The internet as distinct and extended space for a Community of Christ congregation between 2020 and 2022

Internet technologies may provide new spaces for churches that are facing challenges in geographic spaces. These online spaces can be understood as distinct online spaces or as extensions of geographic spaces. We consider the Beyond the Walls online ministry provided by the Toronto Congregation of Community of Christ, a denomination with a growing global footprint and a shrinking population in the Global North. Examining worship services between January 2020 and January 2022, we consider the locations and languages represented in Beyond the Walls services, the distribution and social network of contributing individuals, and how the services performed on Facebook and YouTube. We found that online ministry allowed Beyond the Walls to draw from a larger, more geographically and linguistically diverse population than in-person services could have, possibly responding to denominational concerns. We also illustrate the ways that this ministry corresponds with both distinct and extended understandings of space in the online church.

Greenhalgh, S. P., Tanner, R. C. S. (advance online publication). The Internet as distinct and extended space for a Community of Christ congregation between 2020 and 2022. Journal of Media and Religion. https://doi.org/10.1080/15348423.2025.2554055