As a church we don't have a policy about how our staff, leaders and Sunday School teachers interact online, but here are some suggested guidelines that would help us all be wise in our interactions online which I'd include if we did:
Never miss a chance to say something positive.If you have a chance to tweet, update a status, “like” or comment on something great that’s happening, or that someone has said about Jesus, the church or serving, take it. Be yourself and be genuine. Don’t say stuff you don’t mean. But do look for and take every opportunity you can to edify others and point them to places online that will potentially edify them. In fact it may be worth doing an audit of your last ten posts or likes do they convey thankfulness? Do they edify?
Think carefully before you publish.Be wise about what you say online. More than being viewed as a representative of your church, you represent Jesus to the world. As leaders, you are “servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God" (1 Cor 4:1). Take your calling seriously, and think through how your public comments, posts and “likes” will be perceived by others both inside and outside of the church. If you like it or share it, you endorse it. If in doubt, don’t.
Keep the big picture in mind.It can be helpful to conduct a self-review of your social media every few months. We post in isolated moments, but people can see the whole picture at any point. Are the majority of your posts negative, boastful, hyper-spiritual or venting? Do they portray you as always working and never playing or vice versa? Do they represent real life or a life that looks stylised or spun?
Don’t use email for hard conversations or social media.Talking face to face minimises opportunity for misunderstanding and maximises the chances of understanding. It contains so many things social media or email do not; inflection, intonation, body language and so on. Just by committing to take time to see someone you convey something about your care for the person that a quick social media posting or email doesn't. It also means that your exact words will not be copied and pasted out of context and forwarded to others.
Respond to accusers in private, not public.There have and will continue to be people who use social media to disparage the church and its leaders or mission. Arguing, maligning or even teaching in a public forum like Facebook, Twitter or a blog comment section is difficult. It is best to deal with that person in love, privately and as a friend according to scripture first before taking further action if necessary (see Matthew 18v15-20).
Your blog is not just your blog (or Twitter, Facebook or Instagram….)
People know you follow Jesus (if they don't that's a problem you need to address), and unfortunately they’ll attach your opinions and actions to Jesus and the church. When Paul describes us as Christ's ambassadors that applies to both when we are good ambassadors revealing his love and grace and holiness and when we are bad ambassadors screwing it up. While no one would expect you to post a disclaimer on your social media, just be aware that people don’t separate your ideas and choice of activities from way you follow Jesus or lead a ministry.
…and your email is not just your email.It’s best to keep email from your work email related to just that: work. Gossip detracts from our goals and diminishes your influence. And email is your point of least control for private information — easy to pass on to others without your knowledge.
Pray for the reputation of God’s Church.Social media is a powerful tool to create and destroy influence. Pray that Satan will be limited in his power to claim it and use it, and that we can be a part of redeeming it for Christ.
Never miss a chance to say something positive.If you have a chance to tweet, update a status, “like” or comment on something great that’s happening, or that someone has said about Jesus, the church or serving, take it. Be yourself and be genuine. Don’t say stuff you don’t mean. But do look for and take every opportunity you can to edify others and point them to places online that will potentially edify them. In fact it may be worth doing an audit of your last ten posts or likes do they convey thankfulness? Do they edify?
Think carefully before you publish.Be wise about what you say online. More than being viewed as a representative of your church, you represent Jesus to the world. As leaders, you are “servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God" (1 Cor 4:1). Take your calling seriously, and think through how your public comments, posts and “likes” will be perceived by others both inside and outside of the church. If you like it or share it, you endorse it. If in doubt, don’t.
Keep the big picture in mind.It can be helpful to conduct a self-review of your social media every few months. We post in isolated moments, but people can see the whole picture at any point. Are the majority of your posts negative, boastful, hyper-spiritual or venting? Do they portray you as always working and never playing or vice versa? Do they represent real life or a life that looks stylised or spun?
Don’t use email for hard conversations or social media.Talking face to face minimises opportunity for misunderstanding and maximises the chances of understanding. It contains so many things social media or email do not; inflection, intonation, body language and so on. Just by committing to take time to see someone you convey something about your care for the person that a quick social media posting or email doesn't. It also means that your exact words will not be copied and pasted out of context and forwarded to others.
Respond to accusers in private, not public.There have and will continue to be people who use social media to disparage the church and its leaders or mission. Arguing, maligning or even teaching in a public forum like Facebook, Twitter or a blog comment section is difficult. It is best to deal with that person in love, privately and as a friend according to scripture first before taking further action if necessary (see Matthew 18v15-20).
Your blog is not just your blog (or Twitter, Facebook or Instagram….)
People know you follow Jesus (if they don't that's a problem you need to address), and unfortunately they’ll attach your opinions and actions to Jesus and the church. When Paul describes us as Christ's ambassadors that applies to both when we are good ambassadors revealing his love and grace and holiness and when we are bad ambassadors screwing it up. While no one would expect you to post a disclaimer on your social media, just be aware that people don’t separate your ideas and choice of activities from way you follow Jesus or lead a ministry.
…and your email is not just your email.It’s best to keep email from your work email related to just that: work. Gossip detracts from our goals and diminishes your influence. And email is your point of least control for private information — easy to pass on to others without your knowledge.
Pray for the reputation of God’s Church.Social media is a powerful tool to create and destroy influence. Pray that Satan will be limited in his power to claim it and use it, and that we can be a part of redeeming it for Christ.
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