Wesley Theological Seminary

This project brings together scientists, congregational leaders, and theological educators into collaborative and critical engagement of the intersections between brain science and congregational ministries of worship, care, and outreach. Their aim is to foster new initiatives and programs in churches that address the possibilities and pitfalls social media raises for brain health and religious/spiritual belief and practice for people of faith and those seeking faith.

Social media use presents generation-specific as well as cross-generational opportunities, including but not limited to faith formation and development, community-building, and learning/interacting in formats conducive to personality-type (extroversion/introversion) and culture. Social media also opens a host of generation-specific as well as cross-generational challenges for communities and people of faith/seeking faith. Challenges include bullying, harassment, isolation, and depression/suicidal ideation, and a conversation with cognitive scientists may shed light on these challenges. The project intends to stimulate congregational programs/initiatives that leverage the possibilities of social media and address context-specific challenges.

Questions of ultimate concern govern congregational life, including: ‘what does it mean to be human?’, ‘what constitutes vital connections and worship?’ and ‘what habits and practices best care for individuals and communities?’ This project aims to assist congregational leaders with exploring the complexities of these questions in conversation with current science, and to implement group projects and initiatives that foster individual well-being and congregational flourishing.