Wikis+-+What+Does+the+Church+Have+to+Say

What Does the Church Have to Say About User-Created Web Content?
Expected time to complete this assignment: 30 minutes

Read the entire statement from the USCCB Communications Committee report to the Fall General Assembly. It's not very long.

Social media: Friend or Foe, Google or Hornswoggle? []

While you are reading, be aware of words of phrases that might apply to our topic of wikis. Now post a short reflection about what impressed you the most in the USCCB statement. If you would like to reference other Church documents or statements, please do. If you can create a hyperlink to the document, even better!

I'll start you off with an example.

Be sure you are signed in. Click on "Edit" Type in your reflection and your name. SAVE your edit.


 * POST YOUR REFLECTIONS HERE: **

I was impressed that the bishops recognize the evangelization opportunity created by social media. That could apply to wikis, too. If wikis allow ANYONE to contribute, maybe I could set up a wiki for two Catholic schools to collaborate in a project. I think my junior high students might enjoy that. I have been searching for a project where they can articulate their faith in a new way. -posted by Claudia

I was impressed by one bishop's statement that only China and India have a greater population than Facebook and that the American Red Cross earned so much by text messaging. Though it is a challenge, learning about digital technology really seems to be a ministerial duty and great opportunity--if the Church does not wish to be left behind in evangezation! --posted by Sheila

The last paragraph of the bishop's statement sparked my interest, particularly these statements: ". . . even though many dioceses may be beginning to use social media, the church's communication professionals are not devoting the time or expertise that it deserves. By committing to ongoing analysis and research, continued compilation of best practices and guidelines, and education and training opportunities, the USCCB Communications Department intends to assist their colleagues and to support your ministry as bishops on the Digital Continent." I would be interested in learning more about what ongoing analysis and research is uncovering and what practices and guidelines are being recommended. Is a bibliography of sources available? I would like to learn more. I might also like to conduct research myself because this fits into my discipline as a technical/professional communicator. So interesting!! --posted by Madeleine

Response to Madeleine - I have a dear friend who is also very interested in this area - Dr. Frances Forde Plude. If you would like me to connect her with you let met know. I have a feeling that she could direct you to where to find the information that you are looking for.

**This letter was actually pretty amazing. It definitely** captured a sense of the revolution that social media is initiating. The comparison to the era of printing and the church's failure of that time to embrace and utilize it needs to be acknowledged. Perhaps as an institution the church is doing a little better this time getting on board in a reasonably timely manner. But I also feel obliged to say that many individual dioceses are still struggling with, and even delaying, some kind of implementation of a social media strategy. In many cases, some dioceses only recently have even embraced the reality of the internet and having a web page. Of course we must be grateful that at least they have reached this point of acceptance and implementation. But I think the letter presents a kind of urgency as an institution to be present, and boldly, if we are going to be part of people's lives in this new paradigm shift. I understand the caution the institutional church historically takes when confronted by new emerging thought and technology. Their desire to remain faithful to the gospel is to be commended and institutional discernment moves much slower than individuals who can identify positive implications more quickly. But the letter is clear that these new communication tools are actually greater and faster than the change television brought. They are not fads, but profound shifts in human interaction that are evolving daily. The speed of development can be overwhelming and even frightening. But they are the story telling tools of our time, becoming as commonplace as parables were in Jesus' time. Who can say what lies ahead. All we can do is be part of our present and use what's in front of us to let people know the timeless message of God's unconditional love. Thank you for your comment, Paul. With one foot in the parish and the other in DDBC, I sometimes feel that I live in both worlds you describe. One proclaims the importance of embracing digital/social media to proclaim the Gospel, and the other says, "Huh?" Parish work can be lonely if you are the only herald - and slow to embrace and implement change. With the support of Sr. Caroline, and Bishop Herzog's speech in the back of my brain, I keep trying to find ways to bring value to parish life through technology. Connecting with others who have similar interests in this area is vital to me and my ministry! Thanks for stying in the conversation. - Claudia
 * From Paul:**

What came to mind as I read this letter is that often the Church in theory is ahead of where it is practically, but in this case we cannot afford to be so. For several years the Vatican has written about the need for using the technology of the day it its statements on World Communication Day, but somehow it has not really translated down to use on the diocesan or parish level. I think this is because the people in leadership positions are not "digital natives" and as seen from just the few sessions of this class it takes a lot of time and effort to get comfortable with something that many people already use without thinking. What struck me was the statement that half of the baby boomer generation uses social media, so this is no longer just for the youth and young adults that we need to use this technology to reach. Also equating the disregard of social ministry to the Church's failure to promote the reading of the bible and the Protestant Reformation was a strong statement that if we do so, we do so at our peril and the peril of not spreading the Gospel message. As we see the lessening of the numbers of Catholics in this country that are present in the pews weekly, we must go where they are to touch them and be present so they can turn to the Church when hunger for God enters their life.
 * Lorraine's post:**

This is where training for diocesan and parish staffs is so important. All in ministry need to be able to use the technology and social media of the day, not just Communication Offices. By restricting use and access to social media would have been similar making a decision years ago, when computers became essential for work, to say that their use was restricted to certain offices. No one would have made that decision and they cannot do so in this area of technology. We cannot keep our heads in the sand any longer!

I like that analogy. Change is always more clear in retrospect, so if we can recognize what is needed now, we can lead the way instead of looking back regretfully that we were not part of the change. - Claudia

//Joanna here... I feel very fortunate to have spent time in Bishop Herzog's Diocese of Alexandria, Louisana, in October 2010 for the National FDLC Meeting. He is quite personable, engaging, welcoming, and well-spoken, and I am so impressed with his speech to his fellow bishops. I think that by admitting the challenges and the results of the survey of diocesan communications departments, he is calling them on the carpet gently but strongly at the same time. The question is; what has happened in the past year and a quarter? (Other than the implementation of the Roman Missal, Third Edition?!) Obviously, the Diocese of Las Cruces is "right on" with providing this class, as we do need training and direction. What I don't know is what the motivation was, or how long it took to set it up, or how Bishop Ramirez feels about all this. (He does use his Blackberry quite often.) Sadly, too, so few of us took advantage of it. A communications - getting the word out - issue for sure!// //A making time issue as well. You don't see me kicking and screaming, but it took this class to get me on Facebook. How embarassed I am that I am not one of those USCCB fans. I will be shortly, and if I can figure it out, I'll post the link here. [|United States Conference of Catholic Bishops]// //Yeah! It works.// //Now I've got to do my own "careful strategizing and planning to make social media an effective and efficient communication tool..."//

Joanna, I hear wonder and excitement in your reflection. How good it is to learn something new! Keep up the great work you will be a leader in your diocese in this area. - Claudia Return to assignment page

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