Comments on: The Connected Church: Before You Log On http://www.newlutheran.com/2009/07/10/before-you-log-on/ My story of being new in an old church... Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:34:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: newlutheran http://www.newlutheran.com/2009/07/10/before-you-log-on/comment-page-1/#comment-59 newlutheran Sat, 25 Jul 2009 00:55:40 +0000 http://www.newlutheran.com/?p=48#comment-59 Good find! I recently read another article about a church that has a screen behind the pastor that shows real-time updates from twitter. I'm not sure of the usefulness of this but it shows that some churches are thinking outside-the-box when it comes to finding new ways to turn technology into ministry. Good find!

I recently read another article about a church that has a screen behind the pastor that shows real-time updates from twitter. I'm not sure of the usefulness of this but it shows that some churches are thinking outside-the-box when it comes to finding new ways to turn technology into ministry.

]]> By: newlutheran http://www.newlutheran.com/2009/07/10/before-you-log-on/comment-page-1/#comment-64 newlutheran Fri, 24 Jul 2009 21:00:44 +0000 http://www.newlutheran.com/?p=48#comment-64 Thanks for your comment Nadia! Initially it got marked as spam, sorry about that! :) It's great to see stuff like this! I love seeing ministries branch out from the norm and think creatively. After all, as Christians and as Lutherans, we have our religious foundation in a couple of true rebels. They spoke the language of their target audience and pulled no punches. It seems like some churches are just napping lately. Or perhaps they're just trying to survive. Where's the fire? Where's the passion for the unreached? Thanks for your comment Nadia! Initially it got marked as spam, sorry about that! :)

It's great to see stuff like this! I love seeing ministries branch out from the norm and think creatively. After all, as Christians and as Lutherans, we have our religious foundation in a couple of true rebels. They spoke the language of their target audience and pulled no punches.

It seems like some churches are just napping lately. Or perhaps they're just trying to survive. Where's the fire? Where's the passion for the unreached?

]]> By: Pr. Nadia Bolz-Weber http://www.newlutheran.com/2009/07/10/before-you-log-on/comment-page-1/#comment-62 Pr. Nadia Bolz-Weber Thu, 23 Jul 2009 22:30:43 +0000 http://www.newlutheran.com/?p=48#comment-62 Twitter, the church web-site, my blog, Skype and Facebook are indispensable parts of my ministry. <a href="http://www.sarcasticlutheran.com" target="_blank">www.sarcasticlutheran.com</a> <a href="http://www.houseforall.org" target="_blank">www.houseforall.org</a> House for All Sinners and Saints, with the exception of 3 people in their 50's and 3 kids are all 20-42. Glad you are thinking and writing about this stuff! Nadia Twitter, the church web-site, my blog, Skype and Facebook are indispensable parts of my ministry.

http://www.sarcasticlutheran.com
http://www.houseforall.org

House for All Sinners and Saints, with the exception of 3 people in their 50's and 3 kids are all 20-42.

Glad you are thinking and writing about this stuff!
Nadia

]]> By: oldlutheran http://www.newlutheran.com/2009/07/10/before-you-log-on/comment-page-1/#comment-58 oldlutheran Wed, 15 Jul 2009 20:13:19 +0000 http://www.newlutheran.com/?p=48#comment-58 You might be interested in this article: <a href="http://www.mlive.com/living/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2009/07/faithful_tweeting_churches_beg.html" target="_blank">http://www.mlive.com/living/grand-rapids/index.ss...</a> You might be interested in this article:

http://www.mlive.com/living/grand-rapids/index.ss…

]]> By: Joe(_makes_art) http://www.newlutheran.com/2009/07/10/before-you-log-on/comment-page-1/#comment-55 Joe(_makes_art) Mon, 13 Jul 2009 17:35:39 +0000 http://www.newlutheran.com/?p=48#comment-55 You certainly may. I'm interested to hear your ideas. You certainly may.
I'm interested to hear your ideas.

]]> By: newlutheran http://www.newlutheran.com/2009/07/10/before-you-log-on/comment-page-1/#comment-54 newlutheran Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:02:59 +0000 http://www.newlutheran.com/?p=48#comment-54 I believe those sorts of tweets were the original idea behind twitter. I believe the question a tweet is supposed to answer is "what are you doing?" Answering that question isn't hypocritical at all, regardless of how mundane the answer may be. Of course, this paradigm changes when it's an organization answering the question. How would your church answer "what are you doing?" Moreover, twitter has obviously become more than mundane individual activities. You can say a lot in 140 characters. It's become a place where people are answering "what are you thinking?" and the conversational style of twitter causes these answers to grow over time. The conversation you and I had the other day is a great example of that sort of interaction. I'd never met you. A single <140 character post sparks a conversation that is now continued through blogs, etc. It's these sorts of interactions churches should be striving for when they seek out online tools to bolster their ministries. As far as a venture goes, I have a few ideas. I have your e-mail address now (through your comments here). Can I get in touch with you there? I believe those sorts of tweets were the original idea behind twitter. I believe the question a tweet is supposed to answer is "what are you doing?" Answering that question isn't hypocritical at all, regardless of how mundane the answer may be. Of course, this paradigm changes when it's an organization answering the question. How would your church answer "what are you doing?"

Moreover, twitter has obviously become more than mundane individual activities. You can say a lot in 140 characters. It's become a place where people are answering "what are you thinking?" and the conversational style of twitter causes these answers to grow over time. The conversation you and I had the other day is a great example of that sort of interaction. I'd never met you. A single <140 character post sparks a conversation that is now continued through blogs, etc. It's these sorts of interactions churches should be striving for when they seek out online tools to bolster their ministries.

As far as a venture goes, I have a few ideas. I have your e-mail address now (through your comments here). Can I get in touch with you there?

]]> By: Joe(_makes_art) http://www.newlutheran.com/2009/07/10/before-you-log-on/comment-page-1/#comment-53 Joe(_makes_art) Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:45:56 +0000 http://www.newlutheran.com/?p=48#comment-53 true. I guess I may sound like a hypocrite, I mean tweet about playing video games, driving my car, even going to bed. But, on the other hand, I'm not claiming any sort 'bringer of knowledge' status. I do what I do and and I talk about it. It is nice, however, to have a conversation with people who have similar thoughts as mine. P.S. I'm still quite interested in investigating and pursuing this venture. I am a designer for a publishing house (who, for now will remain nameless) that gives me quite a bit of insight on the subject of church media. Let me know what you're thinking. true.
I guess I may sound like a hypocrite, I mean tweet about playing video games, driving my car, even going to bed. But, on the other hand, I'm not claiming any sort 'bringer of knowledge' status.

I do what I do and and I talk about it.
It is nice, however, to have a conversation with people who have similar thoughts as mine.

P.S. I'm still quite interested in investigating and pursuing this venture. I am a designer for a publishing house (who, for now will remain nameless) that gives me quite a bit of insight on the subject of church media. Let me know what you're thinking.

]]> By: newlutheran http://www.newlutheran.com/2009/07/10/before-you-log-on/comment-page-1/#comment-52 newlutheran Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:32:19 +0000 http://www.newlutheran.com/?p=48#comment-52 Yep! I don't care how many followers or friends you have on whatever site. What I care about is what you're adding to the conversation (whatever that conversation may be). This is, I feel, where many churches are failing. A lot of them don't seem to understand that the awesome power of the web is centered around community and conversation. If a church doesn't have anything interesting to say, then they're probably right in fearing or avoiding technology. :-) Yep!

I don't care how many followers or friends you have on whatever site. What I care about is what you're adding to the conversation (whatever that conversation may be). This is, I feel, where many churches are failing. A lot of them don't seem to understand that the awesome power of the web is centered around community and conversation.

If a church doesn't have anything interesting to say, then they're probably right in fearing or avoiding technology. :-)

]]> By: Joe(_makes_art) http://www.newlutheran.com/2009/07/10/before-you-log-on/comment-page-1/#comment-50 Joe(_makes_art) Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:24:37 +0000 http://www.newlutheran.com/?p=48#comment-50 I agree. In my investigation (after our conversation) I noticed its obvious congregations, or pastors for that matter, who don't care and those who try too hard. Notice I didn't say cared too much, they are trying to hard. Like you said in the last paragraph check the reasons and think "before you add". This may be crass but, some churches and/or pastors seem like Tia Tequila (if you're reading this and you don't know who that is... its okay, but its not good). Just adding people on myspace to boost your numbers is lame. Folks like me (who are even slightly critical of people on social networks) can easily tell when you're lying to us... So you have 148,328,490 friends but you have 7 posts on your wall, message board, or what have you. Same for Twitter, you are following 564,869,120,482 people but only 3 people are following you in turn and you don't post anything worth while. I suppose I can be too critical (well at least according to my church council president dad) of congregations and their lack of tech know how. But, I guess I just can't get the thought out of my system, I'm not the only one who thinks this... I am? I agree.
In my investigation (after our conversation) I noticed its obvious congregations, or pastors for that matter, who don't care and those who try too hard. Notice I didn't say cared too much, they are trying to hard. Like you said in the last paragraph check the reasons and think "before you add". This may be crass but, some churches and/or pastors seem like Tia Tequila (if you're reading this and you don't know who that is… its okay, but its not good).

Just adding people on myspace to boost your numbers is lame.
Folks like me (who are even slightly critical of people on social networks) can easily tell when you're lying to us…
So you have 148,328,490 friends but you have 7 posts on your wall, message board, or what have you.
Same for Twitter, you are following 564,869,120,482 people but only 3 people are following you in turn and you don't post anything worth while.

I suppose I can be too critical (well at least according to my church council president dad) of congregations and their lack of tech know how. But, I guess I just can't get the thought out of my system, I'm not the only one who thinks this… I am?

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