New Media Adaptation through Environmentally Friendly Dissemination Messages at a Religious Organization during the COVID-19 Era in Indonesia

Abstract

This study seeks to explore new media adaptation through environmentally friendly dissemination messages at a religious organization during the Covid 19 era in Indonesia. This study used the phenomenographic method in a constructive/interpretive paradigm to explore the difference in the experience of members of the congregation who participate in online worship versus face-to-face worship to demonstrate environmentally friendly dissemination messages. Data collection was carried out through in-depth interviews with informants who represented three levels of membership of ordinary members, church administrators, and organization administrators. Secondary data was obtained through the documentation of social media of the religious organization (the Christian Church of East Java) in Surabaya, East Java Province, Indonesia. The findings of this study confirm different variations of experience in synchronous and asynchronous worship. The variety of experiences is divided into knowledge, feelings, and mindset of the congregation. Synchronous message dissemination contributes strongly to the knowledge, feelings, and mindset of the congregation in facing changes in worship models. This study contributes by offering an alternative to the phenomenographic method in the study of organizational communication. The limitation of the study lies in the object of the study which is limited to informants from the local church in urban areas. This research has yet to accommodate the online worship experience for congregations in rural areas.