Creating a Spiritual Home in Digital Pews at South Church Baltimore

By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware | Word In Black (WIB) – In the heart of Baltimore’s Cherry Hill neighborhood, a once-traditional church is charting a new path, embracing the digital age, and welcoming a diverse flock of worshippers — both online and in-person. South Church Baltimore, led by Pastor Aaron Hannah, has found itself at the forefront of a religious revolution, one that challenges long-held notions of what it means to gather and praise. “I was totally shocked,” admits Hannah, recalling his initial resistance to online worship. “I always thought online worship was OK. But of course, I assumed in-person was better.& RELATED:& When Faith Brings Fresh Meaning to Mentoring Raised under the watchful eye of his father’s pastorate, Hannah did whatever was needed — from leading praise and worship to driving the church shuttle bus. But his strict apostolic upbringing instilled in him a firm belief: worship, with all its pomp and ceremony, belonged within the hallowed walls of a church building, a sacred space to honor the one true audience. The COVID-19 pandemic forced him to reconsider his perspective on hybrid worship, and what he discovered was a revelation. “I learned the people had as much commitment to...