United Methodist Communications surveyed 3000 UMC church leaders about the ways they receive information and communications, and how they prefer to get their information. As you might expect, differences in preference for digitally-based resources show up based upon age. Also, UMC church leaders are looking for more information on these areas: church revitalization, leadership development, welcoming visitors, and reaching out to non-members.
Here is the full blog post, hosted by Nu Faith Communities:
Survey shows shift in communications preferences of pastors …
“This research is important as we develop new ways to make our messages more accessible and relevant to younger, more diverse audiences…”
Making the Christian message more accessible and relevant to younger, more diverse audiences requires becoming better acquainted with the impact of modern communication technology on the ways people interact individually and in groups.
Along those lines, Jesse Rice has written an informative book, informed by his Christian perspective, that explores the way people are using Facebook to define themselves and to redefine our notions of community and church. The Church of Facebook: How the Hyperconnected Are Redefining Community can help you develop an increased understanding of the human-level impact of the new communication modalities.
You could also use it as an adult church study focus, especially if your group were to read and discuss it in the context of a search for ways to be more effectively the Church in the emerging cyber-world.
Or, use it as the focus of a study with young adults as a way to raise questions about your young adults’ social networking habits - and the deeper heart issues they may indicate.
