Statement on Encouraging Digital Witness Across LCMS Districts
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 congregations of our Synod, working together through their Districts, are called to confess the faith, communicate the work of the Church, teach the next generation, and reach their neighbors. Technology provides valuable opportunities to support this calling.

The Lutheran Digital Mission League believes that digital outreach should begin in the local congregation, with pastors taking an active role in bringing faithful Lutheran teaching into the online space. This work should encourage people to gather in person, where the Church receives God's gifts through Word and Sacrament.

Districts can strengthen this outreach by connecting pastors, church workers, and laity across congregations, especially those lacking the personnel, expertise, or resources to develop digital ministries independently.

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

1. Equip Clergy for Digital Witness. Encourage and equip pastors to regularly create and share content that faithfully teaches Lutheran doctrine, addresses theological questions, and directs people toward their local congregations. As those called to publicly preach and teach God's Word, pastors should have a leading voice in representing the Lutheran confession online. Districts can support this through practical training, shared resources, and opportunities for collaboration.

2. Mobilize the Gifts of Laity. Connect congregations with laypeople experienced in technology, communications, photography, video production, graphic design, digital marketing, and related fields. These individuals can support pastors and church workers in producing and distributing content, allowing clergy to focus on theological teaching while benefiting from the expertise and service of their congregations.

3. Strengthen Congregational Cooperation. Establish regional networks that allow congregations to share knowledge, equipment, resources, and technical assistance. Congregations with established digital ministries can help under-resourced parishes develop sustainable outreach efforts, ensuring that a lack of personnel or technical experience does not unnecessarily hinder their digital witness.

4. Improve District Digital Infrastructure. Maintain and develop district websites, congregational directories, calendars, and other digital resources that help people locate Lutheran congregations, discover opportunities for involvement, and access faithful educational materials. These resources should be accessible, regularly updated, and useful to both congregations and the communities they serve.

5. Encourage Synod-Wide Collaboration. Facilitate cooperation between Districts so that theological content, educational materials, training resources, and technical expertise developed in one location can benefit congregations throughout the Synod. Shared resources can reduce duplicated efforts and strengthen the Church's collective digital presence.

6. Address Emerging Technologies Faithfully. Provide theological guidance and practical education concerning artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies. Encourage responsible use of these tools for administration, communication, and content production while maintaining appropriate human oversight, doctrinal accountability, and the responsibilities entrusted to the pastoral office.

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