Episcopal Church Foundation Vestry Papers - for leading congregations

What do you talk about? Who (or what) takes up the most space in your conversations?

It would be hard to measure the content of our actual conversations but a popular Facebook app is providing some interesting insights. You have probably seen the word cloud pop up on the feeds of your friends. The app by vonvon pulls together a word cloud based on your most-used words on Facebook.

For some, the cloud is a happy reflection: words like love, thanks, great are the biggest (and thus, the most commonly used). For others, the app is revealing. Their most popular words include: I, annoyed, hate. (And these are just the people who have posted the results. I suspect the worst results are self-selected out. People just choose not to share the word cloud.)

A word cloud of the sermon preached by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry at his installation in early November is illustrative of his priorities. At the center: Jesus. God. World. Love, church, way, reconciliation, neighbors.

On the one hand, the word clouds are just fun. But I wonder if they might provide a window into our health and well-being. What if we ran our church’s Facebook page through the word cloud app? What would be at the center?

I invite you to try this exercise with your church newsletters or bulletin announcements. I have said many times that I consider church newsletters (printed or electronic) to be a fairly accurate barometer of a congregation’s health and focus. If it’s full of stories about faithful people living into the gospel, helping others, studying the Word, gathering for worship, then odds are the church is dynamic, regardless of size. If a newsletter is full of scolding, money woes, and cancelled events, then it is likely a place that is floundering (again, regardless of size).

Before you do the apply the word cloud, write down five words that you hope will be at the center. Then write five that you think will be there. Compare the lists with the actual word cloud.

Ask yourself (your vestry or leadership team) if the word cloud represents an accurate picture of the church. If it doesn’t, talk about how you can work together to change it. If it does – and it’s a negative image – talk about how you can work together to change it. Every church is different and their word cloud should reflect that. But I have one earnest hope: the word cloud of every congregation’s Facebook page and newsletter feature Jesus prominently. Frankly, we can never have too much Jesus. 

You have the power and ability to shape how the story of your church is told. And you have the grace and gifts of God to make the story one is a living witness to the fruits of the Spirit. Go forth and live that story (and make a good word cloud in the process). 

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