Ryan Panzer ’19 M.A. is the author of “The Holy and the Hybrid: Navigating the Church’s Digital Reformation,” published by Fortress Press in September 2022.
It was only a few years ago that digital ministry seemed like an uncertain reality. But following the shifts to online worship experiences during the pandemic, Christian leaders and congregations have realized that there is no going back to a previous normal, to a time of mostly in-person faith communities.
In “The Holy and the Hybrid,” Panzer helps church leaders develop hybrid ministries through aligning the shared mission of the church with the collective values of our tech-shaped culture. The goal of the book is to help build communities that serve as the hands and feet of Christ simultaneously online and offline.
“In this timely book, Panzer skillfully identifies and interprets the moment we are in,” says Michael Chan ’09 M.A., executive director for Faith and Learning at Concordia College—Moorhead. “With one foot in the church and one in the tech industry, he speaks with a hybridized authority that few of us can muster. ‘The Holy and the Hybrid’ offers a feast of insights that will be beneficial to a wide range of church leaders navigating monumental cultural changes.”