'Focus On' - Facebook Ministry

The Bishop of Dover and Canterbury Diocese are now on Facebook and an increasing number of churches, vicars and ministers are also using the social networking site.

'Focus On' asks four clergy, who use Facebook and other social and digital media, for their opinion.

Revd Sheila McLachlan, Rector of Kingsnorth St Michael and All Angels w Shadoxhurst St Peter and St Paul:

Remembering that not everyone can get to church on Sunday I put on my page a Bible verse and very short thought. The fact that a variety of people click on 'like' or add a comment shows that it is read and appreciated. In fact I have had responses from USA, Australia and elsewhere - so Kingsnorth reaches out!

Facebook links me with many of the younger members of the church community who are linked through our groups and they appear to think it rather 'cool' that the vicar uses Facebook.

With one recent bereavement it helped enormously as the bereaved person felt isolated and Facebook was a good way to reach out. Through its 'wall to wall' she was able to articulate her grief and talk it through even though she lived many miles away from the parish.

When a young man was murdered in Ashford last year his friends started up a Facebook page in memorial and through that I have been in contact with hundreds of young people and again directly 'wall to wall' with a number of them in supporting them through the tragedy of the death. Most of these youngsters live and study in the north of England and would not normally be seen going to church on Sundays!

Facebook can be good news. It can reach out often to the un-churched. It can provide a space to chat.

However, some of the recent criticism of Facebook is well justified and people must be aware that what they write is in the public domain and even the 'wall to wall' posts can be hacked into. So be very careful. There have been times when a conversation has begun on Facebook but we have continued it more safely in a different way.

I realised a couple of years ago that IT ministry is an essential part of 21stC life. In the parish we publish a daily 'thought for the day' which pops into people's email boxes every day. Currently some 40 people are signed up to the Hub and the responses have been amazing. Sometimes a theological or ethical question arises, other times anecdotes and then there are the times when people share something from their personal faith journey. It is deeply moving and humbling and I have been stunned by the response it has had. So beneficial is it and so much has it grown that just this month I have relinquished writing it daily and now each member of the Ministry Leadership Team takes it in turns to write the daily 'thought'. That is an exciting progress. I gather at times it is read on the 6.58 train to London and not only by members of the Church but fellow passengers get the joy of sharing it!

Case Study 2

Revd Simon Foulkes, Priest-in-Charge Bethersden St Margaret and High Halden St Mary the Virgin has been using Facebook for approximately 4 months:

I began using Facebook specifically to connect with Youth. I work with Alex Bienfait and Nathan Wilson from neighbouring parishes to do a monthly youth event, and within my own parish to run a Youth Cell. It has been very effective, and we have put up content from the youth event to our group page (Cosmic Y). However, it's also become useful in connecting with wedding couples and of course personally in keeping contacts with friends and family.

I use it for publicizing an event - for example we have an event in church next Sunday, where we are showing a Rob Bell DVD called 'everything is spiritual'. People can respond to that on Facebook (I also use Wufoo), and it makes it easy for people to know what is happening, and for me to have an idea how many hope to come.

Facebook helps engage with youth, Diocesan officers, other clergy and wedding couples: it is less used by the people of my parents' generation which is the majority of traditional churchgoers.

My advice to churches thinking of entering the social media age - Facebook is what it is and no more. Certainly, I think it demeans, or at least redefines, what the word 'friend' means, and I'm sure it's not what Jesus meant in John 15.14-15! The church is in the communication business, though, and this is a great tool for communicating with the particular groups who use it well.

Case Study 3

Revd Andy Bawtree, Priest in Charge of River St Peter and St Paul has been using Facebook since the beginning of the year:

I have two Facebook pages, one as the 'River Rev' which is primarily for members of the congregation and other interested folk. I update Facebook at least weekly. If there is a festival or a special saints' day I will use that as an opportunity to add a post, a verse of Scripture and a reflection. Sometimes I will comment on something in the media or link to items in news. I also have a personal page, which is aimed at my friends and family.

It is useful to connect to the younger generation - for example I have used Facebook to send exam prayers. It provides a space to have a relationship (albeit electronic) with some folk who I don't see often in church. There are a number of 'silver surfers' who use Facebook and half of the PCC are now on Facebook, which is good. I also use Facebook to connect to a Missionary family who are working abroad.

I seek to use it in positive way and aim to be authentic. I know all the people who have asked to be friends and I check out people who ask to be 'friends' who I am unsure about. It can be helpful to widen the perception of a cleric and it is a way to show how we are directly representatives of Christ in this world.

I use Facebook as part of a range of digital communications including our website - together these help create and develop links with people. Through the website we had contact from someone asking about confession which I was able to follow up on. This was a real eye opener, because I doubt this person would have come to the church.

I would encourage everyone to have a go. We live in a time where there are increasing reports of loneliness and Facebook is another communication medium which can be positive. Users do need to remember that Facebook is a public place and care should be taken. The public nature of Facebook does, however, offer another public space to proclaim the Good News. .

I think if we are authentic about who we are then Facebook will help not hinder, especially in connecting to younger people. It can, however, never replace the earthly contact we all need.

Case Study 4

Revd John Leach, Vicar of St John the Baptist Folkestone, who has recently joined Facebook:.

St John's has an 'organisation' page and I have also recently set up my own Facebook profile. I would say that whilst setting it up is very intuitive it is best to get a young person to help. I would not have moved beyond paralysis without that help!

I decided very quickly not to use Facebook for online games, which can fill your page with annoying updates, but to use it for personal interaction. Getting friends is easy and I was amazed how quickly my 'friend' group grew, although I have taken care not to accept people I am unsure of. Facebook is useful to start discussions and provoke conversations and to affirm people.

My posts include comments and reflections. Last week I attended an evening meeting with Bishop Trevor and Julian Hills at which Bishop Trevor said he was committed to tithing - I shared that through my Facebook page for example.

Facebook can also be useful for publicising events, particularly those aimed at younger people. It is easy to set up the event online and invite selected people. It can be a direct link for younger people who are more likely to know what is going on through Facebook than through a weekly pew sheet. Facebook is good to use as an interactive tool, for example to seek feedback on sermons or others' opinions. It is also important to keep the balance between serious, heavy weight stuff and low key, light weight news.

I see Facebook as an essential tool for connecting with young people and for some older people. It compliments rather than replaces other methods of engaging, and I am sure it is something we will build on in the future

If you would like help setting up a Facebook account, contact Emily Shepherd, Director of Communications: eshepherd@diocant.org or 01227 459 401.