The Church finds herself in the midst of a technological revolution, the biggest communication shift since the advent of the printing press.

The printing press created an information explosion, allowing people to absorb tremendous amounts of knowledge. But this modern, digital revolution brings a new type of communication. It pairs content with dialogue, discussion, and relationship, moving beyond a one-way flow of information.

New tools have burst onto the scene to provide this dual-offering of knowledge and community. Nicknamed “New Media”, these tools include social media, blogs, podcasts, video-casts, mobile media, and interactive websites.

Finding herself in a world that has dramatically embraced these tools, the Church is at a crossroad. If her missions of evangelization, formation, community-building, and social-justice are to continue in future generations, she must harness these tools and utilize them now. Thankfully, many Catholics are doing just that.

The Church and New Media brings together innovators, visionaries, and experts on the relationship between faith and technology, packaging their wisdom into the definitive book on New Media and the Church. It shows not only how the Church can exist in the digital age, but how she can effectively proclaim the Gospel today.

In addition to profiling many New Media innovators and relevant Church teachings, the book features chapters by the following New Media experts:

Foreword
Cardinal Seán O’Malley

Introduction / The Digital Continent
Brandon Vogt
 

Part One / Put Out Into the Deep: New Media & Evangelization

Chapter One / The Virtual Areopagus: Digital Dialogue with the Unchurched
Fr. Robert Barron
Chapter Two / Into the Light: Sharing the Spiritual Journey
Jennifer Fulwiler
Chapter Three / Speaking Their Language: Connecting with Young Adults
Marcel LeJeune
 

Part Two / That the World May Know: New Media & Formation

Chapter Four / Modern Epistles: Blogging the Faith
Mark Shea
Chapter Five / New Wineskins: Fresh Presentations of Ancient Tradition
Taylor Marshall
Chapter Six / Digital Discourse: The New Apologetics
Fr. Dwight Longenecker
 

Part Three / Fostering the Flock: New Media & Community

Chapter Seven / Innovative Shepherding: New Media in the Diocese
Scot Landry
Chapter Eight / High-Tech Community: New Media in the Parish
Matthew Warner
Chapter Nine / That They May Be One: Cultivating Online Community
Lisa Hendey
 

Part Four / To the Ends of the Earth: New Media & Mission

Chapter Ten / Changing the World: New Media Activism
Thomas Peters
Chapter Eleven / Moving Mountains: Building a Digital Movement
Shawn Carney (40 Days for Life)

Conclusion / To Infinity and Beyond: The Future of the Church and New Media
Brandon Vogt

Afterword
Archbishop Timothy Dolan

Glossary
Appendix / New Media How-To

One danger of our New Media Age is a deepening of the so-called ‘digital divide.’ Those without online skills will be increasingly separated from the rest of the world, both socially and economically. The Church and New Media aims to curb that trend.

100% of the royalties from The Church and New Media will help establish computer labs throughout schools in the Archdiocese of Mombasa, Kenya.

Besides providing computers, the royalties will also provide computer literacy training. Through this, The Church and New Media will be a ticket for many Kenyan students to the ‘digital continent.’  You can see pictures here and make additional donations through Catholic Relief Services.