This document discusses using social media in churches. It begins by outlining six major cultural shifts in the 21st century around authority, mobility, spirituality, structure, influence, and technology. It then discusses assumptions about social media and how it relates to these cultural shifts. The document outlines dangers and possibilities of social media use, defines common terms, and provides examples of effective usage and platform options for churches. It concludes by asking for questions.

1. Social Media and the Church
Everything you need to know-ish
Miami Valley Presbytery | #mvpby | Bruce Reyes-Chow
slideshare.net/breyeschow

2. Symbol of
Unknown
Origin
http://bit.ly/NjFLEi
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3. Road Map of the Day
Intros
Assumptions
Culture Shifts
Break
Dangers
Possibilities
Smarty Pants Terms
Platforms
Usage
Questions Photo by allisonhare
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4. Are we called to be more?
HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=SAFG4ZY2ITG
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5. Why Bother?
Genesis 17-18 . . .
Will a son be born to a man 100 years
old and a woman the age of 90?"
Abraham gave the best of what he
had . . . Sarah laughed . . .
God is NOT done with us and is
continually asking us to birth new,
irrational and unexpected things.
What are we being asked to birth, to
give and to know?
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6. Who are you?
morning people or night owls
ages: under 90, 70, 60, 50, 40, 30, 20
best decade: 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, 00’s
childhood faith tradition: presbyterian, methodist, baptist,
COGIC, catholic, non-denominational, none, other . . .
main role: teaching elder, ruling elder, deacon, youth worker,
choir, mission, administration, education, worship, building
distance to church/ministry: 10 min, 30 min, hour, 2+ hours
church/ministry longevity?: till the end, >10 years, >5 years
technology: email, texting, facebook, twitter, blogging, google
docs, skype, dropbox, pinterest, instagram, spotify,
foursquare, doodle, yelp
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7. about.bruce urban:sf
69X:85y
techie:sm
creative:bobo
pastor:planter
blog:consult
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8. 21C Culture Shifts
Authority and “t”ruth:
from a single source of authority to
an open source of discernment.
eg . . . how we explore and discern
Scripture, politics, culture, worship,
decision making, etc. changes.
SO WHAT? The church can flatten
authority structures and open up
decision making processes that
takes seriously our belief that we
best discern the Mind of Christ and
the Will of God . . . together. Photo by carbonnyc
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9. 21C Culture Shifts
Mobility and Commitment
from a life-long commitment to
“place” to an expectation of
transience and change.
eg . . . we change how we perceive
a person’s commitment in terms of
longevity.
SO WHAT? The church can adapt
to the rhythms of life, the
changing value of longevity, how
time is committed and how tasks
accomplished. Photo by carbonnyc
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10. 21C Culture Shifts
Spirituality and Public Engagement
from a silent understanding of
separating church and state to an
increased move to a public
expression of faith and politics.
eg . . . we acknowledge political
realities while encouraging
personal discernment.
SO WHAT? The church can
equip people to live their faith
across all aspects of their lives:
public and private.
Photo by wy_jackrabbit
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11. 21C Culture Shifts
Structure and Adaptability:
from a mindset of methodology and
“steps” to a of spirit of approach and
adaptability.
eg . . . Changes how we structure
our communal lives: congregation
and councils.
SO WHAT? The church can
embrace structures that are
flexible, responsive and life-giving.
Photo by 31878512@N06
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12. Example // Structures
Terms of service: x years, but w/permission to leave;
How F2F time is used: life-giving work, spiritual study and
big-picture thinking;
How responsibilities are given: projects, areas, and latitude
to shift foci;
How meetings are held: purposeful and creative setting;
How “business” is done by using social media platforms
and other time-saving technologies;
Assumptions of the group: trusting, honest and permission
giving;
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13. 21C Culture Shifts
Influence and Social Capital:
from a monolithic presence and
mindset to a niche reality and
opportunity for growth.
eg . . . denominational evangelism
strategies will change.
SO WHAT? The church can
manifest itself across “niche”
faith communities - a multitude
of expressions and experiences:
theology, styles, settings, etc.
Photo by glamhag
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14. Example // Niche Church
We must shift from a grand
and monolithic self-
understanding to one that
embraces a niche culture
then...
...develop, discover and
embrace multiple
manifestations of what it
means to be the church.
#MVPBY | @BREYESCHOW

15. 21C Culture Shifts
Technology and Community:
from geographic clustering and
isolation to broad global community.
eg . . . our understanding and
experience of community, privacy
and social interaction is broadened.
SO WHAT? The church can
embrace and integrate technology
so communities and individuals
may best engage with the breadth
of human experience and
expression. Photo by splityarn
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16. 21C Culture Shifts
Authority and Truth | From single-source, top-down
authority to equalized and flattened discernment.
Mobility and Commitment | From exclusion determined by
longevity, to inclusion based on gifts.
Structure and Adaptability | From rigid method-based
organizations to flexible and adaptive structures.
Spirituality and Public Engagement | From an assumed
personal faith to a public expression of beliefs.
Influence and Social Capital | From the monolithic
assumptions to niche expressions.
Technology and Community | From being geographically
bound to being relationally expansive.
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17. SM Assumptions
Social Media is only another medium of
communication and expression;
Social Media is generational air and
gives insight into a particular worldview;
Social Media is highly contextually and
it will be embraced at various degrees;
Social Media demands a high sense of
self-worth as it has a flattening effect on
community and the role of leadership;
!!Social Media will not save the church!! Photo by glamhag
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18. 21C Culture Shifts and SM
Authority and Truth | Social Media opens up
decision making and equalizes authority
Mobility and Commitment | Social Media
systematizes the speed and rhythms of life
Structure and Adaptability | Social Media
supports and encourages structural flexibility
Spirituality and Public Engagement Social
Media allows for deeper and wider reach
Technology and Community | Social Media
exposes the broader human experience
Influence and Social Capital | Social Media
creates broad niche spaces of community
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19. Social Media Revolution
HTTP://YOUTU.BE/DA5FN_Q10TK
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20. SM Dangers
SM as idol, savior or quick fix
SM as distraction
SM as careless expression
SM as overestimated ROI
SM as over-and-above F2F
SM as an entry to bullying
and unwanted contact Photo by amagill
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21. Social Media Community
SM can build up and
strengthen the Body of Christ
SM allows the church to model
a different way of living
SM compels the church to see
the world beyond it’s bubble
SM liberates faithful expression
of creativity and creation
SM provides communal
accountability
Photo by Kalexanderson
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22. Smarty Pants Terms
smart phones, tablets and androids
Traditional Media v. Social Media
Web 1.0 v. Web 2.0
Social Networking
Open Source Software
Cloud Technology
weB+logs = Blogs, vLogs
feeds, aggregators and readers
tagging and #hashtags
Checking In
QRCode
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23. Effective SM Usage
be you: appropriate, honest,
consistent just as you would IRL;
be interactive: engage, comment,
respond, inquire, link and like;
be mindful: Most people lurk and
observe without every interacting.
be humble: don’t overestimate
your influence and avoid delusions
of grandeur.
be bold: don’t underestimate your
influence to begin and sustain PHOTO BY JACKHEART
meaningful movements.
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24. Facebook in Real Life
HTTP://YOUTU.BE/MRSRLZIYH20
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25. SM Platforms
Google: +, huddle, hangout, drive, voice, mail, docs, calendars
Blogging: typepad, wordpress, blogger, tumblr, posterous
Networks: twitter, facebook, linkedin, pinterest
Media: last.fm, goodreads, pandora, spotify, iheartradio
Photo: instagram, flickr, smugmug, picasa
Video: vimeo, youtube, huddle
Convos: skype, hangout, group.me, oovoo, gotomeeting
Productivity: dropbox, slideshare, doodle, wufoo
Reviews: yelp, amazon, miso, getglue,
eNewsletters: madmimi, mailchimp, constant contact
Location: foursquare, yelp, places, banjo
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26. Church Use Examples
Pastoral Care/Facebook: Use lists to keep up with the
daily lives of members.
Evangelism/Yelp: Be where people find for other
important living resources.
Worship/Pinterest: Collect ideas for worship, chancel
arts and other ideas.
Admin/Doodle: Group choices that are clear, trackable
and communal.
Communication/Group.me: Group texting and
conference calling.
Community/Instagram: Connecting for visual people.
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27. Questions . . .
Personal privacy . . .
Pastoral identity . . .
Pastoral transitions . . .
Technology and worship . . .
Time management . . .
Generational use . . .
Presbyterian Church (USA) . . .
Other . . .
Photo by milos milosevic
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28. Questions and Comments
Questions, Comments, Reflections
Connect with Bruce
twitter.com/breyeschow
facebook.com/breyeschowpage
patheos.com/blogs/breyeschow/
slideshare.com/breyeschow
THE DEFINITIVE-ISH GUIDE FOR USING SOCIAL
MEDIA IN THE CHURCH
Shook Foil Books, 2012
THANKS FOR COMING!
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