Computer Corner began as a regular feature in Ministry in 1985. It has now run its course. Our purpose in starting the column was to help pastors become aware of computers and their potential for helping with pastoral tasks. I know, based on the volume of mail I receive from pastors wondering about computer use, that it has served this purpose well. But now we have decided to move on to another way of ad dressing computer issues as related to the church. So this is my~Z (end of file) column.
While Computer Corner will no longer be run as a regular feature in Ministry, this does not mean that the editors are turning their backs on computers. Actually the elimination of the column will in some ways help us to cover the field of computers in the church better because we will be able to do more full-length articles dealing with specific computer applications. An article early in 1989 will deal with the latest ideas on how to put together a good church computer system for a price almost every church can afford with a little planning and budgeting.
In this last column, let me review some of the points 1 believe are most important for pastors as they decide how to relate to computers.
1. Desire and facility for learning to use new equipment are key factors that you must consider before deciding that you need a computer. If you know you'll regard the machine as a crazy newfangled contraption that only makes your work harder, don't even consider becoming involved with one yourself. The investment will be wasted unless you have a secretary who will learn to use it. And if you love to fiddle and fool with programming and other technical applications more than you love to be with people, that should throw caution flags in front of you too--some pastors become too machine-centered and neglect their ministry to people.
2. For most churches and pastors, an IBM PC-compatible computer will prove the most useful because of compatibility of programs and data with so many other computer users, and be cause of the wide variety of software available at reasonable prices. How ever, for graphics-intensive work such as desktop publishing, the Apple Macintosh is ahead of any other popular personal computer.
3. The primary applications for a computer in the church are in keeping membership, interest, and visiting lists up-to-date, printing directories, and working with the financial records. In these applications a computer can save hours every month, but one must also be aware of the temptation to try to do too much--to make reports with unnecessary details--and thus to waste time.
4. After a word processor, the most useful program a pastor can buy for him self or herself is an outline processor such as PCOutline by Brown Bag Software, 2155 S. Bascom Ave., Suite 114, Camp bell, CA 95008. You'll find it useful for sermon preparation and for keeping notes organized.
5. A computer concordance can be a great help in doing research and preparing materials. See the November 1987 issue for our review of various programs, and watch for an article next year updating our research.
I will continue to be interested in hearing from you regarding computer applications and how computers can help in doing the work of God, so drop me a line here at Ministry.