Authentic church membership communication in times of religious transformation and mediatisation

Abstract In most European countries, the once well-established Christian denominations have been losing ground over the past century. Against this backdrop, what kinds of communication do churches/religious groups use to stay relevant and connect with their memberships? On the one hand, religious sociologists emphasise the importance of face-to-face communication for religious groups, to maintain authenticity and plausibility structures (especially in a pluralistic and secular world). On the other hand, media and communication scholars underline the opportunities to be found within mediated communication. This leads to the question of whether the churches’ communication with their members has shifted from face-to-face communication to more mediated communication. A comparative case study based on a multi-level mixed method design provides insights into the membership communication of the two major German denominations (Protestant and Catholic). The findings illustrate a clear shift from face-to-face to mediated communication at the upper church levels. Interestingly, only a small minority of the public relations professionals surveyed referred to the importance of face-to-face communication and its authenticity. In stark contrast to the professional level communication, congregations still concentrate on face-to-face and traditional mediated communication.