(Cynthia & Drew are speaking on social media and the church. I have been waiting for this talk all day!)
(Cynthia is no where to be found :))
(We're going to watch a video ... I'm going to try and find it on YouTube)
(Here's the video we're watching in the seminar:
www.youtube.com)
The lecture format where one person is talking and everyone is listening is old hat.
This is pretty key for the church in the West ... It presents us with some problems.
Everyone having a phone in their pocket presents some challenges to the Church ... But some opportunities as well.
Social media is transitioning into public media/new media
What are the values of this new media? Instant. User-generated content.
Accessibility to information/knowledge.
Went from "please turn your phone off" to "please turn your phone on"!
Worldwide conversation going on and if you're not participating you're missing out.
Theologically we must speak about these things ... The implications this new media is having on the Church
Idea of customization and personalization with new media ... One size does not fit all!
Our children are raised with an embedded set of values that the new media holds.
Cynthia's daughter receives homework assignments over text!
The Church potentially has the greatest opportunity of all taught that is fraught with problems.
(We need to be sons of Isaachar right now in the church with social media)
Become a part of going to the next level ... Let's find out what we're capable of doing and frame it in a Biblical context.
We tell our STORY (by which we are saved by) through our Facebook page, Twitter, etc. ... This is a powerful conduit through which we can reach people for the sake of Jesus.
It's quite convicting if you know someone really well online but have never given a meal to your neighbor.
We are moving into the digital world where it is more normal to meet people online before you meet them in person.
(Drew is speaking now)
A church's website is a missiological issue.
(God, that is good!)
Facebook is the fourth largest nation in the world!
What we are finding is the non-Christians are not going to your website. They don't find it helpful or attractive at all.
Internet Presence Management ... website, twitter, facebook, etc.
It is so much more than just your website ... How are you being represented online?
Who in your congregation on staff that is responsible for managing your online identity?
These are some of the new things we need to be aware of in ministry
Should we and how are you as your church what are you going to do when the questions of communion, baptism, etc. surface?
What is your theology of presence? Do you know? If you don't people will start doing things that you may not be comfortable with
Participatory media is completely unregulated, de-centralized
If you decide there is going to be no online communion in your church, how are you going to regulate that? (You won't be able to, that's the point she's making)
The back channel is going on whether you're allowing it on the front page or not. @CynthiaWare #Story09
Online issues like communion and baptism are forcing us to look deeper at our theologies and ask the question of what we believe and why.
It's not far-fetched to think that in the future, you as Christians will be able to be identified and persecuted through the use of new media.
You can have a mind of mission when it comes to mobile presence.
Is virtual community real community? It certainly starts there. The real question is "what is biblical community" and can that be done online?
You are going to run into believers that say "I go to church online"... How are you going to respond to that?
Most people in churches want a community connection point for their church of congregation
Survey to churches: What do you want from a social network?
83% Communications
44% Involvement in church/ministry activities
44% Community building/connectedness
22% Operations/church management
17% Church loyalty
If you are a senior pastor, you will need to integrate a social media strategy into your church.
You don't need to do it yourself, but find someone whom you can partner with in your church who knows what they're doing.
Let's be platform neutral. I want people to tell me how they want me to communicate with them.
"You need to have a social media strategy. You need to have one." -@CynthiaWare #Story09
And we're out.
