When you hear “digital ministry,” what do you feel? Excitement? Terror? Apprehension?
It’s easy to be overwhelmed by the thought of “reproducing” your vocation on an entirely different platform. After all, online ministry encompasses so much, from mission work to pastoral care, from liturgy to Christian education and formation. And the potential audience is so much broader, far beyond the congregation that shows up each Sunday.
What could go wrong?
Today we’re kicking off a series of curated collections aimed at provide you with inspiration and resources for digital ministry in your church or other ministry.
Each week, you’ll find articles and tools that will help you bring your liturgy, online presence, and pastoral care into online and hybrid spaces.
Our theme this week? An intro to media-savvy ministry, what it entails, and what kind of boundaries to draw.
Digital Ministry Has a New Name: Ministry: In today’s world, digital ministry isn’t a separate task or category, and it certainly isn’t optional. In this post, we take a look at what it means to be a minister in the digital age–and how to integrate digital ministry seamlessly into what you’re already doing.
You already have everything you need to be a digital media minister. No, really! It’s easy to be intimidated by technology. But technological skills aren’t the most important part of online ministry. Instead, it’s about letting the Holy Spirit funnel your pastoral instincts into a new medium. Check out my piece in Faith & Leadership for a confidence booster.
Members in Digital Ministry: Okay, so you’ve become a digital minister. But what about the members of your congregation, especially the ones less comfortable with technology? Keith Anderson explores how they can become confidently involved in your congregation’s online outreach.
Pastoral Care in a Digital Age: Seminary taught you how to visit parishioners in the hospital and how to respond when you encountered depression in your pews. But what about a cry for help on Facebook? Or how to care for someone who’s never set foot in a church? Sally Coleman lays out the basics of digital pastoral care.
Healthy Boundaries for Ministry: It’s hard enough to draw good boundaries when you’re physically in the church building. But what about when you’re involved in your church’s social media platforms and digital outreach? Lisa Brown helps draw some boundaries to prevent burn-out for the digital pastor.
Bonus Content! Interested in even more resources? Check out Kyle Oliver and Lisa Kimball’s chapters on digital media for ministry in The Study of Ministry. (Disclosure: Amazon affiliate link.)
Next in our Digital Ministry series: liturgy! Check back soon for a resource guide on digitizing your worship services, sermons, online giving, and more.