A recent PBS Religion and Ethics broadcast spotlighted how Social Media is challenging the traditional role of church authority. The segment suggested that the use of Social Media may spark changes in the church of greater magnitude than those of the printing press and Martin Luther.
- Seekers are forming first impressions of religion online. Local congregations must find ways to help seekers find them.
- Theological training must extend beyond the seminaries as the role of laity becomes pivotal to successful ministries.
- Clergy will have to develop skills to communicate their knowledge in new forums that will have many outside influences.
- Dialog will be truly two-way as the voice of the laity is likely to outnumber that of clergy. The Church must be ready to embrace, encourage and participate in broad religious dialog.
- Anyone can publish. Writers do not have to seek the acceptance of centralized authorities such as publishing houses.
- Buildings are becoming less important. Congregations can and are forming around broadcast services in their homes without a pastor as leader.
- Offerings of the faithful, once funneled through the local congregations to centralized authorities to divvy up between denominational ministries easily can be given directly to selected ministries.
- Loyalty to denominational mission outreaches, once taken for granted, will be challenged.
- Religious culture will be characterized by constant change. Mission, music, dialog, worship, stewardship, relationships, will be challenged again and again.
- Motivating Christians to work together in ministry will become a challenge as they become less involved in building-centric congregational ministries.
- Mission strategies must be developed to attract attention to important but less publicized needs.
- Denominations and congregations will want to monitor Social Media but they must accept that they cannot control it.
- Standards for judging congregations can soon be thrown out the window. A church of any size and budget CAN be an effective witness! Online statistics will be as important as attendance.
- The good news is that the Small Church can be a powerful voice in Social Media. All congregations should be looking to implement online strategies.
Does your congregation have an online Social Media strategy?
Download our simple formula for beginning a Social Media ministry.
