Staying Connected

Why social media is essential to me as a district superintendent by Glen Schrieber

I love social media. It fits my personality and my district role as that of a connector.

As someone who drives 60,000 miles a year by car but doesn’t know the first thing about mechanics, so is my usage of social media. Thankfully I have “mechanics” like Ian Dent (district pastor), Paul Oyler (our webmaster) and others who keep me on the “road.”

I’m on Facebook, Twitter, Google+. And I have accounts with Instagram and Tumblr but haven’t really done anything with them yet.

I love observing human behavior, so social media—Are you kidding me? What a great vehicle for that study—is better than sitting around an airport (but that’s still fun too). Here’s how I use each platform:

Facebook—personal Account

Facebook is by far my favorite way to connect. My first act after meeting someone is to see if they’re on Facebook. Facebook messaging is a favorite way of communicating (especially with the younger generations).

So, as a district superintendent, here’s how I use my personal Facebook account:

• It allows me to get to know our pastors and church planters (and families) better and stay current with what’s happening in their lives.
• Of course, it’s a two-way street, I want them to get a better feel for me as well, and it gives them easy access to me if they have a question or concern.
• It’s a great tool for recruitment because of its immediacy—an easy way for personable follow-up.
• I love banter and communicating in bullet points rather than long paragraphs, so it fits my style of personal interaction.
• I appreciate the pictures. Facebook helps me recognize new friends when I finally meet up with them at a Cracker Barrel.
• Finally, and most importantly, Facebook has become my prayer list and journal. I love praying for my friends as I browse.

I do not use my personal, public Facebook account to:

• Preach or teach.
• Make political commentary or statements.
• Get involved in long discussions about some issue of the day.

Facebook—district Account

We didn’t really utilize our district account until this year, when I set a goal to post something each day. I didn’t want to invite others to “like” it until I felt it was something to like. Finally, a month or so into the new year, I began inviting folks. I’ve been encouraged by the response.

Each day, I post a prayer that I’m praying for a particular pastor, church planter, leader or event. I want that person/family to know I’m talking to God about them (and invite others to pray too). I believe that our district Facebook account has also helped ministry spouses feel connected and valued as partners. By praying for each other, we realize that we’re part of something far bigger than just ourselves and our ministries.

Twitter

I regularly follow Twitter and occasionally post something, but with only 250-plus followers on that versus 1,500-plus on Facebook, I usually just stick with posting on Facebook. I follow all sorts of people on Twitter for a few reasons: immediate access to breaking news stories, links to blog posts from some of the best contemporary thinkers around and opportunities to laugh at/with my friends in life’s more humorous situations.

Google+

I value Google+ mainly for the “hang-out” opportunity. We utilize it as a staff team and an occasional niche meeting. When I get more confidence in this, I’d like to use it for more gathering meetings and training opportunities.

We have talked, as superintendents, about social media. Some of us are into it; others, not so much. I desperately want to stay in tune with the next gen, so it’s a value of mine to stay as close to new developments as possible. I shudder to think of all that I would have missed had I not been connected to the social media of our day, and I’m not just thinking of the posted pictures of the cutest grandkids in the world.