To Do List for Churches in 2012 – Item #1

Churches can do very basic things to shift their paradigms – which should be a priority in this New Year.  I have suggestions.

#1 on our 2012 Ecclesiastical To Do List:  Improve Our Social Media Skills

This is not about being cool.  This is not about generational church politics.  This is about functioning in the 21st Century.

Social media already benefits pastoral care, community-building, record-keeping, file-sharing, and worship creating.  We have a responsibility to our congregations to be skilled in these tools.

I have long said that every congregation needs someone under the age of 30 on staff or on call to offer tech work days to other staff members.  I will be always be grateful to MP for being that person for me for two years.

You can also send yourself, along with staff and volunteers to a Social Media Boot Camp.  Whether you consider yourself savvy technologically or a beginner who wonders about this thing called Facebook, this is an excellent use of $125 and seven hours of your time.

Doug Pagitt shared in yesterday’s Boot Camp in NYC that in the near future we will have our own apps.  I look forward to the Jan Edmiston app – whatever that might be, and I will want to check out your apps as well.

Do yourself and your church a favor and make this a priority in 2012.