Boundaries and Social Media

What we will doBoundaries/ethics are challenging to talk and think

about.

The popularity of social media sites and their benefit.

The not so great things about social media.

Best Practices

Case Studies

Bonhoeffer’s seven ministries as a foundation for boundaries and ethics (From Life Together).

Sometimes Boundaries/Ethics are Black and White and Easy to Identify.

Sometimes Boundaries/Ethics are

Unclear

Name as many social media sites as you can

think of?

-They are everywhere!

Social Media is a Great Tool

How do you use social media in your ministry?

What success have you had in using social media?

Boundaries and Social Media

Social Media is great for getting a message out but it can also cause some challenges.

-Saying negative things about others.

-Kids calling other people names or bullying other kids on social media. (Cyberbullying)

-People over-sharing about their lives.

-Facebook ranting.

-People posting pictures that should not be posted publically.

--Dr. Gwen O’Keeffe’s study on Facebook depression.

What are some not so positive things that you have seen with social media?

Social Media Best Practices

Have a social media policy for your church. Here is a good one from Holy Trinity Catholic Church and our own ELCA.

Think about getting a social media buddy to be a second set of eyes for your posts.

Practice the “Church Announcement Rule.” If you would not be willing to share your post during the church announcements then don’t post it.

If you don’t have anything nice to say about someone then don’t put it on Facebook.

If you have a lot going on in your life, find someone to share with, not Facebook.

There is nothing private about Facebook, assume that all you post and write will be seen by the whole world.

To Accept or not Accept that friend request?

What do you do with your Facebook friends when you leave a congregation?

Avoid Facebook Wars where you argue something to death. These never end up well and a lot of people get hurt in the process. People seem to say stronger and more hurtful things when having a conversation over Facebook. Solve problems in real time.

What about having two Facebook pages? One personal and one pastoral?

Protect your parishioner’s identity and do not give details about their identity on social media. It is a small Lutheran world!

Know your privacy settings and use them.

ELCA Clergy Facebook Page. What are your thoughts?

Questions for Discussion?What are your best practices?

Should Facebook be a place where we go to find support to personal problems?

Is it okay to go on Facebook to vent about people that we are working with in the church (parishioners or otherwise)?

To post or not to post, how do you decide?

Case Study #1One morning you wake up to enjoy a wonderful

breakfast of Wheaties, coffee and a banana. You take out your I-Pad and you decide to open up Facebook to see what is happening in the world. You are scrolling through the newsfeed and you see a troubling post by one of your parishioners. In the post your parishioner seems to have written a suicide note. The post says the following, “I love you all my friends and family. I will miss all of you dearly, but I must go. I must leave this earth.” You know this parishioner well and you are surprised by what he has written. What do you do?

Case Study #2You see that 3 of your confirmation students

have been cyber-bullying another one of your students on Facebook. We will call the bullied student, Scott. The three bullies have been making fun of Scott for being in theater and they have been berating him with a barrage of derogatory names. You also see that the 3 bullies have posted message a message indicating that Scott should go out and kill himself. What do you do?

 

Case Study #3You see on the ELCA Clergy Facebook page that your

associate pastor has been making remarks about you for the entire Clergy Facebook world to see. Your associate has written that you are lazy and that you have terrible theology. They go on to describe that you are simply putting in your time in order to get to retirement. They also describe you as behind the times and that if you were gone the church would surely grow. The associate pastor has written to the Facebook page in order to ask for strategies in how to deal with such a difficult senior pastor. It seems like your associate pastor did not realize that you are also a member of the Facebook page. What do you do?

Resources: 1. Covenant Policy on Social Media.

http://www.covchurch.org/resources/files/2012/02/Covenant-Clergy-and-Social-Media-Final.pdf

2. Trinity Catholic Church Social Media Policy. http://trinity.org/communications/socialmediapolicy

3. ELCA Social Media Site: http://www.elca.org/Who-We-Are/Our-Three-Expressions/Churchwide-Organization/Communication-Services/Resources/Web-Ministry/Social-Media.aspx

4. Pastoral Transitions in a Social Media World by Pastor Bruce Reyes-Chow: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bruce-reyeschow/pastoral-transitions-in-a_b_869126.html

5. Facebook Rules for Pastors by Adam Copeland http://www.christiancentury.org/blogs/archive/2010-10/facebook-rules-pastors

http://davefleet.com/2010/07/57-social-media-policy-examples-resources/

Bonhoeffer’s 7 Foundational Ministries

1. The Ministry of Holding your Tongue: Ephesians 4:29, “Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your word may give grace to those who hear.”

2. The Ministry of Meekness: Romans 12:3, “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that god has assigned.

3. The ministry of listening. James 1:19-20, “You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger, for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness.”

4. The ministry of helpfulness. Luke 10: 33-34, “But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

5. The ministry of bearing. Galations 6:2, “Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

6. The ministry of proclaiming. “1 Corinthians 2:1-2 When I came to you brothers and sisters, I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

7. The ministry of authority. Matthew, 23:8-12, “But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father-the one in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.”