Social Networking and the Church

Michael A. Stone

Internet Product Manager

Liturgical Publications Inc

About This Presentation

• This presentation isn’t about building a Facebook Fan Page

• This presentation isn’t about whether you should have a social network

• This presentation is about why every church needs an Online Ministry

• This presentation is about increasing mass participation, stewardship and ultimately…survival

What is the oldest and largest Social Network?

Social Networking is not new.

Is one of these the oldest social network?

Social Networking is not new.

Social Networking is not new.

• The oldest is religion.• The largest is Christianity.

What is a Social Network?

• Connects people together• Fosters relationships• Promotes common, shared values

Sounds like the Catholic Church to me

Social Networking is not new, but something new is changing the way we

communicate.

That something is the Internet and related technology.

If You Don’t Believe Me…“The new technologies are not only changing the way we communicate, but communication itself”

“This means of spreading information and knowledge is giving birth to a new way of learning and thinking, with unprecedented opportunities for establishing relationships and building fellowship.”

MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE BENEDICT XVIFOR THE 45th WORLD COMMUNICATIONS DAY

Truth, Proclamation and Authenticity of Life in the Digital Age

The Internet is Only a Communication Tool

• The internet is a communication tool just like• Television• Radio• Printed word• Our collective voices

• The internet is neither good nor bad• What’s good or bad is how people use it

The Internet is Changing

• Expectations about communication• How people communicate• Where people communicate• When people communicate

The Next Generation of Parishioners are Growing Up Online

• The Internet has replaced paper and pen

• They text, not talk• E-mail is even old school—

Facebook is current.

The Next Generation of Parishioners are Growing Up Online

• Adapting and embracing this change is the challenge the church is facing.

• The church must adapt to the new communication styles or be left behind.

The Internet is Now Leading the Way

Service Attendance

Expectations about communicationHow people communicate

• The Information Super Highway is now a two-way street

• Its about:– Engagement– Dialog– Active Participation

Expectations about communicationHow people communicate

Today’s local church doesn’t have communication models built for today’s reality.• Information overload, pressure to keep up, global

neighborhoods, mass distrust of big business (and organized religion).

• We moved past the industrial age, through the information age, to the interconnected age.

• Social media is now a significant piece of two-way communication in today’s society.

Expectations about communicationHow people communicate

Ground Rules for Communication:• Not interruption, but permission• Not chaos, but clarity• Not corporate copy, but peer reviews• Not user privacy, but user control• Not inform, but inspire• Not integrate, but elevate

Expectations about communicationWhere people communicate

“Wherever/Whenever On their…”

• On their computer, phone, iPad, tablet, etc.

• Via broadband, Skype, cellular, wi-fi

Expectations about communicationWhen people communicate

“Whenever they want”

• There has been a lot of complaints about the end of the ‘work week’ in this 24X7,always on, world.

• But think of the possibilities if parishioners were always connected to their faith and their church 24X7

A closer look at where people communicate online

Open (“Public”) Social Networking Sites• Marketing & promotion focus• Engagement second• Two-way communication but

typically directed• Open by default, should be

able to shut the doors at least partially

• Search engine accessible

Closed (“Your”) Social Networking Sites• Engagement• True two-way communication• Secured by default, you decide

how far to open the doors• Typically search engine

inaccessible

A closer look at where people communicate online

Open Services• Facebook• Twitter• YouTube• Slideshare.net• Many, many others

– Ning, Eventbrite, Issuu

Closed (“Your”) Services• WeGather• Church Community Builder• CircleBuilder• The City• MyChurch

.

Invite membersto join

(give them the key)

They receive access to your “lobby” and general membership group.

Mom’s Group(anyone can

join)

FestivalPlanning

Group(ask to join)

FinanceGroup

(by invitationOnly)

The Challenge is Engagementnot the technology or even resources

• You have people with the required skills• It does necessarily mean more work.• You can afford the cost• You need to communicate with you parishioners

where they are and how they now expect. This will keep them parishioners!

LPi can help You face the challenge

Marketing & Promotion

Seek And Find

Online directory of churches and the advertisers who support them

WeConnect

Website builder

Pre-built templates to choose from

Easy to use, yet completely expandable

Grows with you

Parishioner EngagementWeGather

Where you church connects online: a secure, closed network

WeShare

Online donations via ACH and Credit card, donation management, pledging, one time or regular donations

Thank You!

Michael A. Stonemstone@4lpi.com

262-207-2519

For more information, please go to www.4lpi.com http://www.4lpi.com