There are a number of tensions that are inevitably created when a new technology is introduced to an organization. Sometimes these technologies threaten established processes, protocols, and even positions within the ministry. Sometimes the “battles” can get pretty ugly.
Something that I’ve learned very quickly is that technology accelerates and accentuates the already existing tension between generation gaps because the younger generation is typically pushing the ministries to adopt or use the newer technologies.
And the tension can be pretty stressful.
That’s why I’m a little jazzed about reading (someone send me a copy!) Jimmy Long’s new book The Leadership Jump, which has a sub-title that reads well: Building Partnerships Between Existing and Emerging Christian Leaders.
From Christianity Today:
Long tells real stories of pastoral teams who are trying to work it out: older leaders who want respect and younger leaders who want relationships; older leaders who want cooperation and younger leaders who want to be heard. His chapters defining change are good: decline of heroic leadership, moving from positional to earned authority, and so on. (“In this emerging culture, the more [existing leaders] are willing to give away power, the more respected they are as leaders.”)
Essentially the issue is about trust, and how it’s managed appropriately and doled out.
How have you seen technology create tension in ministry? How have you “played it well?”
churchpunk says
I have run into tension within my small group when trying to use technology to improve communications and community for the group. My attempt to help and be proactive about how our group communicated ended up in a leadership struggle. Eventually, I scrapped the blog I had setup for our group because only half of the group was using it, so it was not accomplishing what I intended. Communications have not improved and it is frustrating to me at times, but I have other things to worry about. Thinking that this is a book I should check out.
Ancoti says
Substitute change (in any form, technological, social, political, economic, the list goes on) and you have an organization in tension. The tensions existing above between emerging and existing church leaders are being fueled by much more than technology.
Those who work with new technology should not think it only for them to face. Conversely, they should not accept the complaint against them that they are rocking the boat. Because all change creates tension and we live in a changing world. The key is not to change those absolutes that are our bedrock. Like God, His ZSoin our Savior and the teachings inherent in the Bible.
human3rror says
definitely. some people think that tech is threatening those absolutes…. most of the time it's not (if ever)…
Jay says
The Pastor at my church has a blog and I've talked about how I have been pushing the church leadership to utilize social media, particularly Twitter as a ministry tool. He had posted a link to Seth Godin's piece about criticism. I sent him an email saying how he could have easily posted that to Twitter (and to his blog using something like Twitter tools) without having to even log in to his blog.
He came back, thanked me but said, "I don't want to be tethered to technology, but I do want to leverage it." Of course, having used Twitter I know it will make his job of ministering online that much easier for him, but it's going to take some work and saying what he did was a nice way of saying, "Slow down Jay." The kicker is, he's my age. We're both 38 years old, but he's 'old school' when it comes to techie things. I think he gets a little intimidated so I suspect they'll be some push back as I ahem…encourage them to expand their online ministry.
human3rror says
jay, i'm with you on this man.
stay strong and stay the course. humility disarms most opponents… but i personally haven't been able to wield it expertly… yet.
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