Mission in a Virtual World, for The Salvation Army

Editor's Notes

• #2: 90 mins - The aim is to introduce people to the potential for social media to enhance ministry and alert them to possible pitfalls - some of the group are familiar with using Facebook but beyond that experience of  social media is very limited. The age range is late 30s to mid 50s, ordinands in training…
• #3: Introduce self, been online since 1997, when published first website, and joined first social network in 2005, getting serious in 2009. Worked within history (KCCO), media studies, ed tech, and last post before this one = 3 years looking at faith and social media, which am continuing in new role … so that’s the perspective that I’m looking at this morning... Faith in the digital world – why it matters, and some of the ways it may change the church’s engagement with the world.
• #4: What kind of things do people find in common in 60 seconds? – then take questions… Social Media – all about RELATIONSHIPS, so we are going to start by getting to know each other as if we are on Twitter … in some ways we are looking at the kind of issues that will arise, including some exercises that you could do with others if you feel inspired at the end of today to encourage others online…
• #5: Image source: Stockfresh Commonality – finding a starting point & getting to know each other – essential building blocks of any evangelism, etc… with a strong focus on LISTENING! You’re looking to provide information, engage in dialogue, listen to your audience … build a community who will be interested in the other things that you do .. Concentrate on SOCIAL over MEDIA … Sometimes what I share can seem like a lot of information, but this is intended to challenge, enable strategy and move us forward.
• #6: As disciples we live for God, whenever and wherever we are. In the 21st century, the digital is an intrinsic part of our complex world. We need to take seriously our online experiences (this tweet from the other weekend – and something I associate with the Salvos – about getting stuck into the community)
• #7: Maybe this is your impression of what happens online – it’s all about sharing meals, etc. (http://www.dumpaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/instagram-funny-pictures.jpg)… but there is more to it than that … it’s not a ‘virtual’ space – it’s part of our everyday lives…
• #8: Couple of Bible verses to think about what we project… this one has been a powerful one for me – taking our “everyday, ordinary life” [READ OUT] … day in/day out, in which digital aspects are a core part… If we see it as irrelevant, then those that use it will think that we find them irrelevant …
• #9: Seeking to demystify the digital environment, with an emphasis upon it not as a ‘virtual’ space, but as a ‘real’ space that needed to be understood on its own terms (not wild west, not virtual) – real people, with real relationships interacting … maybe in a different way to before, but still human interactions. As the then Pope, Benedict, said that “The digital…” – not understanding this space is not really any longer an option, and as social media entrepreneur @unmarketing emphasises – to build a presence online, one needs to be present – one can’t post and run!
• #10: for Lent, typically because people feel that they are ‘addicted’ (further research needed – most people = bad habits), or that they are ‘wasting too much time’ (again, contested, why does every drop of economic value need to be wrung out of every activity?) Previously: I’m a passionate believer that we need to be ‘incarnational’ in the digital spaces, whether those are specifically ‘Christian’ spaces or not, but that we need to understand how to be ‘resident’ in those spaces, rather than merely ‘visiting’ to do a ‘bit of reaching out’. http://www.threadsuk.com/redeeming-culture-in-a-digital-age Bex Lewis, May 2014
• #11: SO many people online .... New set of these stats should be out shortly…
• #12: We need a sense of what platforms are being used … (WeChat/Qzone/Weibo all Chinese, VK is Russian). Facebook/Messenger: Friendship based, typically already known, or, like me, move from Twitter to getting to know someone better before meet f2f WhatsApp: Rather like text messaging, but with video/group chats, etc. – often used by families – I chat to younger nieces/nephews… Instagram: Hugely popular with teenagers, etc. Square images, often with vintage ‘filters’… Some ‘Christian’ accounts = standard inspirational, but some v creative and clever attention catching stuff.. Twitter: Interest-based – connect around particular interests, media looks, builds up trust/authenticity Snapchat: Images that disappeared after 10 seconds, building itself to a very successful app (last year huge growth) – possibly for those who’ve grown up with every move documented, they like things that disappear .. Pinterest: Image based (huge online), bit like a pin-board, great for churches to use for e.g. children’s work .. Wedding planning is HUGE No mention on there of: YouTube: Video – builds up hugely influential platforms – think about what people look for – often ‘how to do x’ LinkedIn: Professional platform, for CVs, connecting with huge corporate companies, etc.
• #13: Source: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0024/26826/cmr_uk_2016.pdf Within the UK, there are also certain particularly strong sources of data as to digital habits… Ofcom is one of the key ones – they produce regular reports on the uptake of digital within the UK, who’s using what, and for how long, and identifying particular trends of use (or lack of use), partly to inform government policy, but clearly also of use to digital marketers – after all, marketers have to work within contemporary legislation, but also THE BETTER YOU UNDERSTAND YOUR CONSUMERS/STAKEHOLDERS, THE BETTER YOU CAN CONNECT WITH THEM…
• #14: Stats can lead to this kind of reaction... Which I think history will show us is not unique, and part of a ‘moral panic’... Where everything seems to be going out of control too fast (every new tech process has done this – inc Socrates re writing)
• #15: So often, especially within the church, the focus is on the face-to-face interactions, often drawing upon the idea that Jesus came to earth in human form, and therefore this is the ‘best’ form of interaction, and I love this quote from Prof Sonia Livingstone “Even though…”. In danger of repeating myself, we need to look at digital on its own terms. We need to avoid what’s known as ‘technological determinism’ – that technology is changing everything, and we have no choice but to give into it, and think more about the ‘social shaping’ of technology – in which technology offers us new opportunities, but we have choices in how we engage with those choices – e.g. Like a brick – chuck it through the window, or build a wall with it.
• #16: People know I’m really passionate about this, and get pretty angry when we think people are ‘addicted’ to their phones (most aren’t) … most people are engaging in relationships with others (sometimes people who are more important to them than the people that they happen to be physically with...) and those personal relationships – whether online/offline are key!
• #17: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/pope-francis-takes-twitter-by-storm-in-the-first-papal-selfie-8792660.html These are two of the most powerful men in Christian circles … both actively engaging online. Justin Welby was originally ABCJustin, then wanted to become a ‘person’ rather than a ‘role’, although still needs care with ‘role’ .. Whatever position you are in. Don’t’ forget the SOCIAL in social media … about engaging rather than broadcasting (FOR MOST) thought argument for e.g. just not possible… Justin has previously apologised in tweets for not being able to engage personally with everyone … citing that he wouldn’t get the rest of his work complete, but that he appreciates all those who contact him (makes sense – going online doesn’t mean have to throw away ‘time wisdom’). The Pope doesn’t even make a pretence, as “he” simply follows himself in 8 different languages… but has become a bit notorious for ‘poking’ at Trump at the moment… Is evidence that CofE is doing a lot at the top – FB convos, CofE twitter, Periscope experiment, hashtags, etc.
• #18: But also think… do you recognise this (it’s recently had a new series) … why have I brought this up… because it’s been a HUGE success showcasing it’s “constituency” – it’s not selling anything except a lifestyle… and
• #19: … it’s bottom up! Based on research, and drawing upon e.g. the success of e.g. Dove campaigns (so a reminder as to the importance of looking around at case studies that work), decided to showcase the stories of ‘ordinary’ women rather than models. So many times in digital marketing, people focus on the means or the message, but what we need to remember that it’s about people – listen to what they want and find a solution – something that seems manageable!
• #20: Don’t want to go through this slide in detail, as you could go back and look online, but interested particularly in how we share the things that make us look good, and the things we care about, and how we make them public. It’s typically about telling ‘our stories’ – unless we ‘over-curate’ them.. Berger, p33 - “Self-sharing” follows us throughout our lives. We tell friends about our new clothing purchases and show family members the op-ed piece we’re sending to the local newspaper. This desire to share our thoughts , opinions and experiences is one reason social media and online social networks have become so popular.” [Is there a pressure to SHARE faith, to be authentically faithful?] P39 – we all want to be liked, the desire for social approval is fundamental to the human condition.
• #21: So, want to take that specifically to thinking about how we encounter God in the online environment…
• #22: Last year I wrote a piece for ‘The Conversation’ (academic research presented journalistically, had over 30k views), looking at the way that we have become used to ‘broadcast Christianity’ – where all our lessons come top-down via preaching from trained priests, whilst social media is re-enabling a relational model that allows many ordinary Christians to have one-to-one conversations about their faith with non-believers, whilst developing their own disciplieship with and through others.   In chatting with Pam Smith (the first online minister with iChurch, book author), we noted that this provides a much more realistic picture of the church as a collection of followers of Jesus rather than a large organisation which makes pronouncements is then judged by its organisational failures…. We are back to more ‘individualised’ and ‘participative’ discipleship and ministry .. Exciting times... Altghough of course challenging in our current culture with a necessary emphasis on safeguarding.   The importance of the PERSONAL…
• #23: What I find particularly important about this is the notion, summed up here by Elizabeth Drescher, that “we are not selling something”… but BE SOMETHING... Reiterating somewhat what I said earlier (probably influenced by the number of times I share this) We need to be ourselves, living our lives, sharing our lives ‘authentically’ (however overused that word is) ... the fun bits, the difficult bits, fighting for the (e.g. social justice) causes that we believe in...
• #24: Back at Spring Harvest in 2014, I was asked to speak about ‘Faith in the Public Square’, and posted something along the lines of this tweet “now we’re living…”, and got a huge range of responses, so I’m going to share a selection here, as we think about what it means to live with faith in the world, especially in the particularly public world which much of social media is (although there’s a growing number of people using more private forms of online sharing!).... Some people think that digital media means that you can create multiple versions of yourself, and in some games, etc. you can, but if you’re on social networks, it’s hard to maintain lines of separation, which means that you need to be ‘true to you’ … and if a faith is a part of that – then it’s likely to find it’s way into your online profiles – these 3 sayings sum that up well...
• #26: Social media is also helping to open up and humanise the church. The distance and anonymity created between people when they communicate online can help shed inhibitions in a way that is often blamed for abusive behaviour. But it can also encourage people to become comfortable enough to ask questions about faith, especially via private messaging. The humorous nature of many social media posts can also act as a starting point for more serious discussions about religion. It’s been shown that vulnerable or humourous posts engage users the most (with likes, shares, comments, etc.), and it is important that these come from a place of ‘your story’ – e.g. Sharing Bible verses without context feels like ‘street preaching’, whilst explaining how this is important, that you don’t understand it all, etc. Comes more from a place of ‘authentically’ living the life... Or, as a friend said, growing a ‘digital skin’...
• #27: Can I just say ... typically this does not include those posts that say if you type Amen this person may recover … those are effectively chain letters, and inappropriate! Often these pics are of random children, illegal to use, and used by scammers to collect details ... And clearly Jesus is not waiting until 1 million likes before he will heal or otherwise ... Same as if you have more faith, etc. Let’s engage with wisdom online.. But also...
• #28: One of my colleagues hopes that this is true in some ways – we are the face of the God online … we need to think about what that means for a whole church, but also how we provide an atmosphere in which our young people feel confident to do this in their everyday interactions – online/offline … how do they know they have solid teaching, how do they know that they are encouraged to be ‘in the world’ (if not of it), how do we help them think about what this means for their everyday lives! SEEING THE ORGANISATION HELPING INDIVIDUALS TO BE PERSONAL MISSIONERS IN THEIR SPACE – TALK ABOUT SOCIAL as something ‘normal’, the everyday issues, the everyday possibilities – listen to the concerns that people have…
• #29: For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. We have to think about what we stand for … what will come from the overflow of what we believe … think also about the SOURCES of information – do we know what young people are using (YouTube, Snapchat, etc.) and do we acknowledge that this is important to them – ask them to demonstrate it to us, give them the courage to share what you are working with – relevance, etc. Do we provide content that they might want to engage with … if Barna a few years ago said core thinking about Christians = homophobic, judgemental and obsessed with £ - how do we show a different way of living! What values define you? Core values for me are authenticity/integrity: come to know yourself, what gifts and passions God has given you, and look to live those out authentically & with integrity in whatever spaces you are. You were made to be unique, so be unique – live life with passion. The Christian life is supposed to be transformational – how do we move on from: The reason why some Christians are so constipated, miserable, judgmental, misogynistic, religious and up tight is that they were like that before they became Christians! Roger Ellis Essence: The Manifesto of Jesus 2012? What are we filling our lives with – those things that will be at the top of our minds, and therefore the most likely to be the first to come out? how far are we living ‘the fruit of the Spirit’ is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” and what does that look like online – a space where it’s incredibly easy to share things without checking, in a fast atmosphere, competing to be first, and for likes … how can we be something different – how can we ensure that earth is crammed with a bit of heaven (whether that’s salt and light or...)
• #30: how far are we living ‘the fruit of the Spirit’ is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” and what does that look like online – a space where it’s incredibly easy to share things without checking, in a fast atmosphere, competing to be first, and for likes … how can we be something different – how can we ensure that earth is crammed with a bit of heaven (whether that’s salt and light or...)
• #31: Not a fan of standing AGAINST where possible? So what can we be for… how does the digital change the shape of WHAT IS POSSIBLE?
• #33: In 2010, when I started looking at faith and the digital, it was seen as quite a weird thing to do, with people questioning ‘why do we need to do that?’ By 2013, when I wrote this piece for CofE Church Growth blog, the question changed for many to ‘we understand that we need to do it, but how do we do it’? With a lot of concerns about the extra workload this might bring for the vicar, the need to ‘get it right’, people needed a lot of convincing.. As this article says “For many…” I would probably play around with the final sentence for this bit ... Social media is RELATIONAL so whereas a website might be the ‘front door’ – the church members are where the REAL POWER of these medium of communication is ... And they are more like side doors/windows, etc. The accompanying question that always seemed to work within my ‘Social Media for the Scared’ courses (run for various flavours of churches, faith organisations, etc.) is – with billions of people using these tools every day – can we afford not to be online – what are people seeing otherwise? For the young in particular, this is their everyday experience of life – if we are the door with ‘you can’t come in with that’, it’s offputting… although there’s also the counter-argument that it’s a space to ‘breath’ and disconnect from social (without the other peer pressure) – definitely something to talk about in sermons, youth groups, etc. Does expose to different ideas .. Image: https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/131/375646158_b2755ca5bf_b.jpg
• #34: Think about recent experiences with Pokemon Go – last summer’s big mobile gaming hit (and still a steady number of dedicated users, with Pokemon adapting elements of the game!)… I wrote about my experience, was picked up by Radio 4 & London School of Economics… (links at top) – for once CofE seemed to be ahead of the game – ready to talk on the day of release … lots of ‘sneering’ from some = also not helpful - always inspired by Martin Saunders piece re not sneering at Trump etc as alienates even more… Good tips in the blog post referenced at the top – and a real joy in being part of something people enjoying, invitational rather than overtly evangelistic – e.g. child asking questions in graveyard … see it as A BRIDGE within relationships, rather than a tool! SEE THE LINKS Critical issues of our world – politics/business – making things worth for children/young people – want an approach to faith that is committed and passionate – not on system of belief, but way of life/way of love… a mission to join God in the healing of the world…
• #36: ‘The Worship Cloud’ – notions of ‘what is creativity’ – we’re all creative – how do we create spaces – online/offline (with options to share online?) – is it about digital art, about art we share online, about baking, about something more widely ‘creative’ (we’re made in the image of God – refers back to previous point) … What about activities such as geocaching – creative ways to use the tools that the world is using – we already had a quick look at Pokemon? How do we help people encounter God in their everyday – are all kinds of things – e.g. QR, codes, etc, but we need to be LISTENING – what are people searching for/looking out for, etc? How do we value some of these more esoteric things? How do we share because we are part of God’s world, and if people become interested in us/relationship with us, they may start to see that we are different… What will happen once we have more embedded devices – e.g. home-interneticus? Is it about participating, sharing, encouraging, just being? One big thing = sharing our lives online, e.g. via Instagram … visually focused, question of CURATION, but can demonstrate a different way of living… are we being ‘salt and light’ in a world that otherwise can feel quite shallow? How can we encourage others before they get ‘sucked in’ to this way of life…
• #37: If you’re using it organisationally… the person with the passion for it, the good communicator – the driving instructor, rather than the mechanic – the communicator rather than the computer geek…. But easier if support from others – are sharing story of the whole organisation (which for the church is the people in it)…
• #38: Problems – are there any have an idea of where the digital might help? Then feed back in – will we have a flipboard … let’s hold onto some of those, and start to think about what digital tools might help solve them… How might deal with any trolls?
• #39: You could take time to create rough personas of those that you are trying to reach – they have a name, an age, characteristics – help you keep them in mind whilst you are preparing communication – not what you say, what they hear… https://static1.squarespace.com/static/4f569706e4b02ee84fb99ec3/t/566a0cc6841aba411de13b20/1449790663587/Persona
• #40: If you are working for an organisation – e.g. a church – ensure that people can feel ‘free’ to go ahead and represent you …agreed your organisational values… (e.g. fruits of the spirit online) – things move too fast online to wait for some things, although on other occasions the church can demonstrate difference by demonstrating some thought – but in particular, should have risk assessments for e.g. crises
• #41: Use an app – e.g for interim support, give an encouragement, what else…, and when to have that face-to-face conversation – neither is the be-all-or-end-all!
• #42: A Bible verse re-written for the digital age! Importance of encouragement… and remember that most relationships are built on a range of activities, including redundant topics, and random – e.g. at the weekend was part of a Facebook Eurovision party … able to join in the fun when didn’t have capacity to leave the house/have anyone round! Started with around 20 people, by end of evening = over 50 (also kept it off our timelines) http://bigbible.org.uk/2012/09/wisdom-from-the-bible-on-building-a-digiparadise-by-vahva/ It’s so easy to get bogged down in theological debates … how can we part of the world’s wider conversations, but bringing our Christian worldview to it … how can we help young people to prepare for 1 Peter 3:16 http://biblehub.com/1_peter/3-15.htm “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect”
• #43: SEE: http://digitalhub.salvationarmy.org.uk/social-media-policy-video Solid rules, been referencing them for years, as they are about behaviour, not about the technology (as we’ll find most things are) Bath & Wells… Don't rush in Remember tweets are transient yet permanent Be a good ambassador for the Church Don't hide behind anonymity Be aware of public/private life boundaries Maintain a professional distance Stay within the law Respect confidentiality Be mindful of your own security http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-25848873
• #44: See also : http://digitalhub.salvationarmy.org.uk/digital-and-social-media-policy 3:40 (not expecting to watch, but tell people to go and have a look)
• #45: In a 24/7 world – help people live 24/7, but also throws a responsibility on the church to respond to the world…
• #46: If we’re equipping our members, then we need to think about how we are equipping them spiritually … how are we helping them in their discipleship so that – as we said at the beginning – we/they are ‘the only face of God they might ever see’..
• #47: The obvious is being able to build up your spiritual health via engagement with your Bible – yes – you may not be carrying a paper copy everywhere, but most of us have phones on us … download an app such as ‘YouVersion: The Bible’ to access the Bible in a range of different languages, do it individually, allow it to hold you accountable, find a group discussing what you’re reading, etc.. Also e.g. this app that lets you put prayer requests in, reminds you, allows you to diairise responses, randomise requests, etc. – I more randomly pray for those who appear in my timeline – and quite often ‘like’ something I’ve prayed for (Cranmer Hall prayer group) What can I learn about them from my timeline … e.g. those suffering from depression wouldn’t text 50 people, but we can share more widely online… know who to connect with – but how do we help protect people from oversharing … how do we ensure that grace and love are at the heart of what we’re doing? And note ‘The Worship Cloud’ – importance of recognising creativity of those within the Christian world and not expecting everything for free/not professional quality, etc. http://www.theworshipcloud.com/view/images/ipad-bible
• #48: What does ‘digital worship’ look like – pros/cons, including worship band iPads, preaching from iPads, collective worship, St Pixels, etc. – corporate prayers from bed? Talk about CODEC session we did – importance of focusing on worship .. Opportunity to bring in a range of voices connected with CODEC, and also seek prayers from around the world… Corporate – what about individual? E.g. Watch Lansdowne
• #49: Individually and corporately… Overall, this requires wisdom, a willingness to engage with the digital at a deeper level, thinking about how we can use it well, help the world use it well, and how we can seek to be counter-cultural where necessary, etc.
• #50: Which I found in a quick look… but see …
• #51: And see – all that advice has been collected together in one place - http://digitalhub.salvationarmy.org.uk/ - the plea from those working in this area is “to at least follow the UK and International accounts on Twitter and Facebook so they know what we're blethering on about”
• #52: … and to finish … some research from your web manager that you could follow up…
• #53: Thank you. Qus?