Episcopal Church Foundation Vestry Papers - for leading congregations

Sometimes snark isn’t helpful. 

Especially this weekend, with deep wounds being laid open again by the decision to acquit George Zimmerman in the death of Trayvon Martin.

This blog isn’t about justice, or lack thereof, racism, or even how to talk about difficult issues like this in the congregation. (Thank goodness, though, for many well-conceived, thoughtful, and challenging pieces written and shared here at ECF Vital Practices and across the church. This is an important time, and how we respond, interact, and show respect to one another is an opportunity to witness our Christian values).

Instead, I’d like to talk about Facebook.

I suspect that most of us have had our Facebook feeds filled with comments about the jury’s decision and its implications. The ones that stopped me, made me think and weep and consider, modeled a gracious behavior missing from much of the secular rhetoric. I saw prayers for the families and the jurors. I read wrenching comments about the value of life. I saw calls for renewed and vigorous work of reconciliation.

Then there were the gut punches, snarky, sidewise notes that fanned the flames. One priest wrote that anyone who didn’t preach about the decision on Sunday morning should rethink his or her vocation.

Really? Is sanctimony helpful in this conversation? 

Others (on both sides) wrote status updates that were the equivalent of a middle finger. And some wished fervently that people would stop talking about the issue completely—and planned to direct their feed accordingly. 

My point is that I think that we, as leaders in our community and in our churches, have a certain responsibility in what we post on our Facebook pages, particularly on such difficult issues. These pages aren’t, for the most part, private conversations held among close friends with whom trust and relationship has been nurtured and cultivated. 

As rectors of congregations and vestry members and leaders of organizations, our Facebook pages become a public extension of our ministries. 

We need to take care in what we say and type. And always ask the question: Do our posts reflect the grace and mercy of our Lord?