Lee prodded me via IM with some “Godblog fodder,” noting a NYT article on “Godcasting.” This is both not a surprise and very encouraging, seeing churches within differing denominations embrace this technology. For many years pastors have offered audio copies of their sermons, usually on cassette tapes, then later on CD, for the benefit of homebound members, or others who may have missed the sermon. Many churches now offer these audio copies for sale, usually within the context of a set. For example, this Sunday will be the fifth week on our study of Galatians, and I have no doubt that at some point after the completion of our study, we would be able to purchase the entire sermon set on CD.
One project Lee has been working on is a new podcast for the pastor at Forest Lake Seventh-day Adventist Church in Florida. Dr. Derek Morris’s Life and Teachings of Jesus course is being made available as a downloadable podcast. I helped Lee beta test the RSS feed and downloading, though I confess I haven’t listened to much beyond some of the first lesson.
Our church currently offers audio downloads of Tim’s sermons, but being in Real or Windows Media formats, I wouldn’t consider them “podcasts.” I have already e-mailed Tim, asking him and the other pastors to consider scrapping the Real and Windows Media formats for MP3. Reasons I used included the portability of the MP3 format versus the two currently used, as well as licensing fees associated with serving Real and Windows Media content. (There may be exemptions for non-profits that I am not aware of, and this point may be rendered moot.)
Our missions work in the wake of Hurricane Katrina is taking precedent over any such conversation right now (as it should), but I hope to continue dialog with Tim on this issue in the future. I have found myself listening to podcasts a little more in the past few weeks, usually while driving or while working around the house. Catching up on sermons I may have missed, or re-listening to favorites to learn something new, is a temptation I would gladly give in to.