For many Americans, going to church is an essential part of everyday life. Houses of worship are often a haven for healing and respite, making the pandemic extremely difficult on faith communities across the nation.
However, religious communities and institutions have had to relent to the virus, shuttering doors until it’s safe to reopen and often with restrictions. And without church, many feel isolated and disconnected from their communities.
But, houses of worship are adapting.
Many across the country are taking steps to bridge the divide and deliver services to parishioners while keeping their communities safe and in compliance with local and state restrictions.
Many have taken to live streaming their services, distributing the feed across social media, websites and other platforms. While it’s not a replacement for in-person services, live streaming a church service helps in these ways:
It keeps church services going when people need it most — and safely.
By broadcasting online, people who aren’t able to join in person — due to illness, restrictions or otherwise — can tune in, making it more accessible. (This can also increase viewership!)
The church stays in line with local and state restrictions as case counts of COVID-19 fluctuate.
Several churches and houses of worship have been linked to confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States, forcing them to look for alternative ways to deliver their services. Live streaming has been one of the leading ways to respond to the demands of the pandemic.
In this blog post, we’ll explore how houses of worship can get started live streaming their services:
Create a Plan Based on Your Community’s Needs
Every house of worship has different needs based on the communities they serve. When developing a plan to broadcast services online, there are many considerations to keep in mind, including the communities at large, technology, budget, ease of use and more.
Let’s start at the beginning:
Start by Identifying Goals
By establishing clear goals at the beginning will help ground the project and keep all involved aligned.
Consider these questions:
Why start live streaming? Is it to increase viewership and expand the community? Or, is it simply to reach those who must stay home during the pandemic?
Identify your target goal, and then move onto logistics.
Determine the Level of Effort to Get Started
Most houses of worship don’t have the means to outfit their space with a top-notch, fully staffed broadcast operation, so it’s critical to scrutinize the resources at hand to arrive at an appropriate solution.
Consider these questions:
Can the current staff handle broadcasts internally, or is outside support needed (including acquiring equipment, setup and support)?
What is the staff’s level of comfort with audio and video technology?
Will church leaders need to share supplementary material like text, images or videos?
Knowing the answers to questions like these will help shape what technology requirements must be met in order to deliver a successful live stream.
Invest in Equipment that Makes Sense for Your Goals and Budget
Having a clear goal in mind and understanding current capabilities, comfort level and more will influence the technology needed to live stream church services. Some houses of worship will have greater needs and technical requirements than others that might only need a basic audiovisual (AV) setup.
Consider these options:
The ‘Freemium’ Option
For houses of worship merely looking to dabble in online live streaming, it might work best to simply set up a smartphone on a tripod and broadcast live via Facebook, YouTube, or another platform.
This type of set up allows staff with very limited resources to deliver their services online, with little to no additional cost or technical training.
The downsides of this “freemium” option include limited support, low-quality video and audio, and a smaller reach audience size. If the goal is to expand viewership, broadcasting to social media platforms should be a part of the plan — but not the whole plan.
A Simple Solution with Professional Results
As camera and microphone quality have steadily improved in recent years — while costs have gone down — achieving a professional-level broadcast is more economical than ever.
Depending on the goals of the broadcast, along with budget and resources, considering a modest investment in AV technology to achieve higher quality and a more reliable live stream could make the at-home worshipping experience far greater for communities during the pandemic.
The primary equipment needed for a simple — yet professional — broadcast setup include:
An HD camera, with a tripod
Microphones (either lavalier or handheld)
HDMI and XLR cables
A live streaming platform
Encoding / decoding tools
While price can vary, a fitting investment in technology will make for a better viewing and listening experience to those tuning in from home, make for a more stable broadcast, and create a sustainable infrastructure to continue live streaming long term.
This type of solution is ideal for those with staff who feel confident enough to invest in an ongoing broadcast solution for a community that will tune in regularly, while also aiming to attract new members. The learning curve isn’t too great for a system like this and often requires little setup to operate successfully, making it simple to use.
Click here to see the system that CommLink installed at St. James Church in Groton, Massachusetts.
A Fully Outfitted, Professional Broadcast Studio
For those houses of worship looking to lean into live streaming for several services a day, broadcasting to a captive audience, it’s best to consider outfitting the space with a fuller suite of tools.
Extending beyond a free or even a simple AV setup will require more time and attention to understand the needs and goals of the church, so that the right technologies are selected for the job.
A system like this would likely include several cameras, microphones, and a broadcast suite with equipment for editing, switching, graphics and more. Likewise, it requires skilled and dedicated technical staff to operate the equipment, train and support church leaders, among other responsibilities.
Most houses of worship just starting out won’t take this route, but the technical requirements will stem from the goals of the institution and needs of the community.
Don’t Let the Pandemic Stop You from Worshipping
It’s hard to let go of ground-in routines, remain separated from communities, and boxed in during the pandemic. While the disruptions seem limitless, foregoing worship in person has been particularly tough on many, and while a live stream doesn’t replace the in-person experience, it does revive connections among those parishioners who can’t sit in the pews.
For those organizations just starting out, it can be difficult to know where to start, how to select the right technology, and where to turn to for ongoing support. Consider reaching out to a systems integrator like CommLink to get started with a live streaming solution that will fit your needs. See our Solutions for houses of worship.