{"id":1950,"date":"2013-07-17T13:00:53","date_gmt":"2013-07-17T18:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/happycatholicbookshelf\/?p=1950"},"modified":"2013-07-16T06:29:32","modified_gmt":"2013-07-16T11:29:32","slug":"the-social-media-gospel-sharing-the-good-news-in-new-ways","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/happycatholicbookshelf\/2013\/07\/the-social-media-gospel-sharing-the-good-news-in-new-ways\/","title":{"rendered":"The Social Media Gospel: Sharing the Good News in New Ways"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The Social Media Gospel: Sharing the Good News in New Ways<\/em>, by Meredith Gould, is nothing short of wonderful. It\u2019s filled with information that\u2019s useful even to those of us who consider ourselves old hands at new media.<\/p>\n

Church communications have changed over the last ten years that I\u2019ve been working in a parish, and I\u2019ve been blessed to work with a pastor who\u2019s game for trying just about anything. Our parish website is mobile enhanced, we have an active Facebook page, and we\u2019re always talking about and trying to implement new tools to keep our parishioners involved.<\/p>\n

So I thought, as I picked up this little tome by Gould, that I had a pretty good idea of what was in it. I thought, leafing through it, that I\u2019d be nodding a lot but not so much taking notes.<\/p>\n

Well, I was wrong.<\/p>\n

I still think we\u2019re doing a good job as a parish with 300ish families. (We\u2019re small, yes, but not tiny.) However, in the next few weeks, we\u2019ll be making some adjustments based on Gould\u2019s suggestions.<\/p>\n

Quality content will enhance your audiences\u2019 knowledge, deepen their understanding, strengthen their faith, stimulate conversation, and build community. Change becomes possible when content helps visitors discover new aspects of self in relation to others. Community emerges when content stimulates interaction with others and among online visitors.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I found a few things especially helpful in this book: the discussions about social media usage across generations, social media tools and learning styles, and the topics that are best handled by each of the tools. As we consider who we\u2019re reaching with each tool, we have to also consider what each tool is good for. Some of this is intuitive, especially if you\u2019ve been using the tools for any length of time, but I found many helpful tips and insights throughout the book.<\/p>\n

Who knew that Pinterest was the \u201ccommon ground\u201d across both personality types and learning styles? I had no idea that I was a kinesthetic learner, but that must be why I love Twitter (and don\u2019t so much love Facebook). And the \u201cthing\u201d I keep flirting with with Pinterest? Hmm\u2026there\u2019s something to that<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Gould has put together a practical guide that\u2019s appropriate for anyone who\u2019s involved with church communications, whether you\u2019re an expert with social media or a bit terrified of it all. She explains (without putting those of us who have been around the web to sleep), enlightens, and, best of all, encourages.<\/p>\n

As with everything else having to do with church and faith, prayerful discernment is at the core of sorting times for embracing from times for refraining. Instead of unplugging from all social media, first try using it to reinforce your devotional practices and receive support from people of faith. Use it to be a blessing to others. If that doesn\u2019t help, then turn the social media ministry over to someone else for a season before doing too much damage to self and others.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I\u2019ll be sharing this gem with my pastor and then probably at least one other person on our parish staff. I\u2019ll also be referring back to it myself.<\/p>\n

If you want to learn more about this book (so you can share it with your pastor, your parish secretary, read it yourself), stop on over to the Patheos Book Club<\/a> and learn more. And if you want some delight of your own, check out Meredith\u2019s other work<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Social Media Gospel: Sharing the Good News in New Ways, by Meredith Gould, is nothing short of wonderful. It\u2019s filled with information that\u2019s useful even to those of us who consider ourselves old hands at new media. 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