This document provides an overview of social media and its uses for Christians and churches. It discusses the evolution of the internet from Web 1.0 to the current Web 3.0. Key social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter are explained in terms of their functionality and how Christians can use them. Guidelines around privacy, safeguarding and authentic engagement online are also presented. Examples and tips are given for how social media can be used to connect with others and fulfill the church's mission.

1. Social media for the scared
sacred ordinands
Cranmer Hall/
Wesley Study
Centre
October 2012
http://bryonytaylor.com

2. Understanding
how the Web 3.0
internet has Web 2.0 or Web X
changed 2006 2011…
Internet full of Internet
‘user generated becoming
Web 1.0 content’ ie ubiquitous –
people integrated into
1996 publishing to the every aspect of
Internet like a web – life and accessed
giant Yellow videos, blogs from mobiles &
Pages or etc. other devices as
Encyclopaedia Social well as PCs
Only one way Media, two-way http://bryonytaylor.com
communication communication

3. One-way communication
Two-way communication
Many to many communication
This means we need to be
everywhere – not somewhere!
http://bryonytaylor.com

4. What is Social Media?
They are different tools
for:
• Communicating
• Sharing
• Collaborating
It’s about people – it’s social
http://bryonytaylor.com

5. Seeing Social Media in action
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkHNNPM7pJA
http://bryonytaylor.com

6. Why should Christians or the church
get involved in Social Media?
http://bryonytaylor.com
Image: Drew Weseman

7. 1 in 3 people online are on Facebook!
50% of UK pensioners are on Facebook
Good for:
• Keeping in touch
• Sharing news stories and media
• Organising events
• Reaching the ‘hard to reach’
http://bryonytaylor.com

8. • Facebook profile/timeline
• Groups – 3 types: open, closed,
secret
• Facebook page
In church ministry think:
• One to one discussion = private messages on FB
• Church magazine = Facebook page – fully public
• Small groups (mums & tots, cells, Alpha) =
Facebook groups – can be private
Think: use a Page for outreach and Groups for
organisation, specific groups & pastoral care
http://bryonytaylor.com

9. How does Twitter work?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWCaXXKcHWE
http://bryonytaylor.com

10. The Pope tweeted through Lent!
Good for:
• Breaking news
• Building a network
• Sharing pithy statements/quotes
• Asking questions – ‘crowdsourcing’
• Discipleship eg:
http://storify.com/richardlittleda/cro
wdsourced-wisdom-on-
prayer/slideshow
http://bryonytaylor.com

11. Terminology
• Hashtag
• @ reply
• RT & MT
• Home feed
• Trending topic
• Direct message/messages
• 140 characters
http://bryonytaylor.com

12. What about privacy?
• Never think anything
you put online is
private
• You can moderate
comments on
Facebook etc.
• You are responsible
for what you share
online
• You control your own
privacy online – each
site has settings that
you control http://bryonytaylor.com

13. What about safeguarding?
• Follow the rules of the • Use your own child
site you’re using, eg. protection policy –
Facebook users must reporting suspicious
be over 13 activity in the normal
• Always get permission way
to share photos/video
– easy way around
this is to get people to
upload their own
photos/videos!
http://bryonytaylor.com

14. My 3 golden rules:
Don’t be afraid!
Go for it, don’t be timid, you just
have to give it a try.
Don’t be stupid!
Don’t write anything you’d be
embarrassed for a loved one or your
boss to read!
Be yourself!
Be authentic, people can spot a fake.
http://bryonytaylor.com

15. Twitter Facebook
@cranmerhall – official WSC/Cranmer Closed
college twitter account Group:
@insidecranmer – for https://www.facebook.c
members of om/groups/15398848131
WSC/Cranmer 0030/
@tanner_mark – Mark
Tanner Cranmer Hall page:
@johnschaplain – Kate https://www.facebook.c
Bruce om/pages/Cranmer-
@vahva – Bryony  Hall/148959167228
http://bryonytaylor.com

16. Some other sites to be aware of
http://bryonytaylor.com

17. Scenario 1:
Jenny just had her little boy baptised at
your church. She comes to your mothers
and toddlers group but not to church
services. She uses Facebook and can access
it on her phone.
How could you engage her through social
media?
http://bryonytaylor.com

18. Scenario 2:
You are running an Alpha course at church.
A number of the participants use social
media.
How could you use social media both to
advertise the course and keep in touch with
participants?
http://bryonytaylor.com

19. Scenario 3:
You have a board at the back of church
where people can put prayer requests.
How could you bring this into the 21st
century using social media?
http://bryonytaylor.com

20. 5 marks of mission – how do these
bear out in social media?
Proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom
Teach, baptise and nurture new believers
To respond to human need by loving service
To seek to transform unjust structures of society
To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and
sustain and renew the life of the earth
http://bryonytaylor.com

21. Tips for getting started
• Don’t run before you can walk
• Find out where people are – who in your
church is using social media?
• Go where your congregation and
community are
• Use what you’re comfortable with
• If possible get a current user to manage
your social media accounts
• If you set up a social media account be
sure someone is responsible for it – you
can’t create something and then leave it
http://bryonytaylor.com

22. Tips for getting started
• Once you have accounts, put links on
your church noticeboard, posters and on
your newsletter
• Encourage visitors to go to your social
media accounts (blog, twitter, facebook)
• Consider how you can use your social
media with different groups you run at
church – eg. Mother and toddler
groups, Alpha etc.
http://bryonytaylor.com

23. Resources
• http://bigbible.org.uk/
• http://digital-fingerprint.co.uk/
• http://bryonytaylor.com
• http://www.prayoneforme.org/
• http://www.twurchofengland.org.uk/
• http://www.dur.ac.uk/codec/about/
• http://christiannewmedia.com/
• http://ibenedictines.org/
http://bryonytaylor.com

24. Thanks! Keep in touch! http://bryonytaylor.com
I’m @vahva on Twitter
bryony.taylor@gmail.com
http://bryonytaylor.com

25. Image acknowledgements 
1. Monkey by coxy on Flickr Flickr
2. Change by CPCBrass on Flickr 13. Privacy by The Incredible how on
3. Social Media collage by Flickr
Kdonovan_gaddy on Flickr 14. Guard by Splutterbug on Flickr
4. Tools by zzpza on Flickr 15. Child by Leonid Mamchenkov on
5. Web by puliarf on Flickr Flickr
6. Tortoise by Mr. Thomas on Flickr 16. Dinner table by Orphan Jones on
7. Little Wesley by Drew Weseman Flickr
8. Mobile phone by Rakka on Flickr 17. Prayer by bhsher on Flickr
9. Facebook by Thos003 by Flickr 18. Start by Pobre.ch on Flickr
10. Twitter by Rosaura Ochoa on Flickr
11. Journal by Curtfleenor on Flickr
12. Notice boards by Ingy the Wingy on
http://bryonytaylor.com