful for your congregation?
What do you believe are the rewards of Zoom/Multiplatform ministry?
[Finish the video]
In Conclusion
How does Zoom/Multiplatform ministry help your congregation become more adaptive and resilient?
How do you think Zoom/Multiplatform competency can strengthen your UU community?