Hooked on Facebook Campus ministry takes Web presence to new level When Jesus sent his disciples out to “fish for people,” he was setting them up for some tough networking: traveling from town to town, covering hundreds of miles to proclaim the gospel. Fast-forward nearly 2,000 years and you might wonder, “What would Jesus do in the age of Facebook?” With more than 64 million users worldwide, this social networking Web site has created a new dimension of communication. And while Facebook began as a way for college students to connect with friends, it has also become a valuable tool in campus ministry.
The site also lets groups create a page on which members can hold discussions and post event details and photos. For many Lutheran campus ministries, Facebook is a way to connect with students. But just how strong of a connection can you make through a Web site? Fishing for Lutherans Lutherans are often the first to admit we’re not the most gregarious bunch. We’re content to slide into the back pew. Some share the peace as if it’s a hot potato. We’ve even been known to sing “Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus” while sitting. On college campuses, where many students are already apprehensive to try new things, recruiting students for Lutheran Campus Ministry can be a challenge. But some groups find that Facebook breaks the ice. “I think it gives a level of comfort to see faces [on a group’s Facebook page] and recognize there are actually people involved,” said Frank W. Anderson, campus pastor of the University of South Carolina, Columbia. Christina Sanders, a peer minister for Lutheran Campus Ministry at George Mason University, Fairfax, Va., agrees: “If you can’t make it to an event or aren’t sure you want to join, you can look at the pictures—see what you missed and if LCM looks right for you.” The site can also help campus pastors reach out to potential members. For example, every year Temple University, Philadelphia, gives a list of students who identify themselves as Lutherans to Greg Wilson, chaplain of the Lutheran Episcopal Campus Ministry. The Episcopal priest “friends” them, adding those names to his Facebook list. “At a big place, it’s a good way to start a conversation,” he said. Throw them a line “Last year I had an awakening to the necessity of using Facebook for communication,” said Darin N. Johnson, campus pastor of North Dakota State University , Fargo. He found that while students tended to disregard e-mails, they corresponded enthusiastically through the Web site. Of some 40 campus ministry leaders contacted, more than 30 said Facebook had in some way helped them communicate with students, whether to publicize an event, post Lenten devotions or simply say, “You’re in our prayers.” Several pastors, such as Kelli J. Skram of Indiana University, Bloomington, said students often contact them, seeking one-on-one help, via Facebook. “Whereas in the parish, people often came into my office when they needed someone to talk to, the last three significant pastoral care contacts I’ve made as a campus pastor have happened—at the student’s request—over Facebook, e-mail or cell phone,” she said. Christina Vehar, a peer minister for the University of New Mexico and Central New Mexico Community College, Albuquerque, said she uses Facebook just to “remind students that [Lutheran Campus Ministry is] still here.” She added, “A Facebook message now and then gives a powerful message in a nonconfrontational way: ‘Hey, don’t forget about us. We are here for you!’ ” Some students say the best part of using Facebook is being able to keep in touch with friends at other schools. “I would definitely say it has had a big effect connecting Lutherans across college campuses,” said Brian Rower, a senior at California Polytechnic State University , San Luis Obispo, and webmaster for Lutheran Student Movement—U.S.A. Rower says he’s used Facebook to keep conversations going with people he’s met at national LSM gatherings. A handful of Cruzando-themed groups, as well as the 3,300 plus-member group “ELCA Lutherans,” arose after the 2006 ELCA Youth Gathering, which met under the theme “Cruzando: Journey With Jesus.” A can of worms? Despite Facebook’s many applications, most people said its value in ministry has limits. For one, the Web site is no replacement for a live community of believers. “Facebook could be an effective tool for reaching out to students … but only with the caveat that the church/student relationship must continue to progress past the superficial Internet stage,” said Jared Witt, a senior at Colorado State University, Fort Collins, and member of its Lutheran campus ministry. And what happens when it doesn’t? Well, a few groups claim Facebook actually hampered students’ participation in campus ministry. At Ball State University, Muncie, Ind., attendance at campus ministry events is down slightly from previous years, said Jenny Shea, a peer minister. “We suspect that the virtual networks have taken the place of face-to-face interaction for some people,” she added. Johnson of North Dakota State has similar concerns: “The irony of the Facebook phenomenon is that it at once reveals a deep hunger for relationship and connectedness, while it often steals even more time away from what could be face-to-face conversations, eating together and joining in physical activities outdoors.” Another question is whether campus pastors are ready for the uncomfortable truth Facebook often unveils. Profiles may show a side of students much different from the one kneeling at the communion rail: photos of scantily clad girls, “activities” that include beer pong and keg-stands, etc. “Sometimes I learn more about my students than I might wish, but ignorance is not bliss if I am to truly meet them in their reality,” said Jaime Bouzard, campus pastor of Texas State University, San Marcos. Blessing or curse, Facebook doesn’t seem to be going away. “It’s a busy world and it’s oftentimes difficult for faith communities to make time to see each other in person ...,” said Sandy Damhof, director of Cornerstone Protestant Campus Ministry at the University of Albany (N.Y.). “Networking sites provide us another way to be the body of Christ, even if it’s in cyberspace." |
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| Guillermo - 5/18/2008 |
There is a sad irony when we lutherans refer to our "peculiarities" with a smile and complaicency. Be it our lack of social skills, our desinterest for evangelim our disregard for other Christians our theology of "nothing else is required from us. I wonder what the woeds will be when we meet our redeemer: -Will He say "'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'??? I mus tell you I honestly doubt it. When will we end this sinful compaicency with our "Lutheran heritage"?
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