Episcopal Church Foundation Vestry Papers - for leading congregations

Over the weekend, Bill and I finally watched ‘The Kings Speech.’ In the opening moments, I was reminded of how the advent of radio changed not only the relationship between Great Britain’s royal family and their subjects but also the speed with which people all over the world received the news.

Today with social media, people all over the world no longer just receive the news, they have the ability to create it. With our computers, cell phones, tablets, and video cameras, we can share our interpretation of what is happening in our world. Be it the popular uprisings in Egypt or other parts of the Arab world or the musical spoof “Gotta Share!,” social media offers us the tools to tell our story.

Given our directive to share the “Good News of what God is up to in the world,” an increasing number of churches and church institutions are sharing their stories through social media. Just this week, I’ve been inspired by the stories of two congregations, one in the Diocese of Long Island and the other in the Diocese of Los Angeles, each offered in video format:

• The Church of the Epiphany in East Los Angeles: The Diocese of Los Angeles’ weekly Just Action videos feature the Bishops and ministries of the Diocese of Los Angeles with an emphasis on ministries and initiatives seeking justice and wholeness for all. Browsing through the videos posted on the site, I discovered Linking L.A. Legacies – Epiphany East Los Angeles” and learned of the connection between Cesar Chavez and the farm workers movement and members of Epiphany parish.
• The Church of St. Jude in Wantagh, New York: Part of the Episcopal Church Center’s Transforming Churches, Changing the World series, this video shares the story of how the St. Jude’s congregation moved from a place of ‘declining membership and dwindling resources,” to a “welcoming church with joyful liturgy along with many programs” and “kid-centered, adult friendly.”

Are you using video to tell your story? Has it helped you build interest in your congregation and your ministry? Do you have resources to share with congregations interested in using video to tell their story? Please share your stories here, and your resources in the Your Turn section of this site.