6 Mar 2026, 10:54Dr Kirk Thomas, South England Conference PresidentWatford, Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom
Worship in a Digital Age
Pastoral Letter, 6 March 2026
The chances are that as you read these words, you are on your digital device, which is most probably just one among others you own. Many of us are glad for the administrative support that computer applications (apps) can offer. We thank God that much like any other tool available to us, we could use them in constructive ways. Of course, at times, we can also use these resources to assist us in building our connection with God and in witnessing. Digital technology is noted for the possibilities it has for spreading the everlasting gospel around the world, and millions have connected with online ministries linked with the Seventh-day Adventist Church in this way. This, I’m sure we can agree, is a development with the potential of the blessing of such fruit we will probably be greatly surprised by in eternity.
Yet, as we continue adapting to the unrelenting spread of the digital age and to what that means for Church life as we have known it, this can have some effects we can view as more challenging. Some look back at that moment when the COVID-19 pandemic was declared in 2020, and we connected and worshipped at home via devices as a juncture in history to be reversed completely. Whereas today, in 2026, we are left still greeting our brethren during church services via livestreams on Sabbaths.
For some individuals for whom online worship was a regular weekly pattern, there may even be some corroborating issues with regard to this decision. Examples are health battles of all kinds, fallout from interpersonal conflict in churches, a desire to ‘shop around’ or even be party to more content, perceptions of a lack of belonging or love. Those leading the congregation in worship, presenting welcomes or sermons, do not always address online worshippers in a very encouraging way. At times, comments can appear to belittle their online presence and worship experience because it is not in person within four walls. While meeting in person is preferable, if we appear to address online worshippers by seeming to scold them publicly or disparage their worship experience by suggesting it lacks value, will this really be helpful?
For some of us, only worship where you are visible in-person to fellow worshippers will do. For others, if we reflect, the challenge we have with digital technologies is not really with them in themselves but really with the idea of change. However, now, four years after the health emergency was declared over in the UK in 2022, perhaps we still need to accept that things will never go completely back to how they used to be.
At the core of our understanding regarding worshipping via online platforms is the important matter of how we consider ourselves to truly relate to our church brothers and sisters and with God. Jesus made interesting statements to the Samaritan woman about the essence of true worship in John 4:23-24 that are well known. As the question was raised of whether worshipping at the Samaritan Temple on Mount Gerizim, or the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem, was best, Jesus said:
“But a time is coming, and even now has arrived, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
In saying this, He showed ethnicity and location to be unimportant, which is just as well for us, where we are in the South England Conference within the UK! God is Spirit, and this is the way we must connect with Him. Could it be that in His omniscience, the Alpha and Omega, who sees the end from the beginning, could have seen all the way through time to recent digital developments, too? The meaning of the word “church” in Greek, “ekklesia”, includes an “assembly” and being “called out”, but does this always have to be done physically as well as spiritually? How do we view those brothers and sisters online, versus those who are visible to us? And can we truly worship God digitally or just in person? This is certainly food for thought.
BE INSPIRED FOR MISSION!
The chances are that as you read these words, you are on your digital device, which is most probably just one among others you own. Many of us are glad for the administrative support that computer applications (apps) can offer. We thank God that much like any other tool available to us, we could use them in constructive ways. Of course, at times, we can also use these resources to assist us in building our connection with God and in witnessing. Digital technology is noted for the possibilities it has for spreading the everlasting gospel around the world, and millions have connected with online ministries linked with the Seventh-day Adventist Church in this way. This, I’m sure we can agree, is a development with the potential of the blessing of such fruit we will probably be greatly surprised by in eternity.
Yet, as we continue adapting to the unrelenting spread of the digital age and to what that means for Church life as we have known it, this can have some effects we can view as more challenging. Some look back at that moment when the COVID-19 pandemic was declared in 2020, and we connected and worshipped at home via devices as a juncture in history to be reversed completely. Whereas today, in 2026, we are left still greeting our brethren during church services via livestreams on Sabbaths.
For some individuals for whom online worship was a regular weekly pattern, there may even be some corroborating issues with regard to this decision. Examples are health battles of all kinds, fallout from interpersonal conflict in churches, a desire to ‘shop around’ or even be party to more content, perceptions of a lack of belonging or love. Those leading the congregation in worship, presenting welcomes or sermons, do not always address online worshippers in a very encouraging way. At times, comments can appear to belittle their online presence and worship experience because it is not in person within four walls. While meeting in person is preferable, if we appear to address online worshippers by seeming to scold them publicly or disparage their worship experience by suggesting it lacks value, will this really be helpful?
For some of us, only worship where you are visible in-person to fellow worshippers will do. For others, if we reflect, the challenge we have with digital technologies is not really with them in themselves but really with the idea of change. However, now, four years after the health emergency was declared over in the UK in 2022, perhaps we still need to accept that things will never go completely back to how they used to be.
At the core of our understanding regarding worshipping via online platforms is the important matter of how we consider ourselves to truly relate to our church brothers and sisters and with God. Jesus made interesting statements to the Samaritan woman about the essence of true worship in John 4:23-24 that are well known. As the question was raised of whether worshipping at the Samaritan Temple on Mount Gerizim, or the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem, was best, Jesus said:
“But a time is coming, and even now has arrived, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
In saying this, He showed ethnicity and location to be unimportant, which is just as well for us, where we are in the South England Conference within the UK! God is Spirit, and this is the way we must connect with Him. Could it be that in His omniscience, the Alpha and Omega, who sees the end from the beginning, could have seen all the way through time to recent digital developments, too? The meaning of the word “church” in Greek, “ekklesia”, includes an “assembly” and being “called out”, but does this always have to be done physically as well as spiritually? How do we view those brothers and sisters online, versus those who are visible to us? And can we truly worship God digitally or just in person? This is certainly food for thought.
BE INSPIRED FOR MISSION!
