Matt Carlisle is a self-described “evangelist for web and social media” who previously served as the executive designer, producer and editor of UMC.org, the official website of The United Methodist Church. He founded Big Heart Design, a web and social media strategy consulting firm, and recently wrote about the importance of local congregations training members to become “your greatest social media advocates.” Specifically, he suggests churches would benefit from offering face-to-face training that covers topics like “how to use Facebook or Twitter; Basics of web safety; Nurturing through Facebook; Etc.”
So What?
Training should not occur as an end unto itself but rather as a means of supporting your congregation’s overall social media goals. Carlisle proposes:
Each organization should create a unique social media strategy. It’s not something that is created in a cookie cutter fashion. You’re congregation isn’t like the church down the street, so your social media plan should represent the heart of your ministry.
While haphazard engagement best defines the early experiences of most ministries, churches must commit the appropriate energy to ensure that they quickly move toward a strategic plan with well-defined goals. Within that framework, what role has your parish assigned to training your members (and other active ministry participants)? What types of training events have been most effective? At what interval do you provide these opportunities? Are they offered exclusively in face-to-face settings or also provided virtually? If you provide virtual training, is it synchronous (live), asynchronous or both?