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Thoughts on Ecumenical Dialogue in the Digital Age
Author(s) -
Farrell Brian,
Turner Jeanine W.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
the ecumenical review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.104
H-Index - 7
eISSN - 1758-6623
pISSN - 0013-0796
DOI - 10.1111/erev.12598
Subject(s) - videoconferencing , social distance , distancing , normative , interpersonal communication , face (sociological concept) , resistance (ecology) , public relations , negotiation , psychology , sociology , social psychology , internet privacy , covid-19 , computer science , political science , multimedia , law , medicine , social science , pathology , ecology , disease , infectious disease (medical specialty) , biology
In the time of COVID‐19, because of travel and meeting restrictions, all kinds of meetings are taking place through videoconferencing. The global experience of continuing to work while observing social distancing guidelines is slowly removing the technological, normative, and required‐knowledge resistance that during normal circumstances would have hindered the global diffusion of videoconferencing we are now seeing. Videoconferencing is a welcome tool that has provided an opportunity for creating a sense of face‐to‐face interaction during a time when physical presence is often not possible. Nevertheless, this tool can present specific challenges to interpersonal interaction. This article discusses the challenges posed by videoconferencing technology in the specific case of ecumenical dialogue. Churches engaged in ecumenical dialogue need to ask how the search for understanding and agreement can succeed in the era of digital interaction.