Statement on Encouraging Digital Witness Within LCMS Congregations
Authors:
Matthew Gehne, Co-Founder of Lutheran Digital, Parishioner of Our Savior LC (Mid-South) in Nashville (TN)
Steven Policastro, Co-Founder of Lutheran Digital, Parishioner of St. Luke’s LC (SELC) in Oviedo (FL)

The local congregation is where Christians gather around Word and Sacrament, grow together in faith, and share in the life of the Church. Technology provides valuable opportunities to support this life together and extend the congregation's witness into the surrounding community.

The Lutheran Digital Mission League believes that digital outreach should begin in the local congregation, with pastors taking an active role in communicating faithful Lutheran teaching online. Through websites, social media, and other digital platforms, congregations can introduce their neighbors to parish life, provide opportunities to learn the faith, and encourage participation in the Church's worship and fellowship.

Strengthening this work requires cooperation between pastors, church workers, and laity, using their respective gifts to support the congregation's mission and communicate clearly what it confesses.

The Lutheran Digital Mission League encourages congregations to consider the following priorities:

1. Equip Pastors for Digital Witness. Encourage and support pastors in regularly creating content that faithfully teaches Lutheran doctrine, explains Scripture, and addresses theological questions. Sermons, Bible studies, podcasts, and educational videos can extend the reach of pastoral teaching, clearly proclaim Christ and His saving work, and direct people toward the local congregation, where they receive God's gifts through Word and Sacrament.

2. Maintain a Digital Front Door. Establish an accessible, accurate, and mobile-friendly website that clearly communicates the congregation's identity, confessional affiliation, worship times, location, and contact information. The website should also introduce visitors to Lutheran teaching and worship, provide educational resources, and make it easy to connect with the pastor and congregation.

3. Utilize the Gifts of Laity. Encourage members experienced in photography, video production, graphic design, web development, social media, and related fields to support the congregation's digital witness. A communications team with clearly defined responsibilities can coordinate these efforts under pastoral and congregational leadership, allowing clergy to focus on theological teaching while laity contribute their technical and creative expertise.

4. Support Responsible Digital Stewardship. Include digital communication in congregational planning and budgeting, accounting for websites, equipment, software, and training. Maintain accurate online information, secure access to accounts, and organized records of digital assets. Establish appropriate practices for cybersecurity, privacy, photography, livestreaming, and responsible technology use.

5. Document and Share Congregational Life. Use photography, video, audio, and written communication to share the life of the congregation, including worship, Christian education, sacred music, fellowship, mercy, outreach, and important milestones. These efforts introduce neighbors to Lutheran parish life, strengthen congregational communication, and preserve meaningful records for future generations.

6. Strengthen Cooperation Across the Church. Collaborate with neighboring congregations and those throughout the District and Synod to share educational materials, technical expertise, training opportunities, and other resources. These partnerships can support under-resourced parishes, reduce duplicated efforts, and strengthen the Church's collective digital witness.