By Neal F. Fischer
Director of Communications
The FXUM National Gathering, “Altogether Now: Seven Generations and Beyond,” focused on the “mixed ecology” of the church. In this model, traditional congregations and new, organic faith communities coexist and support each other. To support this movement in South Carolina, our communications must pivot from institutional broadcasting. We need to meet people where they are—whether in dog parks, coffee shops, or digital spaces.
Throughout the article I will be including quotes and pictures from others who attended.
“As a pastor with two decades of experience serving congregations and churchwide, I am astounded by the transformative power of Fresh Expressions and the concept of new starts, which foster symbiotic relationships with individuals on the fringes of society. Through God’s love and grace, these initiatives have the remarkable ability to bring about profound change and community engagement. “
– Rev. Christina Johnson, Pastor of King of Glory, North Myrtle Beach and Dean of the Epiphany Conference.
Communicator’s Focus
In 2026, we must prioritize transparency and warmth over high production value. Digital audiences today value authenticity. They prefer the genuine “mistakes and hiccups” of real life over polished, prerecorded monologues. This genuineness is vital for the Digital Parish. We see it not simply as a marketing tool but as a valid site for incarnational ministry. Public social media pages act as an accessible “front door” for seekers. Private digital groups allow for deep pastoral care and discipleship.
To be truly welcoming, we should refresh our digital presence for mobile-first users. Our websites need large buttons and concise text. We also need to shift from announcements to storytelling. We should prioritize short “Jesus stories” that show how God moves in our neighborhoods. Remove exclusionary church jargon or provide brief explanations for terms like “synod council” or “acolyte.” This creates clearer pathways for engagement. Finally, create more intentional touchpoints, such as a daily 60-second video prayer or reflection. These help our community stay grounded.
A Possible Path Forward for the South Carolina Synod
Our forward movement means nurturing organic faith communities by kneading church into daily life. This starts with deeply listening to our neighbors’ longings before launching new initiatives. To do this well, we will use analytics tools such as MissionInSite and gloo to visualize where our members live and to provide detailed demographic insights for those near our churches. Such data builds empathy and helps us find ways to communicate with and serve our specific neighborhoods.
We must be intent on empowering the priesthood of all believers, moving from a clergy-dependent model to one that equips church leaders to develop impactful faith communities and disciples of Jesus by leading niche groups established in their daily lives. As these communities form, we will watch for the Holy Spirit to open doors for discipleship, eventually allowing the church to take shape through creative expressions of the Word and sacraments. To fuel this innovation, the synod could provide grants as “seed money” to leaders ready to experiment, striving toward a future in which every person in South Carolina experiences God’s love and grace. By shifting our narrative from fixing institutional decline to discerning God’s movement, we make certain that every person in South Carolina has a story, and every story is important to God.
After attending the FX event in Florida, two CVLC members and I considered ways to form Christian communities in the places we already were. We had conversations with two others in our congregation about what community they might be able to form.
- Rev. Michael Price, Pastor Christus Victor, Columbia
