“Communication technologies change, but the fundamentals of good, true, and beautiful communication are age-old.  How can we communicate better with one another—along with or sometimes in spite of new technologies?”  These are the thoughts of this week’s media scholar and Blog of the Weekend, Dr. Quentin J. Schultze.

Dr. Schultze (the “e” is silent) is a professor, writer, and speaker who earned a Ph.D. in communication from the Institute of Communications Research at the University of Illinois.  He is the Chair and Professor of Communication Arts and Sciences at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  I was fortunate enough to participate in a devotional he presented at the now defunct Internet Ministry Conference several months ago.

Dr. Schultze’s scholarly publications have appeared in several dozen journals.  He has also written over a hundred articles for general-interest periodicals.  He has been quoted in most of the major media, including The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, U.S. News & World Report, The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, Fortune, the Chicago Tribune, USA Today, and many other publications. He has been interviewed by CNN, CBS Radio, NBC TV, National Public Radio, and dozens of additional radio and television stations.

Professor Schultze received the Presidential Award for Exemplary Teaching at Calvin College in 2000.  He has consulted for a wide range of non-profit and for-profit organizations on communication-related issues and opportunities.  And he mentors communication scholars and practitioners across North America.

His  book Habits of the High-Tech Heart addresses some of the issues surrounding the new media and Christianity. I highly recommend the conscientious & prudent mindset of Dr. Schultze.  He says, “much of my research has focused on the impact of communication technologies on groups, corporations, families, schools, and religious institutions.  I am particularly interested in how new communication technologies such as email, blogs, twittering, and podcasting are affecting society and individuals.  Are they making us more responsible and compassionate?  More effective at work?  Do they improve our communication?  Are we more patient and empathetic because of new technologies?  Or are we more prone to gossip and snap judgments about others?  How can we use the new technologies wisely and well?”

The annual Internet Ministry Conference is well underway.  Calvin College is hosting this year’s event and our sessions are designed to give us a chance to absorb all there is to learn about ministry online.   The speakers are hand-picked experts in the field of internet ministry and literally I wish I could hear them all.

Last night our keynote was Gabe Lyons of the Fermi Project.  Taking a prudent inventory of all the technology we are using and combining it with excerpts from the book unChristian, the book Lyons co-authored with David Kinnaman, made for an evening of heady reflection and thoughtful evaluation.  As a parting gift he gave everyone the book The Hidden Power of Electronic Culture (I interviewed it’s author, Shane Hipps, last year here).

Today Dr. Quentin Schultze (who I recommend here often) will present the morning devotional.  Following devotions we’ll head into 3 days of internet-related ministry tools, skills and best practices.

Some sessions include:

David Russell of NCC – Crafting Usable Websites

Dr. Dave Bourgeois of Biola University – Best Practices in Internet Ministry

Kent Shaffer of Church Relevance – Internet Ministry Marketing and Tailored Internet Ministry

Brad Abare of Church Marketing Sucks & the Center for Church Communication along with Michael Buckingham & Holy Cow Creative & also CCC will help us define our Personality and, shall we say, frustrate, educate and motivate us towards better online practices.

I’ll speak on Thursday about Your Spiritual Gift Mix Online (how to successfully be yourself online!) so make sure and let me know if you’ll be here and we can connect.  If you’re anywhere near Grand Rapids swing by.

If you use Twitter, don’t use #IMC08 (that’s a marketing conference),  instead use #IMC2008 to follow status updates.