The Worship Planning Committee of my church asked me to read and review a book for them, so I thought I'd post what I wrote here:

High-Tech Worship?, by Quentin J. Schultze, is a short, easy-to-read book on “using presentational technologies wisely.” His premise is that technology is simply a tool that can be used to enhance worship. Technology in worship should not be rejected out of hand, nor should it be simply adopted as it is used in society. Rather, we must adapt technology to fit into an appropriate liturgy, encouraging worship by helping the congregation listen to God and respond to His Word.

Using technology wisely requires much thought, planning, and sacrifice. It is not, and must not be adopted as, a “quick fix” for some problem that the church may have. If technology is used for the wrong reason, or if it is too complex, distracting, or awkward, it can harm the act of worship. Some churches would benefit from less technology as surely as others could use more.

The book has many useful lists that remind us what unintended consequences (and unexpected benefits!) could result from adoption of technologies. For example, presentational technologies are most often used to enhance singing, which can be very positive; however, the author warns against encouraging musical “illiteracy” through the excessive use of simple melodies, and might suggest the projection of music as well as lyrics.

I would encourage anyone involved in worship planning to read and reference this book, especially when changes in the use of technology are being considered.