reyes-chow :: FAITH

And a little Friday musical interlude

I have a few folks that help me stay at least aware of somethings that are happening in the realm of the kewl kids in terms of music, tech etc.  Usually sent via my pownce network, here is a video that was sent to me today, My Drive Thru by Santogold, Julian Casablancas, N.E.R.D produced by Pharrell.  There was something about this one struck as very cool in its technology and creativity.

This sure is a long way from the first music video ever played on MTV.

And then there is one of my all-time favorites.

Ooops was that out loud?

Why FB is a great tool for transitioning from a "Pastoral" to a "Program" church

Due to a variety of reasons - mostly too many freaking people were come to church - about six months ago MBCC decided to intentionally transition from being a "Pastoral Church" to being a "Program Church."  You can see the definitions and characteristic's of each congregational size in the article, How to Minister Effectively in Family, Pastoral, Program and Corporate Sized Chruch by Roy M. Oswald, Senior Consultant, The Alban Institute.

Good stuff if you are into congregational system theory.

To recap, Oswald basically says that that as churches go through stages of growth or decline they require different leadership models and conversely different leadership models can help determine whether or not a church grows or declines.  He does not argue that any one model is optimal, simply points out the obvious, leadership must understand the system if they are to minister well within that system.  I would go so far as to say that it is sinful to ignore the system within which we work as we can unintentionally do harm to a community's health.  But that's just me ;-)

Basics of a PASTORAL CHURCH

• 50-150 active participants
• primary relationship with with the pastor
• most things go through the pastor
• everyone pretty much knows each other
• leadership is interpersonally focused
• most churches thrive at this level

Basics of a PROGRAM CHURCH

• there are pockets of activity, fewer "all-church" activities
• everything does not flow through the pastor, but other leadership take on pastoral functions
• leadership is planning and development focused
• not everyone knows everyone else

MBCC decided to do this once we realized that our growing population really did want to connect, but pretty much everything flowed through me.  And while I was pretty good about not controlling relationships, it became clear that we were growing, we would continue to grow and we needed to make sure that my bandwidth did not hold us back.  This meant a shift in everything from how we stored our data (From my computer to StaffTool) to how we organized small groups (From me instigating and leading to open formation and organizing).

I must admit, I was a tad bit apprehensive.  In an abstract "God-can-do-all-things" kind of way, I knew it could happen, but our track record had not been all that strong.  Still we have boldly moved into this phase and over the past six months have worked through the difficulties of this kind of transition.  There have certainly been some places where things have gone very well and others not so much.  But overall, good God stuff is happening.

From a pastor's view, however, there are certainly some reactions that we have to fight if this transition is going to happen well AND we do not intentionally or unintentionally sabotage the transitions.  Oh, it would be so easy to do, especially if one does not REALLY want to change systems.  If we are not secure in our role as pastor or genuinely do not want to shift in our role, DO NOT try this.  It will suck for everyone.

Getting back to the title of this post, if you do think this is in your future here are some of the doubts that "one" might have with the transition process and then how FaceBook can be a "happy place" for our own insecurities.

The insecurities, apprehensions and doubts.

• People surely can't REALLY connect to the church through anyone but me.
• Folks will not step up and organize, lead and/or follow-through on anything.
• Nothing is happening . . . I should step in save the day.
• I need to have a deep connection with everyone to feed may own needs of pastoral worth.
• Damn, now I will need to really focus on nurturing leadership and big-picture vision.  What excuse will I have now?

How Facebook eases the transition

The brilliance of FB is the public networking and connecting that happens.   All of the insecurities that I may have about leaving the role of  "pastor" of a pastoral church are addressed by the very nature of FB.  My need to be "in the loop" is addressed because as more and more folks from MBCC comment on each others pictures, post on walls and generally interact without I am in still the loop, but not the conduit of the interaction.  The same goes for events, groups and any other planning.  I see that folks are engaging, stepping up, and following through, I have no need to jump in.  Now of course not everything in the life of MBCC happens vie FB, but just enough does to alleviate my overarching fears.

This has all been surprisingly wonderful for me.  We are still figuring out the intracacies of MBCC's version of the Program Church, but from all indications, my fears have not been met with reality and we are slowly but surely making the shift.

Thanks be to FB, God and the church!

Whew!

[h/t: Brian]

I have taken these Presidential quizzes before and much to my chagrin, I have often been a big Ron Paul supporter.  Hmmmmmm . . . 

In any case, I of course, like the Change.org version because of the results ;-)

Twitter in plain English

Updated on March 11, 2008

After hearing it from The Corner and getting some thoughts from others, here is what I have done.  I am using the FireFox add-on TwitterBar that allows you to update your status (or post a link) on your address bar.  Then thanks to LW, I added the TwitterSync Facebook Application which updates your status w/o the messy "Twittering . . ." thing at the beginning of the status.

[h/t: Introverted  One]

I have many friends who Twitter.  I have never really gotten into it all that much as I am much more inclined to use the Facebook status updater.  I must admit though, I do love hearing about what folks are doing.  I know some people don't care about such mundane things as where you are going, what you are eating or *gasp* a nugget of hysterical wisdom that may pulsing through your brain at a particular moment . . . but I do.  So I follow a bunch of folks via IM and feel like in some what I am staying a little more connected.

Not sure if I will start using it again, but who knows.  In any case, I will still enjoy following others.  And hey if you want to follow me, here is MY TWITTER PROFILE.

If you are not sure that all this is about, here is a quick video from Common Craft.

Two tips for dealing with Facebook Apps

I heard someone recently talk about the MySpaceazation of Facebook when dealing with all the apps that are on some people's profiles.  Now I am not one to talk, but really people, it should not look like the Application Elves puked all over my screen when I visit your profile. I am just saying.

So here are two things you can do . . .

View applications with "Clean Profile" - This is a great application which allows you to do two things: one, it allows folks to view your profile without all the schwag that you have added AND, two, you can view other people's profiles without all the schwag they have added.  This is particularly helpful when you can even find a person's freaking Wall.  Grrrrrr.

Dealing with Application Invitations . . . Ever wonder why you keep getting invitations to the same darn application over and over again?  Well, it is probably because you keep ignoring them.  Go ahead and add away to stop the onslaught of app invitations.  Here is one way to handle these invitations other than flat our ignoring or blocking them.   If you REALLY don't want to participate, but still want access, be sure to check/uncheck the correct boxes when you add the app.  When I get an app invitation, I usually check everything except the ones that will clutter up a profile.  The "Place a link in my left-hand navigation bar" is important to keep if you ever plan on using or adjusting the settings for this app.

Like so . . .

That's all for now.  For those of you who really do like to add every app under the sun, please at last make your Wall - yes, the normal, original boring one - easily findable.  The Wall posts are central to the whole FB experience, so make it easy on us.

Presbyterians can be 2.0 too

The latest edition of the Presbyterian Outlook focuses on all the crazy technology and web 2.0 stuff that is out there infiltrating our church communities.  A couple of my posts made the cut as well as some great commentary from some solid colleagues.  Not sure what Web 3.0 is shaping up to be, but I am going to count my blessings that there are more and more folks willing to come out and claim some of the wonderful opportunities that technology can bring to ministry.

From Jack Haberer, Editor-in-chief

The world really is flat, as Thomas Friedman proclaimed in his book by that title.

For those of us who have held the privileged role of “editor” (the person who decides what news is “fit to print”), that privilege has disappeared.

For those of us who have held the privileged role of “preacher,” (the person who tells the people what God’s Word says and means), that privilege has disappeared, too.

Then again, maybe we were due for a change.

Actually, the change may be just what we Presbyterians need.

You will have to register to see the articles in their entirety, but it is well worth it.  Most of the 2.0 articles are in the COMMENTARY SECTION.

Get engaged in the moderator's race now

UPDATED 11.13.07: corrected GA venue

Moderator?  Huh?  Yes, you may missed a blog post last week, but as a nominee to be a commissioner from San Francisco Presbytery, if elected, I will seek the endorsement of the Presbytery to stand for Moderator.

See blog entry: Adventures in Moderation, PC(USA) Style

For those of you who have wondered how you can help with this whole Moderator's thing here are a few ways that you can show your support and help move my candidacy through the process.  Please keep in mind that until mid-January, most of the energy will be focused on connected with folks who have some involvement in the San Francisco Presbytery. 

The vote for SF Presbytery to elect me as commissioner and hopefully to be endorsed to stand for moderator happens on January 15th.

As of now here are a few ways to get engaged . . .

Public Support - If, as I suspect, there are more and more folks who share worldview, approach to ministry and yearn for the transformation in how we live in community as a denomination, I ask that you let your voices be heard.  Leave comments on my/others' blogs, blog about it yourself, write newsletter articles, talk to folks, join social networking groups as you see them, basically step up and out into the discourse about the future of the PC(USA).  Without public voices lifted up, transformation cannot take place.

Personal Relationships -  No about of buzz and hype will replace personal connections.  Even if done via new technologies, the experience of a person's credibility is irreplaceable.  If you so feel called, I would appreciate a good word and/or eMail to your friends in San Francisco Presbytery now and, if the way be clear after January 15, nationally.

What needs to be addressed - It would be very helpful if you know of things that you would want to know in order to better gauge if I would be an appropriate choice for moderator.  If there are certain issues, topics, etc. that you believe deserves some attention, please let me know.

National Campaign - Should I get through the SF Presbytery process, a wide circle of friends and supporters will be need to help get the word out before and during General Assembly.  If you would like to be part of the campaign team, drop me a note and I'll send out the invitation to the campaign Facebook group.  This will be a private group.  Should there be some energy to do so, there may also be a public support group as well.

Date to save #1:
January 15th, 2008, First Presbyterian, Berkeley
Commissioner Election and if all goes well, Moderatoratoral Endorsement vote.

Date to save #2: if all goes well, re: Date to save #1
June 20-21, 2008, San Jose Convention Center
Moderator Campaign and Election
GA Committee on Local Arrangements (COLA)

For those that have already sent me notes of encouragement and support albeit all prefaced with the sentiment "ARE YOU CRAZY?" thanks!  Please let me know if you have any questions!

Peace,
Bruce

pastoring a church in my world

Sometimes I feel like churches or pastors that are "plugged in" have to apologize for being as such.  There is this assumption that because we are technologically proficient, we lack understanding or connection to other ways of being church and community.  Boo.

Now I have posted on this phenomenon before and some reactions to the whole technology and church thing, but this first few days of the week has provided me with some good examples of how folks are and get connected to our particular church community.  This is just Monday-Thursday @ Noon and covers everything from MBCC Administrative issues to global mission to personal crisis.  Tech friend or not, this is pastoring in my world.  I LOVE and THRIVE in it!

• IM'ing Conversations: 5
• Facebook Events: 2
• Blog posts written: 4
• Blog posts of MBCC'ers read: 7
• Facebook App interactions: 35
• Organizational eMails sent/received: 33
• Pastoral eMails sent/received: 21
• Coffee Talks: 5
• Hours in a Cafe: 12'ish
• Link suggestions from members: 4
• Conversation about faith in secular setting: 3
• Traditional Meetings: 2
• Cups of coffee: 3 hot, 6 iced
• The New Visitor Plan: Someone meets me via a blog, we have coffee, he blogs about us, visits us, yelps us, friend knows him, contacts us, we IM, he comes to church . . .

Now I know some folks will see this list of my pastoral duties and think, WTHeck?!?!?  This is NOT church!  This is NOT pastoring!  This yahoo has sold his soul to the technology Gods!  Release the hounds!*

If this is your reaction, it's okay. I'll survive.

The purpose of this post is not to defend pastoral leadership in my context, but to give voice to a growing way mainline church has and can be done.   While some can find the same energy and nourishment in more historical/traditional church contexts, I know I would not be a good pastor in that setting because it would be a bad fit or "call" if you will.   We would be fools to think that in today's world there is ONLY one legitimate or even ULTIMATE way to experience Christian community and thus only one true way of being a pastor.  That is just crazy talk.

An openness to a variety of church contexts that foster appreciation and solidarity should be an easy step to take for connectional mainline churches.  One way to get there is to be able to fully understand that, even if this would not be your way of being church, you can appreciate that folks will hear and be connected to God in different ways. 

If we can do that imagine the possibilities.

Personality Not Included: Why Brands Lose Their Authenticity And How Great Companies Get it Back

I have had some interactions with Rohit Bhargava via his blog, Influential Marketing.  He has a new book coming out plus some other add-ons, blogs, FB Groups, etc.  The book is  titled, "Personality Not Included: Why Brands Lose Their Authenticity  And How Great Companies Get it Back" and it looks great!

He just posted a quick intro and preview.  Love the title and the images already.  Put this one on your wish list as I am sure it is going to be good.  I love reading these kinds of books because so much is transferable to the church.  If we church folks can get over and beyond some of the business/corporate language there is so much richness in what folks like Rohit are doing.  Not only do they understand culture, but they respond with great care and authenticity, much like the church should be doing.

Here is a quick excerpt to peak your interest:

Faceless companies don't work anymore.  In a world where consumers have more access to information than ever, and more power to share their voice ... a brand's identity is no longer controlled through marketing and advertising.  In this new era, what you say your brand stands for is no longer good enough.  What you demonstrate to your customers matters most.  This is the power of your personality. Personality Not Included is an essential guide for brands on putting back the missing ingredient in their marketing to build loyal customers, foster consumer (and employee) evangelists, and create a connection that goes beyond profit.  The future of business requires new authenticity.  Personality is the secret weapon that brings authentic brands to life.

I read this to myself replacing business references with church references as I usually do as I read these types of books.

Faceless churches don't work anymore.  In a world where people who are looking for a spiritual community have more access to information than ever, and more power to share their voice ... a church's identity is no longer controlled through marketing and advertising.  In this new era, what you say your church stands for is no longer good enough.  What you demonstrate to the community matters most.  This is the power of your personality. Personality Not Included is an essential guide for churches on putting back the missing ingredient in their mission to grow in body, grow in spirit, and create community that goes beyond traditional church institutional models.  The future of church life requires new authenticity.  Personality is the secret weapon that brings authentic churches to life.

I would also check out these posts by Rohit:

• How to find time to blog when it is not your day job
• 5 rules of social media optimization
• 8 unique reasons people like Twitter (Why microblogging matters)
• The golden rules of blog etiquette

I have just Pre-ordered my copy.  I would suggest doing the same. 

Brain Candy 17: Wasting more "Work" time on FB

Friday is my "Day-off" from church work . . . . or so it keeps saying on my calendar.  Not today.  Now I am not complaining as I love the flexibility of the schedule, but sometimes it is nice to have a full 24 hours without something work related no matter how much one may loves the ministry . . . just saying.

But I press on, because Jesus wants me to.

But . . . part of my day off is going to going CRAZY with MBCC'ers on Facebook.  So be warned if you are part of the MBCC Facebook Group, you are fair game for sheep to be thrown your way, superlatives to be given to, drinks to be bought for . . . yada yada yada.  Think of this as my "Pastoral Care" challenge to play just a tad this day!

After my first coffee talk of the day, be warned . . . It is on.

PS: If you are still holding out on the whole FB thing, cool.  Still, if you do want to enter the FB waters, I'll be your friend for the low low price of one Schrute Buck.

PPS: For one day only, I will accept any and all invitations to add apps, causes, etc . . . well maybe not ANY.