A Blogging Bishop?!
A Tumblr blogpost instead of a Powerpoint presentation
- In the UK: Nick Baines has set an example: http://nickbaines.wordpress.com/2013/05/26/signals-timing-changed-2/
- Bishops must engage in Social Media activities: http://www.pfarrerverband.de/pfarrerblatt/index.php?a=show&id=3323 : “Persons (and not institutions) communicate in the Social Web”
- How do you advise a newly elected bishop on a social media strategy?
The use of social media must be authentic - Facebook versus Blog
https://www.facebook.com/landesbischof: Bavarian Bishop Heinrich Bedford-StrohmA Facebook Fanpage may work in Lutheran Bavaria but not in the Reformed (United) Rhineland.
We have a Church President (Praeses) and not a Bishop. The Praeses is the chairperson of the board of the Synod (General Assembly). It would be hard to communicate internally, that the Church President has “fans”.
- A blog can integrate text, photos, and videos – and can be integrated into other websites via RSS.
- A blog can have multiple authors.
Members of the Church Board can use the blog, too. - The solution: A blog of the Praeses and the Church Board: http://praesesblog.ekir.de
- Statistics after two months:
274 visits per day
4.8 page impressions per visit
Facebook recommendations: e.g 84 for: http://praesesblog.ekir.de/2013/05/17/in-menschen-investieren
Pingbacks from other blogs - Feedback:
The Church President becomes accessible.
The blog has started a online feedback culture.A frequent question: Does the Church President write the blogposts himself? YES.
- Open questions for the future: who is the target audience of the blog? Church goers or opinion leaders?
A Blogging Bishop? – We have a blogging Church President (although this is not an alliteration)!
