Pastoring in the Digital Parish – UMC.org Podcasts: Recent Episodes
United Methodist Communications
Training resources, growth ideas and connection for ministry leaders growing digital communities: It’s the digital ministry class we weren’t offered in seminary. In each episode, Ryan Dunn talks with a digital community expert in search of answers to questions about digital discipleship, online engagement, content creation, and the future of ministry in a digital-native culture.
This is going to be the final episode branded as Pastoring in the Digital Parish. Going forward, we’ll be building our digital ministry toolkits on the MyCom Podcast. So subscribe to that to keep growing in this area of ministry. www.resourceumc.org/mycom-podcast
In this episode, we get to visit with J.J. Warren and explore the evolving landscape of digital ministry. We talked about the dynamics of virtual church communities on platforms like Gather and Discord. J.J. shared the impactful journey of the Young Prophets Collective… which moved from a passionate group of young United Methodists to a thriving, inclusive all-digital worship community.
Rev. J.J. Warren (he/him) is the author of two books: Reclaiming Church: A Call to Action for Religious Rejects and Where Two or Three are Connected: Being the Church in This New Era. After making an impassioned plea for the inclusion of LGBTQ+ persons at The United Methodist Church’s (UMC) top law-making assembly in 2019, Rev. J.J.’s speech went viral, and his advocacy has been covered by HuffPost, NBC, Brut Media, and WXXI Radio. He currently resides in Vienna where he is a lecturer at the University of Vienna and guest faculty online for the Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School.
For more episodes of MyCom and past episodes of Pastoring in the Digital Parish, visit ResourceUMC.org
This episode of Pastoring in the Digital Parish explores YouTube strategies with Shane Russo and Nathan Webb. Shane shared his success using tools like vidIQ and OpusClips, emphasizing the difference between digital engagement and traditional ministry. Nathan highlighted knowing your audience and leveraging platforms like Discord for community building. We discussed navigating controversy, optimizing content, and fostering inclusive spaces.
We hope you’ve been finding valuable insights and practical tips from our ongoing series, designed to help you navigate the complex world of digital ministry.
In this episode:
(00:00) Moving to MyCom
(05:27) Juggling church and online ministry challenges.
(07:56) Nerdy sermons, discipleship pathway, viral YouTube shift.
(11:30) Unique video’s organic viral success defies expectations.
(14:38) Consistent content creation with specialized tools and experimentation.
(19:25) Consider posting content on platforms strategically, based on audience and purpose.
(22:22) Consider intent and audience before posting content.
(25:14) Pastor taps into controversial topics for engagement.
(28:22) Reluctant to engage in online controversies.
(31:04) Adapting content to engage and retain audience.
(36:08) Reject toxic feedback, view it as vandalism.
(39:26) Maintain inclusivity without tolerating harmful behavior.
(42:26) Timing and tool choice affect content success.
(44:29) Crafting content for engagement and scheduling efficiently.
(47:57) Effortless editing creates phenomenal video clips. AI advances.
(55:03) Digital storytelling, enhance sermon videos, church leadership.
(55:54) Monthly podcast by My Com, technical help.
It’s time to make a switch. For more episodes on building your digital ministry toolkit and bringing your congregation into the digital age, you’ll want to check out www.resourceumc.org/mycom
Older episodes of Pastoring in the Digital Parish are still available at www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish
In this session of Pastoring in the Digital Parish, we’re going to talk about the challenges and successes of cultivating a digital congregation, the impact of traditional liturgical expressions online, the use of AI-generated tools for social media engagement, and the evolution of pastoral care in a digital context.
Our adjunct professor for this session is Sherry Hietpas, the associate pastor of digital ministry at Andrew Chapel United Methodist Church in Vienna, Virginia. She is also the founder of Encounter–an all-digital expression of church. And she does all this while living with her family in Thailand.
In this episode:
(00:00) Digital ministry leader discusses challenges and successes.
(03:46) Small church adapts to pandemic with outreach.
(07:42) Recording travels across Asia, exploring, worship, growth.
(11:34) Offering liturgical connection for global communities via YouTube.
(16:39) Exploring sacred digital worship and prayer practices.
(17:57) Embracing tradition while engaging with digital audience.
(20:42) Automates episode promotion, saves hours of work.
(24:08) Digital communication vital for remote church engagement.
(27:28) Enhancing digital engagement through comments and discussions.
(30:42) Encouraging feedback for future ministry content.
For notes and more episodes: resourceumc.org/digital-parish
Pastoring in the Digital Parish is a production of United Methodist Communications.
Let’s get to know the Rev. Bethany Peerbolte and hear how it started and how it’s going in her online ministry, called “Our Tapestry.” Bethany shares how her digital ministry journey started somewhat mistakenly through some viral TikTok videos. She shares stories and practices of building community in digital spaces, increasing online engagement in church, and connecting with people beyond the church.
Bethany is a pastor in the Presbyterian Church, USA. She currently runs the all-online expression of church known as Our Tapestry–which is a plant of the Denver Presbytery. She seeks to support people in “theological deserts” and give everyone access to pastoral care, faith formation, and loving community.
In this episode:
(00:00) Explore digital ministry by learning from experts.
(03:33) TikTok algorithm shows concerning Christian content.
(08:51) Providing pastoral support online.
(10:30) Started small text chain, expanded to Discord.
(15:52) Rethinking church practices in the digital age.
(17:34) Discussing church leadership and financial questions.
(20:21) Intentionally scrolling for viral content, finding storytelling inspiration.
(28:40) Progressive Millennials and Gen Z embrace social justice.
(33:20) Creating safe online space for youth group.
(35:32) Interesting metrics drive impactful discussions and engagement.
(43:21) TikTok offers diverse first-hand perspectives.
(47:08) Stories inform our digital ministry practice, share experiences.
Pastoring in the Digital Parish is a production of Resource UMC. For show notes and more episodes: www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish
Host Ryan Dunn offers practical tips and a 7-step process for creating impactful short-form videos to enhance digital outreach and foster meaningful online relationships for the church in the digital era, in this episode of Pastoring in the Digital Parish. We’re repurposing content for the digital ministry win. There are some creative ways you can add short-form, vertical videos to you online ministry toolkit.
In this video:
(00:00) Digital parish resource for expanding ministry impact.
(04:45) Video content reaches wide audiences; it’s vital.
(06:55) Short videos convey Christ-centered community value. Clarify intent, message, and engage.
(11:13) Transcripts and editing.
(13:33) Creating specific content for a targeted audience.
(18:54) Maximize video impact with powerful call-to-action.
(21:13) Enhance video with zooming and on-screen text.
(23:58) Short form as teaser, hashtags crucial for discoverability.
(26:44) Offer grace or hide/delete the comment.
For notes, examples and more episodes: www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish
Rev. Jen Swindell shares her expertise on maximizing the powerful tool of Google Ads to reach new visitors and nurture community. Your church or digital ministry can utilize the Google Ads grant that offers $10,000 per month in advertising for eligible nonprofits.
Jen walks us through the ins and outs of using specific keywords to draw attention to online church marketing and how to create specialized landing pages for events and sermon series. She also explains the success stories of using targeted keywords for outreach and supporting those in need during the holidays.
Jen Swindell is the Pastor of Evangelism and Communications at North Raleigh United Methodist Church. She also coaches and consults churches in regards to their digital outreach strategies. Her goal is to help leaders make the time they already spend in social count more and have a measurable impact in their major goals and metrics.
In this episode:
(00:00) Resource for digital ministry, Google ads grant.
(04:14) Getting started on Google Ads.
(07:04) Google Ads should target popular search terms.
(09:34) Google ad campaigns require specific, relevant keywords.
(20:11) Online campaign encompasses ad groups with search radius.
(25:17) Experiencing success in Google Ads, helping churches.
(27:09) Churches must adhere to Google Ads rules.
(29:09) Regularly review and prioritize Google Ads usage.
(33:37) Reaching out, inviting, and trusting church crucial.
(36:10) Connect with Pastoring in the Digital Parish.
Pastoring in the Digital Parish is produced by Resource UMC. For episode notes and more episodes: www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish
Jason Moore explores AI integration for church ministry, attitudes towards technology in ministry, and balancing a human connection in digital space on Pastoring in the Digital Parish.
In this episode, we explore Jason’s journey from AI skeptic to AI advocate. we’ll explore the practical applications of AI in church settings, from chatbot discussions to sermon preparations and creative storytelling enhancements. Jason provides some principles guiding responsible AI use in ministry and the ethical considerations we must address when embracing this technology.
Jason Moore has devoted the last two-plus decades to resource development, training, and coaching & consulting that works for local churches of all sizes, styles and means. The author of 10 books, Jason has also led hundreds of seminars and keynote addresses across North America – teaching in all 50 states in the USA.
In this episode:
(00:00) Exploring AI’s use in church settings with Jason Moore.
(05:47) AI is a conversation, not just query.
(09:15) Tool facilitates discussion, prompts sermon questions effectively.
(10:18) Use GPT chatbots for different perspectives.
(14:08) Encourage diverse representations of religious figures.
(19:16) Created popular biblical selfie series using modern relevance.
(23:38) AI can save time and build relationships.
(33:27) Caution about using Chat GPT for sources.
(36:18) AI approaching human-like intelligence, debate on possibility.
(38:31) New technology can help with creativity doubts.
(41:12) Embrace roller coasters and new experiences fearlessly.
(44:44) Join conversation on AI in digital ministry.
Pastoring in the Digital Parish is hosted by Rev. Ryan Dunn. It is a production of United Methodist Communications.
For more episodes and session notes: www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish
In this session with Collin Johansson we’ll learn why live video should be a cornerstone of your digital ministry and how you can craft social media content that not only connects but resonates deeply with your congregation. From creating engaging sermon clips to scheduling posts for optimal impact, we dive deep into strategies that will help retain newcomers, especially around high-traffic times like Easter.
If you’ve ever struggled with keeping your church’s social media fresh and effective, stick around. This is an episode overflowing with practical tips that could transform your digital ministry game.
Collin Johansson serves as the senior social media specialist for the United Methodist Communications’ local church services team. His primary role involves guiding churches to enhance their digital footprints across various social media platforms. Collin thrives on the opportunity to work closely with religious communities, finding excitement and purpose in helping them strengthen their online presence.
In this episode:
(00:00) Podcast: Building digital ministry; engaging congregation online.
(03:59) Video content enhances engagement on social media.
(09:49) Churches should focus on Instagram and TikTok.
(12:20) Effectively reaching out in digital church presence.
(14:02) Church involvement in community and volunteer opportunities.
(19:02) Posting live content on stories to engage.
(20:26) “ResourceUMC: One-stop shop for church outreach”
(25:54) Social media empowers churches to connect digitally.
(35:12) Discussing popular culture, creating topical devotional content.
(37:38) Canva is a great software for churches.
(41:04) New episode next week, peace to you.
Find more resources and tools for digital ministry: www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish
Dr. Deanna Thompson brings a unique perspective to Pastoring in the Digital Parish, having been ministered to through digital means during her ongoing battle with an incurable form of cancer. Dr. Thompson recounts her journey from digital skeptic to advocate. Deanna unpacks the pressing challenges that face young people as they navigate the complexities of online communication without the seasoned guidance of adults, educators, and religious communities. We also explore the responsibility that educators and faith institutions must shoulder in fostering ethical online behavior and community-building.
Dr. Deanna Thompson is an author, speaker, and Director of the Lutheran Center for Faith, Values, and Community and Martin E. Marty Regents Chair of Religion and the Academy at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. Several years ago, she wrote a book called “The Virtual Body of Christ in a Suffering World”.
In this episode:
(00:00) Exploring faith in the digital world
(04:01) Digital skeptic turned advocate for online connections.
(06:59) Digital technology as a tool with limits.
(10:21) Challenges of online navigation and misinformation spread.
(15:37) Challenges of digital pastoral care and advocacy.
(18:39) Vulnerability in sickness, online spaces offer solace.
(21:37) Discerning digital connection’s role in church mission.
(27:12) Church staff adapting to digital skills demand.
(30:40) Exploring the complexities of being a digital native.
(34:48) Discussing trust and boundaries in online spaces.
(38:02) Enhancing dialogue on compassion and ethics online.
More from Pastoring in the Digital Parish: www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish
Pastoring in the Digitial Parish is a production of United Methodist Communications.
On this episode of “Pastoring in the Digital Parish,” we welcome back Rev. Nathan Webb to discuss the innovative approach to bible study outreach being employed by Checkpoint Church. Nathan shares the inspiration behind their unique bible study curriculum, “Jesus Loves Nerds,” hosted on Substack, which draws on trending video games and anime to engage the church community in a fresh and unconventional way. We’re going to get into the reasoning behind the subscription model, the delicate balance of content monetization, and the practical considerations of delivering and processing the material.
Our guest for this session, Rev. Nathan Webb, is the founder and lead pastor of Checkpoint Church, an all-digital expression of church primarily focused on nerd culture and the gaming community.
This episode offers a fascinating glimpse into the creative and strategic process behind building a relevant and sustainable Bible study for the digital culture. So let’s get into it on Pastoring in the Digital Parish!
In this episode:
(00:00) Nathan Webb discusses innovative bible study approach.
(06:29) Creating weekly digital bible studies for nerds.
(09:28) Church leaders considering monetizing content, facing pushback.
(14:17) Churches seek new revenue sources amid scarcity.
(17:41) Connecting with diverse interests, reaching new demographics.
(21:14) Delivering weekly content, guiding youth leaders effectively.
(23:12) Guided questions, activity, spiritual practice, closing prayer.
(27:05) Seeking affirmation for successful usage and expansion.
(29:41) Exploring online ministry and community building resources.
For more episodes and notes: www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish
Pastoring in the Digital Parish is hosted by Rev. Ryan Dunn. It is a production of United Methodist Communications.
In this collaboration with the Holy Roast Podcast, pastors Ryan Dunn, Rob Tucker and Rachel Wallace explore the challenges and successes of online ministry and pastoring in the digital age.
The Holy Roast podcast equips and inspires local church leaders. This collaborative session covers the importance of maintaining a strong online presence, redefining success metrics for online ministry, and the theological considerations of communion in a scattered church community. We also got into a discussion on personal and professional boundaries in the digital world. There is a lot of valuable insight for digital engagement and pastoral care.
Explore more with the Holy Roast Podcast: https://linktr.ee/holyroastpodcast
In this episode:
(00:00) Exploring digital ministry with Holy Roast podcast.
(04:55) Vision casting, skills, practical experience, marketing relationships.
(08:12) Lockdown led to rethinking worship and community.
(10:42) Discussion about dwindling church attendance and adaptation.
(13:51) Pastors moved out of church for community connection.
(17:14) Redefining church success beyond traditional attendance metrics.
(20:18) Church digital ministry aims for growth and engagement.
(25:06) Advocating for hybrid education and outreach opportunities.
(26:01) Unanticipated digital presence challenges personal and professional boundaries.
(31:21) Defining healthy boundaries in digital presence.
(35:43) Churches use platform-specific content to define community.
(39:13) Utilize online platforms for church outreach effectively.
(48:15) Thanks, friends. Wrapping up digital parish sessions.
For more episodes and notes: www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish
We’re kicking off season 8! In this episode, we have the privilege of sitting down with Caleb Lines, a pastor who has led his congregation through a remarkable transformation. Caleb shares the challenges his church faced, from vandalism to financial instability, and how they overcame these obstacles through innovative strategies, including a strong social media presence and creative repurposing of church facilities. Join us as we uncover the power of digital outreach, alternative income streams, and the unwavering commitment to community engagement.
Rev. Dr. Caleb J. Lines is senior pastor at University Christian Church in San Diego, CA. He is the author of The Great Digital Commission: Embracing Social Media for Church Growth and Transformation (Cascade Books, 2021), which quickly reached #1 on Amazon’s New Releases for Church Growth. His views on the intersection of religion and public life have been featured in diverse local, national, and international publications. Caleb is also the Co-Executive Director and board member of Progressive Christianity.org, treasurer of the national board of Jubilee USA Network, and Co-Host of the popular podcast “The Moonshine Jesus Show“.
In this episode:
(00:00) “Digital parish offers innovative strategies for ministry.”
(05:48) Started with minimal staff, emphasized digital ministry.
(08:58) Promoting church online, sharing, and engaging community.
(13:17) Social media targets different audiences, builds community.
(14:02) Church authenticity problem hinders religious affiliation decline.
(19:25) Practicing and advocating for social justice online.
(22:57) Think through branding, consistent messaging, diverse content.
(27:17) Assessing and improving church finances for survival.
(29:22) Underutilized church space leads to strategic planning.
(32:05) Considered options, sold land to housing developer.
(35:21) Supporting ministry through alternative income streams.
(41:09) Adaptation led to creativity and dynamic worship.
(42:11) Finding joy in ministry, pursuing dreams.
For more episodes and notes: www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish
What we learned from daily podcasting during National Podcast Posts Month for Pastoring in the Digital Parish.
This is episode number 30 of 30 for National Podcast Post Month. NaPodPoMo is a challenge through the month of November to share 30 episodes in 30 days. Our goal in participation is to see how this kind of volume and frequency can help to build an audience and a sense of community.
Connect with Pastoring in the Digital Parish at www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish
What worked then in digital ministry and community likely won’t work tomorrow. Let’s prepare for the future of digital ministry.
This is episode number 29 of 30 for National Podcast Post Month. NaPodPoMo is a challenge through the month of November to share 30 episodes in 30 days. Our goal in participation is to see how this kind of volume and frequency can help to build an audience and a sense of community.
Connect with Pastoring in the Digital Parish at www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish
How can we prepare for the coming twists and turns in the digital ministry landscape? Let’s dive into ways we can prepare for the future of ministry in the digital age.
This is episode number 28 of 30 for National Podcast Post Month. NaPodPoMo is a challenge through the month of November to share 30 episodes in 30 days. Our goal in participation is to see how this kind of volume and frequency can help to build an audience and a sense of community.
Connect with Pastoring in the Digital Parish at www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish
Observing how other organizations manage their digital presence can provide us with new ideas and approaches.
This is episode number 27 of 30 for National Podcast Post Month. NaPodPoMo is a challenge through the month of November to share 30 episodes in 30 days. Our goal in participation is to see how this kind of volume and frequency can help to build an audience and a sense of community.
Connect with Pastoring in the Digital Parish at www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish
In this #NaPodPoMo mini-episode, let’s talk about how digital ministry can help build safe connections with younger generations.
This is episode number 26 of 30 for National Podcast Post Month. NaPodPoMo is a challenge through the month of November to share 30 episodes in 30 days. Our goal in participation is to see how this kind of volume and frequency can help to build an audience and a sense of community.
Connect with Pastoring in the Digital Parish at www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish
Let’s set up some healthy boundaries and habits that will help you flourish in your practice of digital ministry.
This is episode number 25 of 30 for National Podcast Post Month. NaPodPoMo is a challenge through the month of November to share 30 episodes in 30 days. Our goal in participation is to see how this kind of volume and frequency can help to build an audience and a sense of community.
Connect with Pastoring in the Digital Parish at www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish
In the fast-paced world of digital ministry, managing time and resources is an acute challenge. Let’s explore doing it well.
This is episode number 24 of 30 for National Podcast Post Month. NaPodPoMo is a challenge through the month of November to share 30 episodes in 30 days. Our goal in participation is to see how this kind of volume and frequency can help to build an audience and a sense of community.
Connect with Pastoring in the Digital Parish at www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish
User-generated content is a powerful tool for making your congregation easily know-able and sharing your digital ministry’s mission.
This is episode number 23 of 30 for National Podcast Post Month. NaPodPoMo is a challenge through the month of November to share 30 episodes in 30 days. Our goal in participation is to see how this kind of volume and frequency can help to build an audience and a sense of community.
Connect with Pastoring in the Digital Parish at www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish
Partnerships and collaborations have the power to enhance your digital ministry and increase your congregation’s resources.
This is episode number 22 of 30 for National Podcast Post Month. NaPodPoMo is a challenge through the month of November to share 30 episodes in 30 days. Our goal in participation is to see how this kind of volume and frequency can help to build an audience and a sense of community.
Connect with Pastoring in the Digital Parish at www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish
An episode about the importance of long-term planning for sustainable growth in your digital ministry. What steps do you take in order to set a long-term vision for your church’s digital ministry?
This is episode number 21 of 30 for National Podcast Post Month. NaPodPoMo is a challenge through the month of November to share 30 episodes in 30 days. Our goal in participation is to see how this kind of volume and frequency can help to build an audience and a sense of community.
Connect with Pastoring in the Digital Parish at www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish
We’re brainstorming, story sharing and thinking creatively about embracing innovation in bringing the church into the digital age.
This is episode number 20 of 30 for National Podcast Post Month. NaPodPoMo is a challenge through the month of November to share 30 episodes in 30 days. Our goal in participation is to see how this kind of volume and frequency can help to build an audience and a sense of community.
Connect with Pastoring in the Digital Parish at www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish
We’re focusing on staying up-to-date with digital trends and discerning which ones to adopt in our ministry. As part of our National Podcast Posts Month series, we’re focusing on staying up-to-date with digital trends and discerning which ones to adopt in our ministry.
This is episode number 19 of 30 for National Podcast Post Month. NaPodPoMo is a challenge through the month of November to share 30 episodes in 30 days. Our goal in participation is to see how this kind of volume and frequency can help to build an audience and a sense of community.
Connect with Pastoring in the Digital Parish at www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish
How do we strike the right balance of quantity and quality in digital ministry content? We’re looking at how often we should communicate with our digital congregations in order to encourage engagement but not overwhelm.
This is episode number 18 of 30 for National Podcast Post Month. NaPodPoMo is a challenge through the month of November to share 30 episodes in 30 days. Our goal in participation is to see how this kind of volume and frequency can help to build an audience and a sense of community.
Connect with Pastoring in the Digital Parish at www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish
Bring some organization, clarity and peace to your digital ministry through a content calendar. It’s an unbelievably useful tool to put in your church’s online ministry toolkit.
This is episode number 17 of 30 for National Podcast Post Month. NaPodPoMo is a challenge through the month of November to share 30 episodes in 30 days. Our goal in participation is to see how this kind of volume and frequency can help to build an audience and a sense of community.
Connect with Pastoring in the Digital Parish at www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish
We explore the vital importance of creating accessible digital content, offering practical tips to ensure our online ministry is inclusive and welcoming to all, including those with disabilities.
This is episode number 16 of 30 for National Podcast Post Month. NaPodPoMo is a challenge through the month of November to share 30 episodes in 30 days. Our goal in participation is to see how this kind of volume and frequency can help to build an audience and a sense of community.
Connect with Pastoring in the Digital Parish at www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish
Digital ministry can feel lonely. Let’s enlist some volunteer partners for digital ministry growth.
This is episode number 15 of 30 for National Podcast Post Month. NaPodPoMo is a challenge through the month of November to share 30 episodes in 30 days. Our goal in participation is to see how this kind of volume and frequency can help to build an audience and a sense of community.
Connect with Pastoring in the Digital Parish at www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish
How we handle trolling and criticisms can help build grace-filled digital communities. How we handle these interactions can either escalate the situation or turn it into an opportunity for grace and understanding. Let’s learn how to build safe communities for our digital ministries.
This is part 14 of 30 for National Podcast Post Month. NaPodPoMo is a challenge through the month of November to share 30 episodes in 30 days. Our goal in participation is to see how this kind of volume and frequency can help to build an audience and a sense of community.
Connect with Pastoring in the Digital Parish at www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish
Let’s walk through a few ways that church leadership can cultivate authenticity and trustworthiness online. We’re building a healthy digital ministry strategy and online communities for our churches.
This is episode 13 of 30 for National Podcast Posts Month. NaPodPoMo is a challenge through the month of November to share 30 episodes in 30 days. Our goal in participation is to see how this kind of volume and frequency can help to build an audience and a sense of community.
Connect with Pastoring in the Digital Parish at www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish
This episode is about creating seamless experiences for members who engage with us both online and in person. How do we ensure that everyone, regardless of how they discovered or how they continue to participate with us, feels like they’re part of one family under God?
This is National Podcast Posts Month episode 12 of 30. NaPodPoMo is a challenge through the month of November to share 30 episodes in 30 days. Our goal in participation is to see how this kind of volume and frequency can help to build an audience and a sense of community.
Connect with Pastoring in the Digital Parish at www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish
Let’s talk about resource procurement, stewardship and generosity in digital ministry. It’s part of building a digital ministry toolkit and strategy for bringing your church into the digital age.
This is episode 11 of 30 for National Podcast Posts Month! NaPodPoMo is a challenge through the month of November to share 30 episodes in 30 days. Our goal in participation is to see how this kind of volume and frequency can help to build an audience and a sense of community.
Connect with Pastoring in the Digital Parish at www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish
What metrics matter for digital ministry and what do they mean? Let’s look into the numbers as build your church’s digital ministry strategy.
This is a mini-episode that is part of National Podcast Posts Month. NaPodPoMo is a challenge through the month of November to share 30 episodes in 30 days. Our goal in participation is to see how this kind of volume and frequency can help to build an audience and a sense of community. This is part 10 of 30!
Connect with Pastoring in the Digital Parish at www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish
We’re tackling a subject that’s critical in our hyper-connected world: Managing Your Online Reputation. Your digital footprint is a permanent record of what you say, what you share, and how you interact online. For ministry leaders, your online reputation isn’t just personal; it reflects upon your church and its values. So, how do you guard this digital footprint?
National Podcast Post Month is a challenge through the month of November to share 30 episodes in 30 days. Our goal in participation is to see how this kind of volume and frequency can help to build an audience and a sense of community. This is part 9 of 30!
Connect with Pastoring in the Digital Parish at www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish
We’re looking into the pulsing heart of digital interactions with a crucial topic: Effective Communication Strategies in digital ministry.
National Podcast Post Month is a challenge through the month of November to share 30 episodes in 30 days. Our goal in participation is to see how this kind of volume and frequency can help to build an audience and a sense of community. This is part 8 of 30!
Connect with Pastoring in the Digital Parish at www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish
We’re focusing on a crucial aspect of our digital faith communities: Building Online Community. Creating a sense of community and belonging is at the heart of any church experience. As we venture into the digital landscape, this sense of community can feel elusive. Yet, with intention and creativity, we can foster meaningful connections that bridge the gap between screens.
National Podcast Post Month is a challenge through the month of November to share 30 episodes in 30 days. Our goal in participation is to see how this kind of volume and frequency can help to build an audience and a sense of community. This is part 7 of 30!
Connect with Pastoring in the Digital Parish at www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish
We’re talking about creating engaging content–specifically for social media, with a special focus on short-form videos. Let’s see what kinds of content might connect with your online church or digital faith community.
National Podcast Post Month is a challenge through the month of November to share 30 episodes in 30 days. Our goal in participation is to see how this kind of volume and frequency can help to build an audience and a sense of community. This is part 6 of 30!
Connect with Pastoring in the Digital Parish at www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish
We’re navigating the digital terrain to find the place where your faith community can thrive. Does your digital community need a presence on TikTok? Or on Discord? Or on Twitter/X? We will outline each major digital space and it’s value for your specific audience in online ministry.
National Podcast Post Month is a challenge through the month of November to share 30 episodes in 30 days. Our goal in participation is to see how this kind of volume and frequency can help to build an audience and a sense of community. This is part 5 of 30!
Connect with Pastoring in the Digital Parish at www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish
Without a clear understanding of who we are trying to reach, our messages can become diluted, and our impact minimized. Let’s identify some ways we can get a feel for who our audience is and how we can best build community with them.
National Podcast Post Month is a challenge through the month of November to share 30 episodes in 30 days. Our goal in participation is to see how this kind of volume and frequency can help to build an audience and a sense of community. This is part 2 of 30!
Connect with Pastoring in the Digital Parish at www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish
How balanced is your church or ministry’s digital content? We’re seeking to find the sweet spot between presenting invitations, information, and chances for interaction in our digital church communities.
National Podcast Post Month is a challenge through the month of November to share 30 episodes in 30 days. Our goal in participation is to see how this kind of volume and frequency can help to build an audience and a sense of community. This is part 3 of 30!
Connect with Pastoring in the Digital Parish at www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish
It’s day 2 of NaPodPoMo (National Podcast Posts Month), and we’re building our church’s digital ministry strategy. Today, let’s take a look at what kind of content we’re sharing online. Is it reflective of our church’s mission for digital ministry?
National Podcast Post Month is a challenge through the month of November to share 30 episodes in 30 days. Our goal in participation is to see how this kind of volume and frequency can help to build an audience and a sense of community. This is part 2 of 30!
Connect with Pastoring in the Digital Parish at www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish
Happy National Podcast Posts Month! We’re undertaking 30 episodes in 30 days as part of NaPodPoMo. Each episode helps to build your church’s digital ministry strategy. We’re also learning how the frequency of a daily podcast can help build a digital footprint for ministry.
This is part 1 of 30!
Connect with Pastoring in the Digital Parish at www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish
During the 2023 United Methodist Podcast-a-thon we had the privilege of hosting Reverend David Petty, the founder of CrossFire Faith+Gaming.
David shared with us the incredible journey of how CrossFire came to be and its mission to create a welcoming space for individuals who feel marginalized in traditional church settings. What started as a question in Reverend Petty’s mind became a thriving ministry that combines the love for gaming and the desire for a faith-based community.
Let’s find out how it started and how it’s going in digital ministry for CrossFire Faith+Gaming.
This episode was presented by the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation. They’re doing incredible work, inviting United Methodist Churches to sponsor scholarships for students to attend United Methodist-related colleges, universities, and seminaries. With their matching program, they’re helping students and families while also supporting United Methodist schools. Be sure to check them out!
And big thanks to ResourceUMC.org for their support and resourcing. They’re producing content to meet all your ministry needs.
In this episode:
(00:00) Welcome to UM Podcast-a-thon!
(02:27) Ministry, self-care, video gaming, community.
(05:30) Creating inclusive space for non-traditional churchgoers.
(07:51) Exploring faith through gaming stories
(11:36) “Ministry growth through digital means and sponsorship.”
(14:45) First connections with Crossfire for community.
(18:33) Video game summer camp for youth in Denver and Bozeman.
(20:34) We’re on TikTok, but not influencers.
(23:13) Common platform for building communities and watching games.
(26:46) Ministry costs, online funding challenge, sustainability.
(31:58) Evangelism is about helping people connect.
(34:45) United Methodist Podcast-a-thon thanks contributors & organizers.
Let’s explore how it started and how it’s going with Rev. Dr. Jevon Caldwell-Gross, a seasoned pastor and fellow practitioner in digital ministry. We explore the challenges and opportunities of reaching people outside of Sunday mornings and implementing strategies like master classes. Pastor J shares invaluable insights on adapting preaching styles to engage online audience, […]
We’re exploring some similarities and distinctive traits of ministries that are growing in digital spaces. And the good news is that these are easily repeatable action steps for growing your digital ministry. The episode concludes with a list of resources that help to shape an ongoing growth in digital ministry and my understanding of digital […]
Pastoring in the Digital Parish host Ryan Dunn provides examples and tactics for using AI to increase your ministry’s digital reach. We delve into the fascinating world of using AI to become a digital ministry content machine. Join us as we explore how pastors can leverage artificial intelligence to generate a wide range of engaging […]
On this episode of Pastoring in the Digital Parish, we delve into the future of church ministry with our special guest, James Kang. James recounts his experiment called ‘Regular Church,’ which explores the combination of ministry in the metaverse with AI, and reveals the positive results of AI’s ability to process theological information and communicate […]
On this episode of Pastoring in the Digital Parish, we’re welcoming BACK Charles Vogl. We just spoke with him a few weeks ago… And during that time, Charles talked about a couple things we decided we needed to follow up. First, was that there’s a loneliness epidemic in our society. And that’s a clear need […]
It’s time to level up the engagement in your digital ministry. If you’re looking for the next step in building a spiritual community online, this session has several useful tips and resources for your digital ministry toolbox. Join host and proctor, Rev. Ryan Dunn, for another session of the digital ministry class you didn’t get […]
How it started vs. how it’s going in digital ministry with Brandan Robertson. Brandan Robertson is a pastor who has found success with engaging content on platforms like TikTok. We discuss the importance of authenticity in today’s media landscape and how cultivating a sense of community can be a powerful tool for evangelization. We also […]
We’re joined by Charles Vogl, author of “The Art of Community”. We discussed the need for intellectual, emotional, and action components in spiritual communities–no matter how they meet. Charles also emphasizes the importance of intimacy and vulnerability in creating meaningful digital experiences. We also look at the loneliness epidemic in America and how organizations can […]
On this episode of Pastoring in the Digital Parish, we explore the intersection of gaming and ministry. Our guests shared insights on how playing games can build genuine community, especially in a digital-first culture. We heard from Joy Van Staalduinen and Laura Wittman about their experiences using games to engage young people and bridge the […]
New series: “How it started vs How it’s going.” First up is Jate Earhart and the community around JateLIVE and LOVE CLAN. With Jate, we dive into the world of online ministry and planting churches with a focus on non-believers and gamers. Jate shares insights on the importance of prayer and honesty in building relationships, as well as the power of immersion and action-based learning. We also discuss the growth of their Discord community and how they balance Christian and non-Christian focuses. We explore the use of technology in creating spaces for discussing science and working towards inclusivity, as well as the challenges of balancing physical and digital ministry and discerning God’s plan.
Jate Earhart grew up as a PK, but never wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps as a pastor. After studying digital art and design at Full Sail and working for big companies like Google, Nike, and ESPN, Jate felt a calling to do something more meaningful. He found inspiration in Ephesians 2:10, which speaks of being created for good works that God has prepared in advance. Though he initially doubted the idea of having a specific calling, Jate now believes that as long as he follows God’s plan for his life, he will find meaning and purpose. Currently, he is exploring the idea of using digital media to create a new kind of church experience.
We’re going to hear all about it next on Pastoring in the Digital Parish…
This particular meaningful episode is brought to us by: Safer Sanctuaries. Safer Sanctuaries: Nurturing Trust within Faith Communities is a new and comprehensive resource that continues the tradition of Safe Sanctuaries ministry by building on its trusted policies and procedures.
In this episode:
(00:00) “Pastoring in the Digital Parish: Jate Earhart’s Journey”
(10:22) “A Creative Epiphany”
(17:35) “Build a Thriving Gaming Community Through Word-of-Mouth”
(20:31) “Breaking Taboos: Inviting Non-Science Professionals to Discussions”
(29:31) “Fostering Authenticity: A Pastor’s Focus on Community”
(38:17) “Streamers logging up to 19 hours daily!”
(42:59) “Balancing Discipleship and Evangelism: A Journey”
(49:26) “Digital Ministries for Gamers: A Guide”
For more episodes of Pastoring in the Digital Parish: www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish
We’re talking with Lexi Hernandez, the founder of Growth Co, a young adult ministry that is changing the way people think about church. We go behind the scenes to learn about the inspiration behind the creation of subscription boxes for young adults, the idea of Growth Co, and the challenges of meeting the needs of the community. Lexi shares her personal experiences with church growing up and the journey that led to the creation of Growth Co. Join us as we explore the dynamics of young adult communities and the challenges that come with it.
Lexi Hernandez is a woman of faith who believes that ministry happens in unexpected ways. She communicates an expectation that there is a purpose and design to all that she does, even if it may not be immediately obvious. As the founder of Growth Co, she has helped to create a rhythm to the organization’s scheduling and programming, ensuring that each gathering offers a unique level of learning and growth. Whether leading a Thursday night gathering or participating in a 201 level Zoom session, Lexi is committed to sharing her faith and helping others discover their own personal connections to spirituality.
This episode made possible by: “Safer Sanctuaries: Nurturing Trust within Faith Communities” is a new and comprehensive resource that continues the tradition of Safe Sanctuaries ministry by building on its trusted policies and procedures. To learn more go to Safer Sanctuaries.org or call 800-972-0433.
(00:00) – Introduction
(05:06) – How Growth Co Was Born
(10:30) – The Challenges of Meeting the Needs of Young Adults
(15:39) – Creating a Safe Space for Spiritual Exploration
(17:57) – Finding the Right Balance Between Fun and Serious Discussion
(26:02) – Engaging Young Adults in Volunteering and Service Opportunities
(34:29) A young person’s vision of church
(36:11) – National Meetings and Expanding the Community
(38:23) – Conclusion and Key Takeaways
Don’t miss an episode of Pastoring in the Digital Parish, hit that subscribe button and stay up to date with the latest content. More episodes at: www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish
Peace!
We’re talking with Rev. Jessica Blackwood and Rev. Orlando Evans–a couple of the visionaries and planners behind Harbor United Methodist Church, a currently all-digital church plant located in Georgia (and across the expanse of the internet). They share about planning for digital community, engaging in digital outreach, building online community building and community rhythm. There are some great stories and several key ideals to add to your digital ministry toolkit.
Rev. Jessica Blackwood serves in the Center for Congregational Excellence of the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church as Digital Ministry Specialist. She helps churches create sacred spaces within digital spaces.
Rev. Orlando Evans is a former online pastor and current lead pastor at Bright Star United Methodist Church in Douglasville, Georgia. And he’s one of the key visionaries for founding Harbor UMC… which is our key topic in this session of Pastoring in the Digital Parish.
This session is made available by:
Safer Sanctuaries: Nurturing Trust within Faith Communities is a new and comprehensive resource that continues the tradition of Safe Sanctuaries ministry by building on its trusted policies and procedures.
To learn more go to SaferSanctuaries.org or call 800-972-0433
For more episodes and digital ministry resources, visit www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish
We’ve got some history and some futurism for your digital ministry toolkit. One of the things we’ve witnessed through the stories shared on Pastoring in the Digital Parish is that digital ministry is not about replacement, it’s about accessibility and presence.
You’ve got a world-changing message. Let’s get that message out to people through a podcast. Millions of people are regularly listening to podcasts, and utilizing the medium helps our churches and ministries meet people where they are.
Rev. Ryan Dunn shares his experiences and discoveries of starting and maintaining multiple podcasts–including Pastoring in the Digital Parish.
In this episode:
(00:00) Introduction
(01:33) Why your church or ministry should have a podcast
(03:54) Determining your podcast’s format
(06:29) What equipment you’ll need
(13:53) Editing your podcast episode
(18:15) Podcast hosting considerations
Let’s explore digital pathways of discipleship while we hear the story of “The Chapel Online” and “Becoming More”–two vibrant all-digital ministries founded and coordinated by Anne Bosarge.
Anne Bosarge works with the South Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church as the Director of Leadership Strategies and Local Church Resources where she provides leadership development for clergy and laity. In addition to her role with the United Methodist Church, she is a founder of Digital Discipleship (www.digitaldiscipleship.online), a digital discipleship organization reaching thousands around the globe.
For more episodes of Pastoring in the Digital Parish: www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish
In this session:
(00:00) Introduction
(01:45) What led Anne to start digital ministry
(09:59) What did this ministries start with programatically?
(13:38) Connecting internationally
(18:45) Training for digital ministers
(22:37) Empowering leaders and giving ownership
(25:18) Building engagement through content
(29:06) What is Digital Discipleship?
(34:32) Discipleship is the point
How does a church move from a digital or online ministry to an in-person meeting group? What does it look like to plant a church in the midst of a pandemic? And what digital tools set up a new church for growth in the 2020s?
Asking any of these questions? Curious about what that looks like in today’s ministry landscape? Well, we’re talking with Mike Whang of Oikon Church in Houston Texas in this session. And Pastor Mike is going to share with us the story of planting, at first, a digital ministry that has added or implemented in-person gatherings. He’ll share with us some of the tools he’s using to communicate with the congregation of Oikon–and this includes some clever uses for Substack.
Mike Whang is currently the lead and founding pastor of Oikon United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas.
(00:00) Introduction
(01:46) Meet Pastor Mike Whang
(07:09) Starting a digital-first church, Oikon Church
(12:47) Moving from digital-only to hybrid church
(16:39) Experiments in the church
(21:22) Substack for church communications
(27:36) The future of Oikon Church
An episode on TikTok strategy, going viral, and managing church vision with Katherine Mullen of First United Methodist Church of Birmingham. We’re providing tools for digital ministry and building relationships online.
Katherine Mullen is First Church’s Minister of Community Engagement (and one of their worship leaders). Katherine is the point person for First Church’s TikTok presence–which has had several posts go viral.
Maybe your congregation isn’t all that digital. How does online ministry help them grow? Jay Kranda shares his story of becoming an online pastor and growing the digital ministry of Saddleback Church.
Jay Kranda is the Online Community Pastor at Saddleback Church, overseeing an online community of online groups and homes groups around the globe. Graduate of Biola University and Talbot School of Theology. Jay loves the NBA and cold coffee.
(00:00) Introduction
(04:00) Getting started as a digital minister
(09:10) Learning to be an online pastor
(13:25) Online ministry evolution
(20:32) Multi-state ministry
(25:36) Relationships in digital space
(31:22) Why do we need an online pastor?
(38:15) What kind of training do digital ministers need?
Has there been a book or two that has informed your practice of digital ministry? In this session of Pastoring in the Digital Parish, we share nine recommended books for digital and online ministry.
Let’s get reading with these books to add to your digital ministry toolkit.
(00:00) Introduction
(01:52) The Tangible Kingdom by Hugh Halter and Matt Smay
(03:35) God Can’t by Thomas Oord
(04:45) Master Content Strategy by Pamela Wilsom
(06:06) The Art of Community by Charles Vogl
(07:32) Contagious by Jonah Berger
(08:16) How to Handle a Crowd by Anika Gupta
(09:35) Another Way by Stephen Lewis, Matthew Wesley Williams and Dori Grinenko Baker
(11:03) Viral by Leonard Sweet
(12:52) The Startup Community Way by Brad Feld and Ian Hathaway
See the notes and other recommended reads, PLUS more episodes: www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish
What kind of tech demands are there for digital ministry? How should you staff for it?
Let’s face it. Many of us hear those questions and assume we can’t start in online ministry because resources are a bit too scarce. In this session, we’re chatting with Shane Russo about some resource-saving tips and practices to put into our digital ministry toolkit.
Shane Russo is the curator/creator of the Stained Glass Rebel blog… stainedglassrebel.com. He’s a local pastor of the United Methodist Church, a dad, a husband… and fellow digital ministry pioneer…
Let’s get to talking!
(00:00) Introduction
(08:00) Tools for repurposing content
(10:17) Saving time with AI and ChatGPT
(18:56) Using Canva in digital ministry
(21:57) Go with being cozy
(26:08) Utilizing older tech
(33:58) The mission of digital ministry
(37:54) Engaging the congregation in digital mission
What does the church have to learn from Amazon? E-commerce might have a bit more to do with digital ministry than we might have previously assumed. So in this session of Pastoring in the Digital Parish we’re talking with Jason Caston about what our churches can learn from Amazon, how we can utilize AI tech like Alexa, and some of the ideas and technologies we might consider putting in our digital ministry toolkits as we prepare for the future of the church in the digital age.
Jason Caston is a digital marketing specialist for Amazon. He has over 19 years of experience in web and content development. He’s made the rounds as a speaker and presenter. And Jason is a person of faith, who has written several books about ministry in digital spaces, including “The iChurch Method” and most recently “Digital Connections”.
(00:00) Welcome
(01:56) What the church can learn from Amazon
(06:32) The church and Alexa/Smart Speakers
(08:10) What is an Alexa skill?
(09:52) Ministry consistency across platforms
(12:38) What are metrics to use in digital ministry?
(16:42) Creating a user experience for digital ministry
(22:12) What needs to be on your church’s website
(26:02) Where the church still needs to act in digital ministry
(33:19) Where to contact Jason Caston
Barbara Caneiro of the Accidental Church Communicator introduces us to the possibilities and opportunities of the metaverse and virtual reality church.
What are other possibilities beyond the virtual church service? This episode is an intro to VR, exploring how virtual reality is changing our world and the ways we relate, as well as exploring a few of the pros and cons of VR church.
Our adjunct professor for this session is Barabara Carneiro. She’s going to share her story of getting into church, getting started in the metaverse and virtual reality, and getting started in virtual reality church.
Barbara Carneiro is a mentor and a communications director as well as the owner of a branding agency for churches and Christian ministries. She founded The Accidental Church Communicator which can be visited at accidentalchurchcommunicator.com. She’s taking part in leading a church communicators conference in February 2023… and it will be a virtual reality conference.
In this episode about church, virtual reality and the metaverse:
(oo:00) Introduction
(01:56) Why “Accidental Church Communicator”?
(05:01) Church and “marketing”
(06:20) Where to begin in exploring virtual reality and the metaverse
(09:17) Why do a conference in the metaverse or virtual reality?
(13:30) Where do churches or faith communities gather in virtual reality?
(19:14) New ways of gathering in virtual reality
(25:48) New opportunities for churches in the metaverse or virtual reality
(30:07) Changing relationships in digital spaces
(32:00) Virtual reality resources for church leaders
(33:50) Information on Barabara Carneiro
Find more resources for your digital ministry toolkit and other episodes at www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish
Pastoring in the Digital Parish is a production of Resource UMC, your online resource for leaders across the United Methodist connection.
Ready to add some time-tested tips to your digital ministry toolkit? Rev. Joe Webb shares the story of New Wineskins–a community of faith that found itself moving into the new wineskin of all-digital ministry when 2020 struck.
As Joe shares New Wineskins’ story of moving into online ministry, we’ll get some clarifying ideas about formulating a digital ministry strategy, a richer perspective for answering questions like “what is digital ministry?”, and some ideas about why congregations or faith communities need digital ministry.
Rev. Joe Webb is an ordained deacon in the United Methodist Church and hosts Accidental Tomatoes, as well as coordinates the New Wineskins network. As a writer, interviewer, and public theologian, Joe seeks out the holy in the midst of the mundane. Joe’s work is centered in living life on the edge of the inside, seeking to reform and redeem the broken institutional systems that continue to colonize and oppress the imago dei inherent in us all.
(00:00) Introduction
(03:14) Meet Joe Webb
(04:02) How did New Wineskins start?
(08:57) Becoming an online faith community
(13:11) The rhythm of online community
(16:06) Creating safe spaces online
(20:31) Digital worship
(28:43) Thinking about the future of digital ministry
(34:05) The people of New Wineskins
(36:25) Contacting Joe Webb and New Wineskins
(37:48) Contacting Pastoring in the Digital Parish
Pastoring in the Digital Parish is made possible by ResourceUMC.org, the online destination for leaders throughout The United Methodist Church. And of course, they host our website: pastoringinthedigitalparish.com, where you can find more online resources for ministry.
If you want to connect: check out our Pastoring in the Digital Parish group on Facebook. You can also send questions and ideas for future sessions at digitalparish@umcom.org.
“He Gets Us” might be the modern church’s most pervasive advertising campaign. But it’s different than most church marketing: it makes no mention of “church”. This approach was highly data-driven.
Brad Hill, one of the developers of “He Gets Us” shares what drove the team to take the approach they did, and we get to see what this information reveals about the spiritual seekers with whom we’re building relationships through digital ministry.
Brad Hill helped develop the He Gets Us campaign and is on the executive team at Gloo (www.gloo.us)–which is an organization that builds digital outreach campaigns, apps and more. At Gloo, Brad is responsible for marketing, sales, success, and all facets of growing and serving Gloo’s network of churches, networks, and faith partners.
We’re wrapping up season 4 of Pastoring in the Digital Parish by looking towards the future of church in the digital age. Our guests this season all painted some pictures about what will happen and what needs to happen in ministry to continue our mission of transforming the world. What are you predictions?
Branding is a form of marketing in which we represent who we are. It’s how people get to know us. It is an invitation to relationship. In this session, Ryan Dunn provides several ideas for how we can cultivate our personal brands in digital spaces for the advancement of ministry.
Digital ministry is not just for large, urban (or suburban) churches. All churches have a calling to occupy digital space, in a sense. And this is because such a large portion of our population spends significant time in digital space. But it’s definitely easier for large churches with multi-person staffs to engage in digital ministry. […]
We’re struggling right now to describe how digital ministry links together with the local, analog church. Are they separate campuses? Does one exist to serve the other? Is the digital ministry a kind of sub-ministry like youth ministry or is it a support system for all ministries? Methodist Gaming is an online gathering and ministry … Continue reading "Methodist Gaming: From local parish to digital ministry"
Social Listening is one way that we can put our fingers on the pulse of what issues and ideas we can engage with our valuable spiritual perspectives. Nelson Musonda felt this kind of empty space between the words of the church and the needs of the people. With a background in user experience and digital … Continue reading "Evangelism through social listening"
John Wimberly reminds us: work is changing. Church is changing. And it’s changing largely because our culture is shifting towards a digital mindset. So what do these cultural shifts in work mean for our work in the church? And how do we align our workflow and staffing decisions to reflect the importance of ministry in … Continue reading "Church staffing and work for the digital age"
Ryan Panzer has formerly worked at innovative companies like Google and Zendesk, while also staying heavily involved in the church and faith development. He has brought these two spheres together as he pursues a call to build a bridge between tech and church, exploring what it means to do effective ministry in digital culture. … Continue reading "Navigating the Digital Reformation with Ryan Panzer"
Technology is scary–even for those of us knee-deep in digital ministry. Shamika Klassen kept running up against tech anxieties and fears, too. And she saw them as opportunities to offer grace and spiritual nourishment. So she created the Tech Chaplaincy Institute. Shamika is our adjunct professor on this session of Pastoring in the Digital Parish, … Continue reading "Grace, dignity and tech chaplaincy with Shamika Klassen"
In a culture that is obsessed with innovation and individuality, what is the place of the Church and the spiritual? That’s what we’re getting into with Andrew Root in this culturally-context-obsessed session of Pastoring in the Digital Parish. “The church must change or die…” These dire words get repeated about 100 times a day across … Continue reading "The Church in the age of innovation with Andrew Root"
New sessions are starting on September 6! We’ll continue to share stories of digital ministry while we explore our changing cultural contexts and how the digital impacts the analog experience (and vice versa).
Rev. Abigail Browka, founder of the Everyday Sanctuary app, provides the story of starting an app-based ministry centered on contemplative practices. She provided the unique challenges and benefits of starting a faith community in a digital space as well as some insights on thinking innovatively in ministry. Check out the Everyday Sanctuary community: https://everydaysanctuary.com/ This … Continue reading "Building an app-based ministry and online contemplative community"
Our television viewing habits have changed a lot over the past few decades, and so have our needs and models for ministry. This session of Pastoring in the Digital Parish shares some A-ha moments from this past season and begins to cast a picture of the future of ministry in the digital parish.
Rev Nicole Reilley shares her experience in being a lead pastor and leader in the church’s digital ministry. In many larger churches, online ministry is a delegated responsibility. So church leadership chooses and individual or team of individuals to lead an online ministry while senior leadership primarily focuses in different areas. Not all of us … Continue reading "Leading a church’s vision in digital ministry"
How have the emergence of digital-first culture and the cultural developments related to COVID-19 affected youth ministry? Are there ways we can utilize digital environments to safely and responsibly connect with young people? Chris Wilterdink joins Pastoring in the Digital Parish to share some ideas about youth ministry in digital space. Chris Wilterdink is Director … Continue reading "Youth ministry in the digital parish"
We’re going to explore creating digital content that engages our online audiences WHILE we engage in a spiritual practice that hopefully gives us, personally, a bit of a power up in the midst of our busy digital ministry lives. This episode takes an older piece of content that is a great example of content that … Continue reading "Powering up through engagement and repurposing"
Is it safe to do ministry digitally? A lot of people have foreseen some possible scenario where our digital ministries enable someone with nefarious motivations to do harm to a member of the community. Churches and youth organizations have long utilized guidelines to help protect both vulnerable populations of people and the caring people who … Continue reading "Establishing safe spaces online"
Rev. Bradley Laurvick shares the story of a unique TikTok ministry, The You Matter Zone. Through the story, we learn how TikTok can be utilized not just for sharing information, but also for forming relationship. Pastor Brad also shares who this ministry, which has over 2 million engagements, relates the to the ministry of his … Continue reading "TikTok, pastoral care and puppets"
“I’m being called to minister in a digital space, but seminary didn’t train me for this.” Some seminaries and divinity schools have heard the need and are responding. Dr. Emily Peck-McClain will be teaching classes on digital ministry for Wesley Seminary. She joins Pastoring in the Digital Parish to reveal how her classes might help … Continue reading "Faith formation in digital contexts"
The machines are taking over! In this session of Pastoring in the Digital Parish, we set aside fears of a future dominated by robot overlords and look at several ways we can utilize artificial intelligence right now for digital ministry success. Much of this episode was generated by AI. It provided new content ideas and … Continue reading "Artificial intelligence uses for digital ministry"
Our culture and our relationship with technology are changing. Jeffrey Mahan points out that these changes have noteworthy implications for the future of ministry and leadership. What will a ministerial job look like in 10 years? What skills should pastors begin to implement and refine? Jeffrey Mahan is ordained in the Rocky Mountain Conference of … Continue reading "The future of ministry leadership with Jeffrey Mahan"
Pastor Mark Lutz shares the story of Lux Digital Church–a fully digital church. Lux Digital Church is a church committed to the belief that a digital church can successfully achieve all of the core functions that mark any effective, healthy church. Mark Lutz is one of the founders of Lux Digital. Mark has been a … Continue reading "From passion to podcast to faith community"
Mitchell Atencio discusses the implications of Web 3.0, NFTs and blockchains for digital ministry on Pastoring in the Digital Parish. Mitchell Atencio is the assistant news editor with Sojourners–a magazine that is likely familiar to many of us. As such, the bulk of Mitchell’s work and writing centers on the magazine’s focus on social justice … Continue reading "The future of the Web and digital ministry"
Have you heard of Lent Madness? It’s 32 saints placed into a tournament-like single elimination bracket. An online community votes to determine the victor of each matchup… of course with lots of discussion in the process. Lent Madness is over a decade old and continues to grow and inform. It succeeds in an area many … Continue reading "Lent, madness and digital spiritual formation"
A new season of Pastoring in the digital Parish is about to begin! Season 3 will get underway on February 23rd, just in time to power your digital ministry through Lent and beyond. In this season we’re going to continue to share best practices for evangelism and discipleship in digital spaces–and we’re going to do … Continue reading "Announcing season 3 of Pastoring in the Digital Parish"
We’re stuffing your stocking with digital delights for online ministry as we close out season 2 of Pastoring in the Digital Parish. While this episode details a handful of things learned in previous season 2 sessions, it also dives into a big question: What measurements really matter in digital ministry?
The biggest stressor for most of us when it comes to digital ministry is that the digital parish is not necessarily the campus to which we’ve explicitly been hired or appointed. Rev. Dan Wunderlich delivers valuable time-saving tips and tactics for staying on top of our digital ministries while trying to keep balance with the … Continue reading "Time-saving digital tips for local pastors"
In this session of Pastoring in the Digital Parish we hear from Dr. Kelly Price. Dr. Price provides an in-depth perspective on why many of us do the things we do online and how understanding our digital consumer behaviors helps us meet people and form community in digital spaces. Dr. Kelly Price is associate professor … Continue reading "Understanding our online behavior with Kelly Price"
In this mini-episode we’re celebrating the lessons learned and the creative expressions of ministry we’re witnessing in the digital parish!
Mike Kim discusses branding and relationships on Pastoring in the Digital Parish. Mike offers an important way of refocusing how we think about marketing and branding, making them a lot more palatable for those of us wary of business-ifying faith. Mike says that “marketing isn’t about a sale, it’s about beginning a relationship.” Mike Kim … Continue reading "Building relationships through branding with Mike Kim"
Licensed social worker and minister, Lindsay Geist, shares practices of rest and healthy boundaries for digital ministers. One of the possible pitfalls or traps of ministering in a digital parish is that our field of ministry is always active. It’s always on and accessible. By extension, those of us engaged in digital ministry can feel … Continue reading "Rest for the always-on minister"
In this session of Pastoring in the Digital Parish, we’re talking Twitch. Have you heard of this platform? Curious about whether or not a livestreaming platform like Twitch has relevance for your ministry? Are you curious about how to get started and build a following on Twitch? Russel Dornisch and David Petty from CrossFire: Faith+Gaming … Continue reading "Understanding and getting started on Twitch"
Click-through rates, drip campaigns, list segments, marketing funnels–we’re talking about it all with Randy Greene of Church of the Resurrection. Randy is a digital media director passionate about helping churches communicate better. In this episode, we learn about how to build engagement and relationships through email communication.
How do you move people from being passive viewers of online content to active members of a faith community? Steven Adair shares the story of Glendale United Methodist Church in Nashville, Tennessee–a small church that created a big digital footprint. This dwindling congregation used their digital presence to fuel a season of growth that continues … Continue reading "The journey from viewers to members"
We’re going to work on adapting our world-changing message regarding God’s grace for a digital-first culture. Let’s explore living the good word in digital space. This episode itself is an adaptation. It’s repurposed content from a training Ryan Dunn did. It answers questions about how we repurpose content for sharing across multiple platforms and how … Continue reading "Living the word in digital space"
Joseph Yoo is a church planter whose plans were upset by the pandemic. Instead of planting a church in a traditional model, he found himself building influence through TikTok. Several of his videos have garnered hundreds of thousands of views. In this session, Joseph talks about the influence of TikTok: the good, the bad, the … Continue reading "Building influence through TikTok"
Happy International Podcast Day! In this bonus episode of Pastoring in the Digital Parish, we’re going to explore getting people to listen to and talk about our podcasts. If you’re looking for tips about growing an audience and getting people to engage with your podcast, then this bonus episode is for you!
Rosario Picardo and Michael Beck are co-authors of Fresh Expressions in Digital Space and are our adjunct professors for this session of Pastoring in the Digital Parish. Pastoring in the Digital Parish seeks to provide resourcing and community for those engaged in some form of digital ministry–whether as a solo pastor in a church who … Continue reading "Digital community as a fresh expression of church"
Sammy Kelly from Digivangelism joins us for this session of Pastoring in the Digital Parish. Sammy is going to share a vision for batching work so we can build upon some of the things we’re already doing in order to thrive in digital ministry–because you don’t need more work to do, do you? She also … Continue reading "Focusing our efforts for digital ministry success with Sammy Kelly of Digivangelism"
Jason Moore brings insights for maximizing engagement both in-person and online during worship. Jason has “secret shopped” hundreds of digital worship experiences. He shares his observations for what works and what doesn’t. We’ll get ideas for keeping our congregations engaged during hybrid worship experiences. We’ll also get some ideas for streamlining our workflow in creating … Continue reading "Maximizing time and engagement in hybrid worship"
Community, not content, is the key. Ryan Dunn reviews his biggest revelations from season 1 of Pastoring in the Digital Parish.
The ways in which we’ve been trained to create content–especially when it comes to the written word–do not always translate well into digital space. So in this episode of Pastoring in the Digital Parish, we’re going to brush up on writing skills for the web. Our adjunct professor for this episode is Joe Iovino, the … Continue reading "Best practices for writing on the web with Joe Iovino"
Nathan Webb of Checkpoint Church reveals how a platform like Discord provides a pathway to digital discipleship. Pastor Nate found that a chat platform like Discord is invaluable to building relationships with the members of his all-digital church. Could Discord help you build community, too? Nate makes a compelling case. We’re going to hear it. … Continue reading "Discord and digital discipleship with Nathan Webb"
Dana Malstaff of Boss-Mom.com lets us know why Facebook Groups matter. This session delivers ideas on building ministry-impacting, disciple-engaging groups. We’ll go from start-up to engagement-building to leadership-sharing. We’re also going to get some clear and relevant leadership and ministerial advice from Dana, who leads an online community of 60,000 engaged users. Dana Malstaff is … Continue reading "Engaging and empowering Facebook Groups with Dana Malstaff"
Joseph McBrayer tells his story of learning the arts of visual storytelling and digital presence. We now feel called to be in digital spaces we don’t know a ton about. We need to produce videos–and we’re not sure how to produce a quality video… nor are we confident about what we say once we’re in … Continue reading "Learning the art of visual ministry with Joseph McBrayer"
Rev. Jim Keat shares his best practices for creating digital campfires–pieces of content that get noticed and invite people to engage. Rev. Jim Keat is the Director of Online Innovation at Convergence. Jim is a divergent thinker, an ideation specialist, and an aspiring minimalist. He is the Associate Minister of Digital Strategy & Online Engagement … Continue reading "Content that connects with Jim Keat"
Shannon Karafanda shares the story behind #holymischief–a digital movement of spiritual disruption. In exploring this story, we see how we can utilize digital connections to empower others to share their stories, how we get people to engage with our digital entities, and how we connect people to one another. Check out more regarding #holymischief by … Continue reading "Starting a digital movement with Shannon Karafanda"
Matt Johnson teaches us how to use digital messaging to become famously influential with the right people in order to grow our ministries. In this session, Matt applies marketing principles to help us reach new people online, bring people into our audiences, build real influence with them and nurture them in discipleship. Matt Johnson is … Continue reading "Becoming a microfamous minister with Matt Johnson"
You have a personal brand. Rev. Sarah Heath shares how we can cultivate that for the benefit of our digital ministries. And cultivating a brand does not have to come at the cost of our authenticity. Rev. Sarah also offers a compelling witness of why personal branding matters for ministry leaders. Rev. Sarah Heath is … Continue reading "Building an authentic personal brand with Sarah Heath"
We explore the scope of a digital-first ministry. What does a digital-first ministry look like? How do we express presence to one another in a digital way? What is the future of digital ministry? James Kang is our adjunct professor for this session. James is the Head of Guidance and co-founder of Pastoria.co–a ministry innovation … Continue reading "What is digital-first ministry with James Kang"
We explore the “why” of digital ministry. Rev. Wil Ranney provides a glimpse at the history of digital ministry, then shares ideas for extending invitation through digital presence. And we answer the questions of “How do we start a process of digital discipleship?” as well as “What are we supposed to do with digital ministry … Continue reading "The WHY of continuing in digital ministry with Wil Ranney"
In this first session of Pastoring in the Digital Parish, we’re taking our first steps into the practice of digital ministry. Our host, Rev. Ryan Dunn, shares the practices that yield results in his efforts to meet people in digital spaces, like social media, and invite them into relationships with churches and faith communities. Get … Continue reading "Your first step into digital ministry"
In the ever-changing landscape of digital ministry, we need community, resources and training to help us effectively embody the mission of creating disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world in digital spaces. Go back to school with Ryan Dunn and get the digital ministry class they just didn’t offer yet in seminary. … Continue reading "What is Pastoring in the Digital Parish? (trailer)"