by Sharon Ely Pearson
The world is rapidly changing and how we communicate is changing too. As a church we have accepted the need to follow guidelines in how we conduct ourselves and our interactions with those we are called to ministry with – what has become known as “safe church practices.” Social media (aka: Facebook Twitter, YouTube and texting) also needs to be considered when determining boundaries and safe practices in ministry.
Through the collaborative work of the youth coordinators in Province III (Episcopal dioceses of Bethlehem, Central Pennsylvania, Delaware, Easton, Maryland, Northwest Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, Southern Virginia, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia), a document offering guidelines for the safe and responsible use of social media in youth ministry has recently been released, entitled Social Media: Safe Church.
According to Andrew Kellner, Canon for Youth Ministries in the Diocese of Pennsylvania, “It reflects a great deal of collective wisdom and experience, and it is our hope that it will serve as a helpful framework for how you approach social media in your own ministry. The information we detail in this document is not a set of rules, but rather a set of helpful guidelines and pastoral considerations which we feel will assist in utilizing new technologies and communications outlets in the safest and most effective way possible.”
We believe in a God who radically loves us, so much so, he entered creation as Jesus Christ and modeled and formed relationships giving us power through the Holy Spirit to continue His incarnational ministry in the world today. The ways we develop and form our incarnational relationships in the church, home and community are rapidly changing. Social media and imagined communities, and information sharing which deepens and develops relationships s offers new ways of communication which may at times bring challenges to living out our Baptismal faith. Social Networking Sites and Media are a reality in the lives of most of our students, young adults and even adults, and it’s essential for the Church to fully engage in this arena. Technological advancements in communication have diminished traditional thoughts on privacy – it is now a matter of reputation and integrity.
The following recommended practices and guidelines apply commonly accepted principles of healthy boundaries for digital networking and communication. They are intended to raise awareness of issues and open doors of conversations with ministry teams. They are not intended to be hard and fast “rules” but rather an invitation to explore the changing landscape of pastoral relationships with students and adults. We encourage all ministry teams to discern together what guidelines to adopt, considering the nature of your ministry and being mindful that our calling is to meet students where they are; model healthy boundaries; and love and care for students safely.
This is a pastoral document, not binding legal guidelines. If you are concerned with the legal ramifications of your ministry’s guidelines you are encouraged to review your covenant with a lawyer.
You may access the full document here.
The Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut has specific guidelines for the use of social media, including a downloadable booklet that can be distributed to others. These can be accessed here.
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