Developing a Theology of Virtual Meetings
All my work meetings are virtual. This term I’ve taught my graduate course on Zoom, I’ve had my board meetings on Zoom, and I’ve met with my IMT team members on Zoom. The pandemic has shifted the majority of our work interactions from face-to-face to screen-to-screen, I wanted to share some of my reflections on this shift in relating to each other. Perhaps this is the beginnings of forming a theology of virtual meetings.
The Need for Human Relationships
It is widely known that there is today an even greater need for human relationship now that so much is on line. Social distancing is actually physical distancing. But does it require relational distancing? Not only what we call “essential workers” (medical, repair people and food suppliers) will be needed but all face-to-face services that express dignity, help and love to our neighbours will still be needed, more so than ever.
There are many things robots can do, and do so helpfully. Robots can clean big stores, patrol borders, vacuum our floors, serve as security alerts, harvest some of our agricultural products—all well defined tasks. But, as an article in National Geographic notes they have not been able to “master humans’ ability to multitask or use common sense.”[i]
The Human Robot?
The term robot is exactly 100 years old, dreamed up by the Czech writer Karel Capek in a play in which robots act and look like people.[ii] But what was foreseen in science fiction is now. Robots can recite Scripture and answer questions (some of them at least) with seemingly human voices. But they cannot pray. Robot dolls can even meet some sexual needs but not our deeper need for intimacy. They can do some of the things friends do for us but not meet our need for love. Education, counselling, pastoral care, community services, prayer ministry and the simple ministry of offering common sense requires the human touch, the human spirit, the human heart.
In the same National Geographic article Scott Campbell, speaking to his son who is getting into construction robots, makes an important statement: “What is important about work is not what you get for it but what you become by doing it.”[iii] And what are we becoming? So, in one sense the pandemic and its aftermath will produce a massively increased rate of using robots and AI. But it will, at the same time, produce a massive need for the human touch. Can that happen, that human touch, on the internet?
Relating Virtually
Speaking to this with great depth a business consultant in Malaysia describes his experience with working with people on Zoom. On one hand he admits it is hard to be attentive to God, let alone the neighbour:
To facilitate online, I use multiple screens and devices to keep track of Zoom gallery view, Zoom chat, Powerpoint, speaking notes, WhatsApp, Web and online documents. As I glance at my face – am I properly framed in the box? – a dozen heads in square boxes stare back at me. It’s uncanny. My brain goes into hyper-drive as it decodes hundreds of facial gestures per second emanating from the mosaic of pixilated heads. At the same time, I'm staring at the glowing green dot on the laptop camera to establish eye contact. It's hard to relax. The "continuous partial attention" tires the eyes.[iv]
But then Ung reflects on how Zoom can be an instrument of neighbor love. He quotes Caroline Ong, the CEO of Leaderonomics, Malaysia: "What's true in-person is largely true online." Ung then draws on Scripture and the Desert Fathers of the early church.
Perhaps the apostle Paul could serve as our biblical guide for navigating Zoom. He zoomed about in Asia Minor in a slow boat but he didn't blame the boat when it sank and nearly killed everyone. He used the things at hand for the sake of the gospel: tents for work, baskets for escape, garments for healing, homes for preaching. The biggest detriment to Paul's ministry would have been prison because physical confinement kept him from speaking and worship with his beloved churches. Stuck in his prison home, Paul harnessed the latest technology of his time (ink and vellum) to connect with the saints scattered in remote places. If Paul can do this, so can we…. And so we pray: Lord, how might we keep company with you in Zoom?[v]
So whatever happens to work, workers and workplaces, and however we live, work and worship through the coming major economic recession with all the attendant belt-tightening and creative initiatives, God will be God, and we will find a way to contribute to the kingdom of God through witness and work. That indeed is what we are called to do: to join God in contributing to human flourishing. In that way we bring in the kingdom where we live and work.
References:
[i] David Berreby, “The_Robots_Are_Here,” National Geographic (September, 2020), 40-73.
[ii] Berreby, “The Robots,” 61.
[iii] Berreby, “The Robots,” 73.
[iv] Ung, Alvin. "Called to Zoom: Encountering Christ in a Remote Place." Doing God's Business, https://doinggodsbusiness.com/blog/called-to-zoom. Accessed 03 Dec 2020.
[v] Ung, “Called to Zoom.”
