Study guide I
n the beginning there was email, and we saw that it was useful. Now there are hundreds of ways to communicate by text, voice, photo or video—not only via computer but
with all sorts of portable electronic devices. Social media has transformed how we communicate with one another, pro- viding both challenges and opportunities for Christians.
Exercise 1: My social media • Which social media—Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc.— do you use, and how? • Do you access it on computer, portable device or both? • How has it changed the way you communicate with family and friends? • Do you find yourself more closely connected or less closely than before? • What are the ways you use social media now? • How can you use social media to share your faith with oth- ers? To invite them into the life of your congregation?
Exercise 2: Media inventory Social media offers many low-cost ways for your congrega- tion to reach both members and people who need to hear the good news of Jesus Christ. Starting with your church’s website (it has one, right?), take an inventory of how your congregation communicates. • What information is on the website? • Can people read or listen to sermons, contact staff, view photographs, learn about Lutheranism, check on upcoming events, link to Lutheran sites or connect to other social media? • Does your congregation have a Facebook page? How is it used? • What other social media are used? Now compare your inventory to that of a congregation
in your community that uses social media to great effect. Report to your pastor or church council.
Exercise 3: Media mission • Why, in God’s name, should your congregation get involved in social media? How can it be a ministry? • What’s in it for the church? What’s in it for people?
By Robert C. Blezard Social media: Accessing the church
• How would a social media ministry’s purpose and mission be different from other ministries? Draft a “media mission statement” that would outline the church’s purpose, use and goals for social media.
Exercise 4: Ministry potential What can you accomplish with social media? On a white- board or poster, list all of the specific communication tasks possible with the Internet and computer or mobile device. When done, review each one and list the potential uses for these congregational ministries: evangelism, stewardship, discipleship, worship, children and youth, family, senior citizen, advocacy, fellowship and education (others?). Give the list to your church council or pastor.
Exercise 5: Connections Homebound members aren’t the only ones who have a hard time coming to church. Discuss: • Are people busier today than in previous generations? • Has this affected church attendance and participation? • What are other factors? • How could social media help maintain or build connec- tions between your congregation and its busy members?
Exercise 6: Newspeak Younger people tend to use social media more than their elders. Discuss whether this is true for your community and congregation. • What are the implications for outreach and evangelism among the younger generation? • How can social media enable your congregation to better reach and maintain contact with younger people? • Without social media, what are the prospects of outreach and evangelism among younger people? • How can youth and young adults of your congre- gation help show the way?
This study guide is offered as one example of the more than 390 that are currently available on The Lutheran’s website. Download guides (includ- ing a longer version of this one)—free to print and Web subscribers—at
www.thelutheran.org (click “study guides”).
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Author bio: Blezard is an assistant to the bishop of the Lower Susquehanna Synod. He has a master of divinity degree from Boston Uni-
versity and did subsequent study at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg (Pa.) and the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia.
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