The Hybrid Congregation - by Michael Eugene Huerter (Paperback)

About the Book

"Can church really be hybrid? The Hybrid Congregation is a groundbreaking exploration of how church worship practices are evolving in our digital age. Written by seasoned church musician and scholar Michael Huerter, The Hybrid Congregation guides you through a detailed account of how congregations are adapting to digital mediatization, enriched by interviews with leading scholars and practitioners. Discover vibrant online communities that thrive through digital life together, challenging traditional notions of participation and embodiment. The Hybrid Congregation explores how technology has become an integral part of our daily lives and how it is impacting religious practices in unexpected ways. With the rise of online platforms, including social media and video conferencing tools, the concept of a physical church space is being redefined. The virtual world is now an extension of our physical reality, blurring the lines between what is considered "real" and what is not. Whether you're a music minister, theologian, or a curious layperson, The Hybrid Congregation invites you to rethink worship in a hybrid world, making it a must-read for anyone invested in the future of church ministry"-- Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

Can Church Really Be Hybrid?

The Hybrid Congregation is a groundbreaking exploration of how church worship practices are evolving in our digital age. Written by seasoned church musician and scholar Michael Huerter, The Hybrid Congregation guides you through a detailed account of how congregations are adapting to digital mediatization, enriched by interviews with leading scholars and practitioners. Discover vibrant online communities that thrive through digital life together, challenging traditional notions of participation and embodiment.

The Hybrid Congregation explores how technology has become an integral part of our daily lives and how it is impacting religious practices in unexpected ways. With the rise of online platforms, including social media and video conferencing tools, the concept of a physical church space is being redefined. The virtual world is now an extension of our physical reality, blurring the lines between what is considered "real" and what is not.

Whether you're a music minister, theologian, or a curious layperson, The Hybrid Congregation invites you to rethink worship in a hybrid world, making it a must-read for anyone invested in the future of church ministry.

Review Quotes

"With the diagnostic rigor of his academic mind and the compassionate bedside manner of his pastoral heart, Michael Huerter gives a compelling and thorough assessment of the congregation in the digital age. Especially after the mediatized dislocations of the past decade, this book lays bare the myriad interlocking systems that produced our current moment of fracture and encourages us to refocus on the task of building richly textured Christian communities, whether online or off."

--Joshua Kalin Busman, assistant dean of the Esther G. Maynor Honors College and associate professor of music at University of North Carolina at Pembroke

About the Author

Michael Huerter (PhD, Baylor University) is a pastor at Holmeswood Baptist Church in Kansas City, Missouri, where he leads worship and works to build community and connection. As a lifelong church musician and digital native, he is interested in engaging with and contributing to scholarship that bridges the gap between research and practical ministry.