The COVID-19 pandemic forced churches to move to online platforms. Many leaders where not ready nor prepared for this transition. In the wake of already high tensions with new media, there was much doubt about the use of social media, YouTube, and smartphones as a way to extend the ministries of the local church.   Thankfully, one scholar (and many others), Heidi Campbell has been studying the impact of new technology on pastors and the local church for several decades.   Dr Campbell is Professor of Communication and an affiliate faculty in Religious Studies at Texas A&M University. She was also named a Presidential Impact Fellow at Texas A&M University in 2018. She teaches undergrad and graduate courses in Media studies, focused on communication technologies, digital methods and theories, as well as in her specialization of media, religion and culture studies. In 2017 she received a Transformational Teaching Award from Texas A&M's Center for Teaching Excellence.   She has written over 10 books and hundreds of articles. She is a voice that communities leaders need in this moment of social disruption.   

Find her recent works here: https://www.drheidicampbell.com/books Book mentioned in the episode: https://chbookshop.hymnsam.co.uk/books/9780334061595/ecclesiology-for-a-digital-church 

Twitter: @heidiacampbell  

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