One topic of discussion that came up at last week's Church 2.0 Local Forum in Phoenix was the ever-increasing new role for Church leaders and staff to be equippers and trainers of new media and technologies to those in their ministry, volunteers, other staff, etc.
One IT staff member of a mega-church remarked that he's found himself training more and more staff on how to use tools like Facebook, Twitter and TokBox. Another staff remember remarked that she has been personally going over to volunteers in her ministry houses to teach them hands-on on how to use these tools. She's personally set them up with email, Facebook and Twitter accounts (even if only to follow her she said).
I think this is a new reality we find ourselves in and will probably make it's way into the Church 2.0 book (or whatever it ends up being called). We as leaders have always been charged to teach, train, encourage, equip, educate and inform. For the many in your church and even on your staff team that don't "get it" - you may find yourself acting in a role like a Best Buy Geek Squad or an Apple Store Genius Bar.
Have you thought of this before? Do you think this is valid? I'm not talking about forcing anything on anyone. I'm talking about helping those that have interests and are sincerely open to harnessing these new technologies. My hope is that if you are ready and willing to learn that you will seek out those to learn from. And if you "get it" and have knowledge that you could share, I encourage you to see it as an act of furthuring the Kingdom and the Gospel. So, are you willing to serve on the Geek Squad?
Greg Atkinson - www.GregAtkinson.com
Already doing that. Thanks to some inspiration from Jim Walton of www.churchtechmatters.com, I started up some PC Workshops for our church. Now I just have to figure out how to better publicize them so people take advantage of them. :P
Outside of those, I definitely have done housecalls, picked up sick PCs to fix, and done some training. I also plan to host a parental education class for our members and friends so we can keep up with what's going on out there on the 'net.
Posted by: Peter | February 24, 2009 at 12:13 PM
I'll echo what Peter said. The other volunteers I am working with are not that web centric, so it is a slow process of exposing them to new tools such as Twitter, Tokbox, Google Groups (where we host all our Media/Tech team materials), etc.
I, too, have acted on an idea I borrowed from Jim Walton at http://www.churchtechmatters.com and have begun PC Workshops at our church - for both members and the community at large. Next step is to expand this ministry and offer truly valuable content.
Posted by: Greg Simmon | February 24, 2009 at 01:01 PM
That is so smart! The more churches I speak to, the more I realize they are really trying to adopt social media and Church/Web 2.0 era. And as posted in the earlier blog "how technology drives the generation gap", it doesn't matter the size, age or location - people of all ages are adopting technology.
Do you find that church members are using different social media tools to communicate? Why not have one tool that can centralize your members, staff, small groups, leaders, and volunteers vs. using multiple avenues for communication?
As a leader and "influencer" in the church industry, I'd love to hear your thoughts and advice about MemberHub. Keep your Facebook & Twitter accounts for your personal life, friends & family - and explore the option of providing a private place for your church & church members.
Regardless, with the different outlets for communication- I think a Church Geek Squad is a fantastic idea!
Posted by: Millee | February 24, 2009 at 01:13 PM
I don't think it's a UK thing but local Churhes to me seem very anti Web 2.0 (I hate that tag) stuff and will activelt avoid it.
They are happy to use technology in their ministries though and will happily take from those that know, but trying to get them to see beyond the obvious is sometimes painful.
I like Jim's PC Workshop idea and this is something I had thought of before, but hyave yet to loate another techie that could assist.
Another idea was to service half a dozen (or more time / distance allowing) local Churches IT needs per week, but the lethargy in getting them to see the benefits is a constant uphill struggle.
I'm keeping on though.
Posted by: Stuart | February 24, 2009 at 05:49 PM
Sounds like a great idea and being my Church's resident geek - I'm already trying to get my church into 2.0 land... Next up is twitter!
I've also got an idea for a simple web help/support service for churches (and possibly generally). Not quite a church geek squad but along those lines.
I'm just over the Bristol Channel to you Stuart in Minehead. I'll drop you an email.
Posted by: James Cooper | February 25, 2009 at 12:20 PM