Comments on: Keeping the Ministry Threshold of ‘Acceptable’ in Mind on Social Networks

By: Graham Brenna

Graham Brenna — Fri, 01 May 2009 10:14:17 +0000

I definitely know what you're talking about… I've never been asked to delete a tweet or a blog post or anything… mainly because the rest of my church has, until recently, been oblivious to my interweb musings. One blog post of mine that I had second thoughts about was right before Holy Week… the title was something along the lines of "We're Pimpin Easter!" I, as well as a lot of other interweb dwellers use the term "pimp" to mean "promote". I'm not sure that my church would understand that… I didn't take it down… but I was quick to post again so that it wouldn't be at the top of my page.

By: Brian Howard

Brian Howard — Fri, 01 May 2009 01:22:10 +0000

I'm a pastor and tweet 3-5 times a day, usually no more than once an hour. It's a good way for my church to "check-in" on me and see what an average week is like. I like to tweet quotes, verses, song lyrics, and little "insights" that are good for a general audience. It's helpful to tweet whether I'm at the office, hospital, conference or working from home, too.

I don't tweet about bodily functions, my uppity craving for gourmet coffee, or snarky comments. I'm in a rural, down home church– negativity and cultural snobbery won't fly. I try to limit my tweets on how hot my wife is (and she is) and how my son is a little angel…pastors are accused of being "too perfect" enough as it is.
-Brian

By: Jim

Jim — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:13:22 +0000

makes me think of some early conversations i had with mrs.g concerning my status updates.

By: Jim

Jim — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:11:31 +0000

good question

By: human3rror

human3rror — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 23:17:05 +0000

all of the above.

Every ministry is different, but there are just “things” culturally that certain ministries don't do. These are never “stated” expectations, but just come with the territory.

By: human3rror

human3rror — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 23:12:06 +0000

be willing to ride the tension. if you can't reconcile it, then don't do it.

be comfortable with the fact that someone will criticize you, no matter what you do. using social media enables them to do it faster and easier. the risk you're willing to take…!

By: Paul Steinbrueck

Paul Steinbrueck — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 20:21:37 +0000

I agree, I could use some examples, too. John, are you talking about not overwhelming people with too much info? Not divulging private info/conversations? Not scooping official announcements? Not annoying people will silly stuff?

By: fmckinnon

fmckinnon — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 17:29:52 +0000

Good stuff John, we're wrestling through that tension down here @sscc even now. I've had a few irresponsible tweets reigned in, myself.

One of the big things we're wrestling with now is the question of how to "moderate" (or if we should moderate) feedback and input on social media sites. We want to start using social media more and more to engage our people – and not just as a "bullhorn", but as a conversation starter. But, once someone posts their thoughts on your church's Facebook wall, or sends a public @reply to your twitter, it's there … and you're stuck with it.

I'd love to see you address that here on ChurchCrunch.

By: Bill Gregg

Bill Gregg — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:00:38 +0000

This post needs examples.

By: human3rror

human3rror — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:32:04 +0000

Yes. there you are… i need to link you… *editing*…