TY - JOUR T1 - A Study of Church/Ministry Internet Usage JF - Journal of Ministry Marketing & Management Y1 - 2002 A1 - Robert E. Stevens A1 - Paul Dunn A1 - David L. Loudon A1 - Henry S. Cole KW - Church KW - Computer KW - Contemporary Religious Community KW - cyberspace KW - internet KW - Internet access KW - Internet use by churches and ministries KW - Mass media KW - national survey KW - network KW - New Media and Society KW - new media engagement KW - New Technology and Society KW - online activities KW - online communication KW - Online community KW - religion KW - religion and internet KW - Religion and the Internet KW - religiosity KW - religious engagement KW - religious identity KW - Religious Internet Communication KW - Religious Internet Communities KW - religious organizations KW - sociability unbound KW - Sociology of religion KW - users’ participation KW - virtual community KW - virtual public sphere KW - “digital religion” KW - “media and religion” KW - “media research” KW - “online identity” KW - “religion online” KW - “religious congregations” KW - “religious media research” AB - This manuscript reports the results of a national survey of Internet use by churches and ministries. The mail survey to a random sample of 500 churches and ministries sought to determine the proportion of churches/ministries with Internet access, how the Internet was being used by their organization, and organizational characteristics. A total of 448 questionnaires were delivered and 113 were returned resulting in a response rate of 25.2%. About 93 percent of the respondents surveyed reported using a computer. Of that 93 percent, about 70 percent reported they had Internet access. When asked about how the Internet has helped their church, respondents reported communications with others as the most important benefit, followed by staying better informed on products and services, and as a research tool for sermons and Bible studies. Among respondent churches who had Internet access, about 37 percent had a webpage. Of those who did not have a webpage, 58 percent plan on having one within a year. The most common ways churches use their website were found to be (1) describing features of the church such as service times or scheduled events, (2) creating a way to communicate with others about the church, (3) providing a way for people to contact the church by e-mail, and (4) image creation. Respondents cited several benefits of having a website: (1) improved communication, (2) increased member knowledge about church programs and (3) increased attendance at church services or activities. VL - 7 UR - http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1300/J093v07n01_03#.Uin3-Masim5 IS - 1 ER -