By now, based on our demographic, most of our readers would have received the covid-19 vaccine. I have to say that psychologically I feel somewhat relieved: a stress has been lifted. We still have to follow social distancing rules, but at least, as far as we know, we are not spreading the virus to others. Yme Woensdregt’s article in this edition gives us a better understanding where we stand theologically in that respect.
Synod is almost here and it will be interesting to see how different it is from previous synods. For myself, and the production of The HighWay, I would have attended seminars whose focus is on imaging what our online presence might look like in the future. I have to say that I’ve been on many committees over the years that have discussed this same topic, but interesting enough the pandemic has shed a different light on how people relate online. And as usual, I have to assure you, as I have assured you previously that the print edition of the Anglican Journal and The HighWay are likely to continue in their present form for some years to come.
What has brought this to a head is the fact that the rules concerning Heritage Canada have changed. The funding that the Anglican Journal and diocesan newspapers benefited helped circulation costs. The funding now is being redirected towards “editorial,” which I assume means subsidizing salaries and so forth.
With respect to how online communication has changed, I’ve noticed a number of changes. The big question is how do we use the Internet today or in the future? For myself, I’ve been particularly distressed about the amount of scams found online and how we can get targeted based on our preferences. Also there is the question of misinformation of which there seems to be a plethora. Nevertheless, the good news is how much simpler it is to connect online and at a distance. My family, who are scattered abroad, had our first family gathering together after 20 years of estrangement. We now share our thoughts and preferences more than before in a way a phone call doesn’t do as well. And so I’m optimistic about the future of online communication for church families.
