The Narthex Project

BUILDING DIGITAL CAPACITY

The Narthex aims to build digital capacity for traditional ‘analog’ churches, helping them engage both congregants and those outside the church through online ministry.

A project led by Christ Church Denver, Year 1 (2024) was focused on obligatory startup activity including staffing two fully remote employees (Fr Joseph Wolyniak, a Seattle-based 0.75 FTE Program Director, and Ashley Graham-Wilcox, an LA-based 0.4 FTE Communications Coordinator)––itself a digital capacity innovation for our congregation.

The initiative includes six pilot congregations from various denominations, locations, and digital proficiencies:

Spanning four time zones, in different ministry contexts, and representing three mainline denominations, these churches are united in responding to post-pandemic shifts in church engagement––particularly among younger ‘digital native’ generations.

BRINGING OUT NEW TREASURES AS WELL AS OLD

Key to this overall project is our commitment to remain rooted, local, sacramental, traditional churches continuing ancient Christian practices even as we experiment with modern technological modalities. As we said in our proposal: We are not trying to keep up with the nondenominational Joneses, nor are we trying to start a VR church (as satirized by comedian Jon Crist).

Instead, we are seeking to reclaim our central task of “proclaiming in word and deed the Good News of God in Christ” as whole-life disciples. Our pilot churches’ various technological experiments are, in many respects, nothing new. They are just old practices adapted to new mediums: Scripture, prayer, community, evangelism, fellowship, worship, loving and serving our neighbor. In short, our effort to “bring out new treasures as well as old.” (Matthew 13:52)

In short, the Narthex seeks to help churches recognize and strategize in response to the fact that Sunday morning is no longer our primary front door––our digital presence is.

Our Year 1 / 2024 achievements include: establishing the pilot church cohort, conducting digital health assessments through consulting with The Unstuck Group, and creating digital strategies. Key activities included peer mentoring, conference presentations, and a networking trip to NYC. Each church received a $15,000 subgrant to implement digital initiatives, including live streaming and social media engagement.

While in-person attendance declined among mainline churches post-COVID, digital engagement remained strong. Our pilot churches have accordingly refined their missions, adapted digital strategies to their traditions, and collaborated on shared resources. AI tools in particular have emerged as promising digital ministry assets.

Despite challenges, the project successfully built a collaborative learning community. The initiative will expand to 31 congregations by 2026, with Caffeinated Church as its long-term home.