SOCIAL MEDIA

FOR CHURCHES

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Dr Bex Lewis

Director, Digital Fingerprint

Research Fellow in Social Media and Online Learning,

CODEC Centre for Digital Theology, Durham University

February 2015 for http://www.hereford.anglican.orghttp://www.slideshare.net/drbexl/social-media-for-churches-

hereford-diocese

https://twitter.com/drbexl

Let’s “tweet” each other… “Let’s Tweet Each Other”

SESSION 1Why Social Media?

Image Credit: Facebook Meme

Even though in practice, face-to-face

communication can, of course, be

angry, negligent, resistant, deceitful and

inflexible, somehow it remains the ideal

against which mediated communication

is judged as flawed.

Prof Sonia Livingstone, Children and the

Internet: Great Expectations and Challenging

Realities. 2009, p26

http://youtu.be/MpIOClX1jPE

SOCIAL Media

"If you want to build a presence in the social media

platform, then you need to be present."

- @unmarketing

https://twitter.com/LeistCatalano/status/473076349394255872/photo/1

@drbexl

The digital environment is not a parallel or purely virtual

world, but is part of the daily experience of many people,

especially the young. Social networks are the result of

human interaction, but for their part they also reshape the

dynamics of communication, which builds relationships: a

considered understanding of this environment is

therefore a prerequisite for a significant presence

there.

Pope Benedict XVI (2013)

@drbexl

http://youtu.be/J5R1s8lrKuQ

The Big Questions

•Why

•Where

•When

•What

•Who

•To achieve

what?

•How do the

digital tools

help achieve

this?

WHY?

Image Credit: The Worship Cloud

Understand the Culture

Image Credit: Bex Lewis, Morocco, 2014

http://youtu.be/zxpa4dNVd3c

Networks of Networks

The Church Front Door?

For many churchgoing is no longer the

‘cultural norm’. People don’t actively ignore

the church: they don’t even think about it.

Matthew 5:13-16 calls us to be salt and

light in the world, and for thousands in the

‘digital age’, that world includes social

networks such Twitter, Facebook, YouTube

and Pinterest. With literally billions in the

digital spaces, the online social spaces

presented by churches need to be

appealing, welcoming, and not look like

they are just an afterthought: they are now

effectively the ‘front door’ to your

church for digital users, and you ignore

those spaces at your peril.

http://www.churchgrowthrd.org.uk/blog/churchgrowth/growing_churches_in_the_digital_age Image Credit: Sxc.hu

http://i2.thejournal.co.uk/incoming/article6026679.ece/alternates/s615/clarke3main.jpg

We are not selling something to the world that will

make more people like us, believe in our story, join

our churches. We are trying to be something in the

world that invites connection and compassion,

encourages comfort and healing for those in need,

and challenges those in power to use that power in

the service of justice and love

(Drescher, 2011, 127)

Carl Medearis

Relax, enjoy your friends. Enjoy their company along with the company of Jesus. Point him out, freely, without fear or intimidation. You’re not responsible to sell him to them. You’re simply saying what you’ve seen. You're not the judge. You’re the witness.

Source: Netcasters?

Image Credit: Purchased Stockfresh

Social Media: More than

the cherry on the cake!

#ChristmasStarts

https://twitter.com/search?q=%23christmasstarts&src=typd

#ChristmasMeans

http://instagram.com/p/iSIc8xNmmF/

#EasterMeans

http://onlinepraise.wordpress.com/category/easter-2014/

WHY IS THERE SO MUCH FEAR?

Image Source: RGBStock

An incredible new

technology enables the

transmission of text on a

worldwide basis. It rapidly

reduces production and

distribution costs and for the

first time allows large

numbers of people to access

text and pictures in their

own homes.

https://twitter.com/hanelly/status/405754162555944960/photo/1

A moral panic may be

defined as an episode, often

triggered by alarming media

stories and reinforced by

reactive laws and public

policy, of exaggerated or

misdirected public concern,

anxiety, fear, or anger over a

perceived threat to social

order. http://www.ashgate.com/pdf/SamplePages/Ashgate-Research-

Companion-to-Moral-Panics-Intro.pdf

Image Credit: Stockfresh

Right back to Socrates…

This discovery of yours will create

forgetfulness in the learners' souls,

because they will not use their

memories; they will trust to the external

written characters and not remember

of themselves…you give your disciples

not truth, but only the semblance of

truth; they will be hearers of many

things and will have learned nothing. (Phaedrus, Benjamin Jowett trans.)

http://bigthink.

com/learning-

from-the-

past/socrates-

wouldnt-trust-

the-web-

should-we-

trust-him

Image Credit: Wikipedia

Lion Hudson

(2014)

https://audioboo.fm/boos/1577833-what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-

digital-disciple-with-changingworship

Love thy neighbour?

What does it mean to ‘love your neighbour’ in a worldin which a ‘friend’ might as easily be the kid from downthe street you grew up with as a woman in Botswanawhom you’ve never seen in person and only know inthe context of Facebook status updates, photos, andnotes? … How can we negotiate spiritual interaction inthese contexts without losing sight of basic elements ofChristian faith expressed in traditional embodied andgeographically located practices of prayer, worship, andcompassion towards others?

Tweet if You Heart Jesus, 2011, p.xiv

Human Beings

at machines, not

“are machines”

Image Source: Stockfresh

[If we are…] means by which God

communicates and reveals himself through his

Spirit, then our blog posts, status updates,

tweets, artistic images, and online comments

should be products of a life transformed by Christ

and indwelled by his Spirit. As restored image

bearers, our online presence and activity should

image the Triune God.

Byers, A. Theomedia (2013, 196)

“Technology should not dictate our

values or our methods. Rather, we

must use technology out of our

convictions and values.”

John Dyer, From the Garden to the

City, 2011,p5

What (Biblical) values do we want to

see in our (digital) world?

Image Credit: iStockPhoto

SESSION 2Opening the Toolbox: Twitter & Facebook

WHERE?

OPENING THE TOOLBOX

http://www.maylor.net/2013/08/2

5/social-media-explained-for-

churches

http://www.mediabistro.com/alltwitter/files/2014/01/social-media-networks.png

Image Credit: Landingnet.co.uk

10 Essentials for Twitter

1: 140 Characters

Train Tweets

2: Followers

http://twittercounter.com/pages/100

3: Bio

Twitter Spokesperson:

“Twitter brings you

closer to the things

you are passionate

about - and for millions

of people across the

globe that is faith.”

http://news.sky.com/story/1022800/senior-bishops-to-tweet-

christmas-sermons

https://twitter.com/c_of_e/

https://twitter.com/ourcofe

https://twitter.com/hereforddiocese

https://twitter.com/ccwinch

https://twitter.com/spckpublishing

https://twitter.com/biblesummary

https://twitter.com/Natwivity

4: RTs, MTs & HTs

RTs, MTs and HTs

5: #Hashtags

http://bigbible.org.uk/2013/03/looking-for-an-opportunity-changingworship/

http://anglicanmemes.com/2013

/03/25/the-church-of-england-

goes-to-hollywood-the-best-of-

churchofenglandfilms/

6: Trending Topics

26/01/15: 16:03

7: Favourites

8: Lists

9 : Verification

10: It’s good for…

• New connections via shared

interests

• Building your “brand”

• Pre/During/Post Event Conversations

• Breaking news

• Asking questions

• Sharing good resources

• Sharing pithy statements/quotes

• Being “polemical”

Tweeting in Church?

• Good Thing?

• Bad Thing?

• Why might/might

not people tweet

in church?

• What might

encourage more

‘engagement’?

Image Credit: Purchased Stockfresh

P.S. https://support.twitter.com/articles/14589-how-

to-add-your-phone-via-sms

http://www.c4lpt.co.uk/blog/2014/06/07/social-media-2014-statistics-interactive-infographic/

8 Essentials for Facebook

1: Personal Profile

2: Write on Walls

3: Pages

https://www.facebook.com/DigitalBible/info

Facebook functions in ministry?

• Encourage Community

• Whole (life) Church

• Groups (e.g. 20s30s)

• Give others insights into ‘church life’

e.g. photo sharing

• Offer pastoral care

• *Youth: PM’s, CC parents/another

leader in

• Advertise Events

Facebook Insights

4: Groups

http://bigbible.org.uk/2012/10/a-good-news-story-murielsowden/

5: Events

6: The Like Button

‘Amongst Friends…’

How do you feel about these?

7: Age/Gender

http://www.socialbakers.com/facebook-statistics/united-kingdom

8: Help!

LUNCH

Image Credit: Purchased Stockfresh

SESSION 3The toolbox continues: YouTube, Blogging, visual and

audio platforms

9 Thoughts for YouTube

http://www.jeffbullas.com/2013/02/11/the-facts-and-figures-on-youtube-in-2013-infographic

1: Search

YouTube: “How To Read the Bible”

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF0pVplsI8R5kcAqgtoRqoA

2: Popular?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYXGVzPydF8

http://youtu.be/ObC0lcC-hLA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lXh2n0aPyw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzIBZQkj6SY

http://youtu.be/RBQ-IoHfimQ

http://youtu.be/eWSlDlCIajw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpmM02IE6oI

3: Everyday Tools

Go to: http://www.youtube.com

4: Sign Up

5: Upload

https://www.youtube.com/upload

https://support.google.com/youtube/topic/2888648?hl=en-GB

Simple ideas for Video:

• Think of the STORIES you have to tell,

and how you might tell them –

• Events: Before/After

• Sermons: Quick Overviews/Responses

• People & Their Lives

• What can you “How To”?

• Engage with other’s videos:

• Comment (no flaming)

• Blog about them

• Add to favourites/playlist

http://www.ibtimes.com/upworthys-top-topics-lgbt-gender-equality-bullying-social-issues-dominate-2013-it-sustainable

6: Channel

7: Playlist

8: Comment

9: Simple ideas for Video

•Think of the STORIES you have

to tell, and how you might tell

them –

• Events: Before/After

• Sermons: Quick

Overviews/Responses

• People & Their Lives

• What can you “How To”?

https://vine.co/v/bTiAYaT2QpD

7 Thoughts re: Blogging

1: Blog Characteristics

• A reverse diary (most recent entry first)

• A publically accessible personal journal

• Reflections, comments and hyperlinks

• Commentary/news on a particular

subject

• Text/Image/Links including media

• Interactive, especially comments

• Potentially informal tone

2: Ideas for Content

• “See what we’ve been up to”

• Thoughts & Reflections

• Reviews (Books, films, websites) etc.

• Challenging ideas for debate

• Interviews (Text, Audio, Video)

• ‘Best Of’ Content

• ‘How-to’ Posts

• 10 things you can…

• Guest Posts

3: Get Inspired…

http://thenextweb.com/dd/2015/01/02/10-web-design-trends-can-expect-see-2015/

4: Think About

•Who are you blogging for?

•How often can you blog?

•What style of blog will you use?

•What content can you produce?

•What do you want Google to find?

•Who else can you bring on board?

https://wordpress.com

http://www.slideshare.net/drbexl/2013-decblogging-with-word-press-for-digidisciple

5: Wordpress

6: Tumblr

http://bigbible.tumblr.com

http://youtu.be/8j-Iy8fP0Ek

7: Sermon vs Blog?

3 thoughts on

the Visual…

http://j.mp/pincw

1: Pinterest

http://instagram.com/drbexl

2: Instagram

http://365project.org

3: Image Sources, e.g.

• FREE

• http://www.flickr.com/creativecommons

• http://www.sxc.hu

• http://rgbstock.com

• http://www.freebibleimages.org

• PAID

• http://theworshipcloud.com (Christian)

• http://stockfresh.com/

• http://iStockPhoto.com• See: http://bigbible.org.uk/about/policies/image-policy/ for more

Audio?

https://audioboom.com/users/51414/boos

http://www.minehead-baptist.com/how-to-podcast-sermons.pdf

http://www.whatsapp.com

http://www.snapchat.com

SESSION 4Some Strategy: When, What, Who

WHEN?

1 : Hootsuite

http://www.slideshare.net/drbexl/daily-twitter-workout

2: Buffer

3: Google Alerts

http://www.google.com/alerts

https://ifttt.com/myrecipes/personal

4: IFTTT

WHAT?

Think about

•Keywords

•Humour

•Vulnerability

•Authenticity

•Stories

Who might read it?

•God

•Parents

•‘The kids’

•The newspaper

•Your worst enemy

Image Credit: Stockfresh

H.A.L.T.

If you are Hungry,

Angry, Lonely or Tired,

step away from the

keyboard/keypad and

deal with that issue

first.http://redcatco.com/communication/stop-posting-social-media/

@BenjaminEllis

Think of the Consequences

It seems obvious, but sometimes that anger isn’t apparent until we see the hurt reaction from our unintended victims, and by that point the damage is done, with the evidence there for all to see. And no, deleting the tweets later doesn’t help (hello Kanye West). At best you are going to end up looking a bit silly.http://redcatco.com/communication/stop-posting-social-media/

@BenjaminEllis

Principles of Good Engagement

•Be interesting

•Be encouraging

•Be active

•Be helpful

•Be authentic

Image Credit: Stockfresh

Don’t look to “publish” but

engage in a CONVERSATION

Image source: Stockfresh

“Call to Action”

• Don’t make it too

complicated to participate

• Define an (easy) action

• Define the (simple)

benefit(s)

• Give a (short) time frame

Image Credit: Purchased Stockfresh

WHO?

Your audience

•Who are you

interested in

reaching/listeni

ng to?

•What ‘problems’

are you seeking

to solve for

them?

Image Credit: Purchased Stockfresh

Personas

http://justinwise.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/carol-blog-9-555x822.jpg

All devices: “responsive” design

http://youtu.be/AyV7ll85MqU

Don’t forget…

Image Source: RGBStock

Strategy

Agree ‘a voice’

http://www.methodist.org.uk/ministers-and-office-

holders/technology-and-church/social-media-guidelines

• The principles applied to this are:

• Be credible. Be accurate, fair, thorough and transparent.

• Be consistent. Encourage constructive criticism and deliberation.

• Be cordial, honest and professional at all times. Be responsive. When you gain insight, share it where appropriate.

• Be integrated. Wherever possible, align online participation with other communications.

• Be a good representative of the Methodist Church. Remember that you are an ambassador for Christ, the Church and your part of it. Disclose your position as a member or officer of the Church, making it clear when speaking personally. Let Galatians 5:22-26 guide your behaviour.

• Be respectful: respect confidentiality. Respect the views of others even where you disagree.

Bath & Wells Diocese 9 Twitter Rules

• Don't rush in

• Remember tweets are transient yet permanent

• Be a good ambassador for the Church

• Don't hide behind anonymity

• Be aware of public/private life boundaries

• Maintain a professional distance

• Stay within the law

• Respect confidentiality

• Be mindful of your own security

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-25848873

http://twitterforchurches.com/blog/2009/06/29/crisis-

communications-for-the-social-media-age/

Don’t overthink. Running through committees,

endless drafts and approval processes to get a

response out there can cause far more damage

than good. As long as you have taken the time

to assess the situation and can take a rational,

respectful tone in your response, even an

awkward response is OK to start with, and

buys you time to continue to respond to the

problem.

Image Source: RGBStock

Your Situation:

•To achieve what?

•With what media?

•Who’s going to do it?

•How often?

•What kind of content?

•What risks need to be

managed?

What is your ONE

takeaway action?

Saint Teresa of Avila (adapted by Meredith

Gould, 2010)

Christ Has No Online Presence but Yours

Christ has no online presence but yours,

No blog, no Facebook page but yours,

Yours are the tweets through which love touches this

world,

Yours are the posts through which the Gospel is shared,

Yours are the updates through which hope is revealed.

Christ has no online presence but yours,

No blog, no Facebook page but yours.

http://churchsocmed.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/christ-has-no-online-presence-but-yours.html

@drbexl @digitalfprint @digidisciple