Keith Anderson: How Digital Ministry Builds Traditional Churches

Traditional churches tend to be late adapters to new technology, taking our time to do it right. And Lutheran pastor Keith Anderson says that time is now.

Keith, co-author of the upcoming book Click2Save: The Digital Ministry Bible, gives us some tips on what kind of Internet involvement may be appropriate for established churches.

In this interview, Keith shares encouraging words about how relationships can be built and solidified through online, church-based conversations.

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Synopsis
Keith wrote Click to Save (along with Elizabeth Drescher) to help established churches think through what digital ministry might look like – offering insights on best practices for websites, Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, and other digital media. Here are my notes from the interview:

It’s About Relationships
Your congregatnts are probably already interacting on the web – the fastest growing demographic for Facebook is those over 50. Finding ways to help involve your folk in those relationships is probably a win-win. Keith says use the web to build relationships that are probably already there.

It’s About Videos and Photos
The days of people being patient enough to read simple, text-only websites are sooo 2011 – Today it’s about videos and photos. In what ways can you incorporate more of these into your web presence?

Don’t Be Afraid
Keith warns us that our fears can keep us from doing good ministry and suggests we simply start – start somewhere – and go from there.

About Keith Anderson
Keith Anderson is the pastor of the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Woburn, Massachusetts and co-author of the forthcoming book Click2Save: The Digital Ministry Bible (Morehouse 2012), a hands-on guide to using social media in ministry. He blogs about social media, spirituality, and church at pastorkeithanderson.net. Pastor Anderson has given numerous presentations and workshops to ministry leaders on integrating social media into ministry practice.

Keith graduated with a B.A. in Religion and Philosophy from High Point University (NC) in 1996. He attended Harvard Divinity School where he earned his Master of Divinity degree in 2000, and The Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia here he earned a Master of Sacred Theology degree in Lutheran Studies in 2002. 

He spent his summer 2008 sabbatical on contemplative spirituality with an emphasis on the spirituality of daily life. He chairs the New England Synod Continuing Theological Education Team and serves on the Synod Communication Team.

Books Pastor Anderson Recommends
Tweet if you Heart Jesus – Elizabeth Drescher
Steve Jobs – Walter Isaacson
Here Comes Everybody – Clay Shirky

Sponsors I Mentioned
Virginia Theological Seminary is the largest Episcopal Seminary in the U.S., forming men and women for leadership in the church. In addition to the MDiv, Anglican Studies and DMin degrees are their Masters of Arts degrees with a focus on Theological Studies, Christian Formation, Religion & Culture, and Biblical Interpretation. Check them out at vts.edu.