1) Living in a social media age has profoundly impacted individuals culturally by exposing them to unprecedented amounts of information and perspectives on all topics including religion from a wide variety of people. 2) To reach these individuals, the Church must have representatives actively engaging in conversations on social media, listening carefully to understand perspectives, anticipating and addressing debates respectfully, and continuing the conversation rather than having the last word. 3) When using new media, the Church should remember that individuals are constantly exposed to many ongoing conversations and must engage thoughtfully in order to value each person's search for truth.

1. REACHING INDIVIDUALS
in a Social Media Age
A RESOURCE FOR THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
based on theory by Barry Vacker
presentation by Angela Santana

2. As Church, we have the same problem today as the disciples did
nearly 2000 years ago:
How do we reach people
with our Message?

3. Today, however, the problem has become more refined.
Social media are
permeating society:

4. 940 MILLION 60% OF TIME
individuals worldwide using a mobile phone
use social networking is spent on social
websites† networking*
† According to a study by InSites, March 22, 2010
*U.S. mobile subscribers. According to a study by
Ground Truth, week ending April 4, 2010

5. IN THIS “SOCIAL MEDIA AGE,”
how can we reach more
individuals for the Catholic
Church?

6. TO ANSWER
THIS QUESTION,
we need to focus on how
social media
have affected
individuals
CULTURALLY.

7. In his work,
GLOBAL VILLAGE
OR WORLD BAZAAR?
communications theorist Barry Vacker suggests...

8. INFORMATION
REVOLUTIONS,
like the widespread use
of the Internet, lead to...

9. CULTURAL
REVOLUTIONS
at the levels of individual,
group, and nation-state.

10. IN OTHER WORDS:
Living in a social media age
has affected individuals.

11. INDIVIDUALS TODAY
send and receive an unprecedented
amount of information, via

12. text / images /
video / audio

13. INDIVIDUALS TODAY
use these media to interact with an
unprecedented amount of people, from
many different backgrounds:

14. religious / cultural /
economic / educational /
psychological / emotional

15. THAT MEANS
people are constantly interacting
with others who are similar to or different from them,
gathering new, countless perspectives on...

16. religion / God / forgiveness
Jesus / ethics / sin / Catholicism
abortion / euthanasia / contraception
Vatican / capital punishment / love / war
Virgin Mary / marriage / family / femininity
in vitro fertilization / justice / masculinity
hell / heaven / purgatory / Bible / baptism/ faith
Eucharist / apostolic succession / saints / demons
occult / prayer / resurrection /
etc.

17. WITH SO MANY
PERSPECTIVES,
people are forced to
decide for themselves:

18. WHAT’S RIGHT
what’s wrong
WHAT’S TRUE
what’s false

19. BUT THESE DECISIONS ARE HAPPENING
IN THE CONTEXT OF
CONVERSATIONS

20. BUT THESE DECISIONS ARE HAPPENING
IN THE CONTEXT OF
CONVERSATIONS
via text / images / video / audio

21. In order to reach individuals,
the Church must have
representatives engaging in
conversations.

22. AND
since today’s individuals are not only
listeners but also voices,

23. Church representatives need to
take time to
LISTEN.

24. Listening is imperative.

25. Don’t publish a video
or start a blog
or create a Facebook page
if you aren’t willing to listen.

26. NEXT,

27. More people
with more opinions means
MORE DEBATE.

28. The Church must realistically
anticipate debate
rather than avoid it.

29. Anticipate debate.
Listen,
and respond.

30. Post thoughtful video responses,
frequently asked questions,
or a blog response
BUT BEAR IN MIND:

31. Response is part of
conversation,
not the end of the
conversation.

32. SO, WHEN USING NEW MEDIA TO REACH
INDIVIDUALS FOR THE CHURCH,
remember:

33. There are a lot of
conversations out there.

34. via
DIGG
The Church YOUTUBE
has to engage TWITTER
FACEBOOK etc

35. anticipate debate

36. listen

37. respond

38. and never stop conversing

39. or valuing each individual

40. as a decision-maker

41. who is inundated with ideas

42. and searching for Truth.