Ralpe's Blog

A Blogging Bishop?!

A Tumblr blogpost instead of a Powerpoint presentation

1.  In the UK: Nick Baines has set an example:  http://nickbaines.wordpress.com/2013/05/26/signals-timing-changed-2/

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”
3. How do you advise a newly elected bishop on a social media strategy?
   The use of social media must be authentic
4. Facebook versus Blog
   https://www.facebook.com/landesbischof: Bavarian Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm

   A 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”.

5. A blog can integrate text, photos, and videos – and can be integrated into other websites via RSS.
6. A blog can have multiple authors.
   Members of the Church Board can use the blog, too.
7. The solution: A blog of the Praeses and the Church Board: http://praesesblog.ekir.de

8. 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
9. 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.

10. 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)!