Most also use a website for disseminating information to members and to those looking for a church. One creative church linked their site with the local Chamber of Commerce as they are a shore community and felt this would give visitors more insight into their congregation. I specifically wanted to know of the difficulties clergy encountered in obtaining council approval for purchasing computer equipment and expanding ministry. Many replied that it is usually a family member or a church member who has a wealth of computer knowledge that gets the web page up and running, but one church responded they were grateful their pastor had some computer experience to get them online. One brave minister indicated he just hooked up to the Internet and told his church council where to find the web site.
Some pastors are online and doing church business from their own personal computers.
Many pastors who keep up with the emails on a daily basis are finding that it is a way to keep in touch with their parishioners without the hassle of phoning, getting an answering machine, and awaiting a reply. They are able to handle prayer requests, counseling needs of their congregations and are able to keep in touch with leaders regarding meetings and conferences. Some even use email to receive committee reports and to share minutes of meetings with those not present, however many indicated it was tough to get committees to learn to communicate with each other online and to learn how to submit their reports via email. A few churches post the pastors sermons online. Not all clergy would appreciate having their sermons published online, especially those who do not prepare a manuscript, and many, myself included, often respond to the receptiveness and mood of our congregations when preaching.