Episcopal Church Foundation Vestry Papers - for leading congregations

We’ve probably all seen the changes in our Facebook feeds. The image of a pink equal sign on a red block popping up as colleagues and friends, high school chums and family members, change their profile picture to the equal sign logo.

The Human Rights Campaign launched this social media campaign to coincide with the Supreme Court’s deliberation of same-sex marriages. The group, which supports gay marriage, asked supporters to “paint the town red.”

And boy, have they.

This blog isn’t about the issue of same-sex marriage and how the Supreme Court should vote. Faithful and prayerful people have firmly held convictions, and this short blog isn’t the place to persuade or dissuade.

But I am fascinated by the power of this social media initiative. I found myself several times calling up my Facebook friend list and scrolling through, amazed at the repetition of red equal squares (I suppose this does also say something about me – and my friends – but again, that’s for another forum). I expected some Facebook friends to change their profile picture, but for others, I was completely surprised. A childhood friend from kindergarten who I haven’t seen (in person) for 35 years. A quiet member of the church. Sorority sisters, old neighbors, and a distant relative. At the same time, other Facebook friends posted different images, reiterating the long-held traditional view of marriage between a man and a woman. 

For me, this initiative opened conversations, created opportunities for connections. It's an example of the power of social media at its best. People are able to quickly share – should they choose – their opinions on an issue. They are able to find others who share these convictions. And hopefully they can find some common ground and reasonable discourse with those who don’t. 

Social media offers a chance to participate in a virtual march, an online movement – and to express opposition to one. It can take the temperature of a nation in a real-time way that perhaps eludes polls and surveys. 

Separate from the importance of the issue of same-sex marriage is a question of how people of faith can learn lessons from this social media campaign. Do we invite Christians of all faiths to post a picture of the empty tomb? The risen Christ? 

Can we take a day where we encourage everyone via social media to proclaim their faith by the simple act of changing a Facebook profile? 

Here’s my bottom-line question: How do we harness the power of social media to build up the body of Christ?