Episcopal Church Foundation Vestry Papers - for leading congregations

There’s much on the Internet to love. There are amazing essays and art and photography, and the stories of many people doing good work.

There’s also plenty out there that is thoughtless and awful. As an occasionally grumpy tweeter, I sometimes have to resist the urge to post something with comment, “This is stupid.” Part of being a good online citizen is finding the balance between being positive and supportive and being honest, thoughtful, and critical.

How can we, as leaders in the church, be both prophetic without becoming negative or mean?

Here are some of the guidelines I use for my own tweets and Facebook posts (with varying levels of success): 

• Be positive more often than you are negative. Tell others what you love, and if you love something they are doing, tell them that too. Recognize good work when you see it. 
• But be discerning. Don’t post links to mediocre articles or clichés. People will stop paying attention if you or they won’t trust your judgment. 
• Be prophetic. It’s sometimes necessary to speak out against bad decisions or policies or theology. We don’t have to vilify or demonize anyone, but we shouldn’t be afraid as a church or as leaders in the church to speak out against injustice or harmful theology when we see it. 
• Criticize constructively. Ask yourself: Do others need to hear this from me? Why do I feel the need to criticize this? Is it because I feel that something genuinely needs to be said, or simply to satisfy myself? If it’s only the latter, don’t say it.

As in real life, the church’s voice on social media should be one that is both compassionate and prophetic. If you’re looking for a good example of this in the church, I recommend Episcopal Café (@episcopalcafe), which lifts up good ministries without being afraid to speak out against injustices.

What are your guidelines for your tweets? What religious leaders do you admire for their strong and honest voice in social media?