Comunicação eclesial no espaço cibernético: o videocast luteranices como instrumento de diálogo teológico e inovação na teologia prática pós-pandemia

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic imposed on Brazilian religious institutions an urgent need to reconfigure their communicational practices, accelerating the adoption of digital technologies as a means of maintaining bonds with the faithful. This thesis investigates the videocast Luteranices, produced by Faculdades EST from 2023 onwards, as an innovative instrument of ecclesial communication within the context of practical theology in digital environments. The study analyzes how digital audiovisual tools, particularly the videocast format on the YouTube platform, can contribute to the preservation of Lutheran theological identity while expanding dialogue with diverse audiences, including the dechurched and non-Christians. The research adopts both qualitative and quantitative approaches, with content analysis of four selected episodes between October 2023 and July 2024, examining the evolution of theological dialogues and communicational practices of the program. The methodology involves bibliographic research, documentary analysis, and analysis of secondary data available on YouTube. The results demonstrate that the Luteranices videocast represents a model of innovation in ecclesial communicational management, enabling the extension of theological knowledge produced in academia beyond traditional physical spaces. The program establishes a virtual space of welcome and reflection, addressing contemporary themes such as art, spirituality, mental health, diaconia, music, vocation, and cinema, always in dialogue with Lutheran tradition. The analysis demonstrates that practical theology, when incorporating digital technologies, not only responds to external needs but fulfills its intrinsic mission of communicating faith in a relevant and transformative manner. The study concludes that the videocast constitutes an effective tool for contemporary ecclesial communication, enabling religious institutions to remain relevant in the digital age without compromising their theological depth and confessional identity, and argues that the Luteranices videocast is not merely a communication tool, but rather the materialization of a practical theology adapted and relevant for the twenty-first century, serving as a model of innovation and resilience for religious and academic institutions in the post-pandemic scenario. The conclusion unfolds on three main levels: communicational effectiveness, the application of practical theology, and a critical reflection on institutional survival.