Pastors and Social Media
Tuesday, April 19, 2011 at 5:00AM The Ontario College of Teachers issued a controversial advisory for teachers last week. It covers the use of social media (such as Facebook and Twitter) in relation to students.
Some of the advice is obvious. "As a digital citizen, model the behavior you expect to see online from your students." Who could argue? Other advice is more controversial. For instance:
- Avoid exchanging private texts, phone numbers, personal e-mail addresses or photos of a personal nature with students.
- Decline student-initiated “friend” requests and do not issue “friend” requests to students.
Some are aghast at these restrictions.
This news story got me thinking about pastors and social media. Of course, pastors aren't teachers. It's harder to maintain boundaries between our personal lives and our ministries. We are more than professionals.
But some of the guidelines do apply. Pastors do need boundaries. We can easily fall into danger. I've seen some lines crossed myself. They were crossed with the best of intentions, and no major harm was done, but the danger is there.
Some of the questions asked in the advisory are very good for pastors and ministry leaders to consider:
- When interacting with students electronically am I using electronic communication and social media to enhance their learning or to satisfy a personal need?
- What are my reasons for sharing this information with a student – are they professional or are they personal?
- Is this picture or comment something I would be comfortable with my students, their parents/guardians, my supervisor, my family or the media seeing?
- Would my peers or supervisors consider what I have posted as reasonable and professional?
- Would I communicate this way in my community?
- Are the photos, videos or audio recordings I am posting susceptible to misrepresentation or manipulation?
- Am I keeping current in my awareness and knowledge of social media technology developments to protect myself from misuse?
I'm not ready to argue for a similar set of guidelines for pastors, but I do appreciate these questions. It's probably worth discussing this issue with key leaders in our ministries. Tim Challies posted on this very subject last year; it's an issue that we'll have to revisit again in the future.
What do you think? What boundaries have you found helpful in your ministry as it relates to social media? I'd love to know what you think.
Reader Comments (8)
Am I missing something?if •Decline student-initiated “friend” requests and do not issue “friend” requests to students.Then the rest of the rules are a moot point since that would limit the interaction between the two parties.
I think the advisory assumes that teachers will still have online interaction with students, and that they'll use social media in other ways in their classrooms.Also, if you're on Facebook, it's still likely that students will be able to see part of your profile even if you're not friends.
As a student teacher, I'm afraid I don't see how the above advice to teachers is "controversial." I'm working at a high school in one of the most litigious districts in California, and I will never be able to exchange anything personal with my students if I want to avoid being sued. It's sad, but true.Any social media forum on which I exchange posts with students will be something I set up for classroom use (e.g., I have a Gmail account for use with students).
"Of course, pastors aren’t teachers." On this, I disagree.I accept friend requests from middle school kids, and they are often my students in a catechism class. I post quotes for people to think about. I comment on things I see the kids have posted - but I pick the subjects and comments to be involved with, and do this sparingly. On some subjects I am more likely to comment, or pose a question, in person. I'm also modeling (teaching) the adults by my interactions via social media.I use phone calls and emails with family, and for those discussions that need to challenge someone (rather than being where all can see). I post pictures of our grandchild, but otherwise refrain from posting pictures. I don't go to all those side sites - like those about answering questions, etc.I was on Farmville for a while, as it was a way to interact with a 6th grader with terminal cancer (he went to Mexico for a while for a special attempt to treat it). This was at his invitation. I decorated the farm with trees, animals and crops to spell out: "Garrett Trust Jesus". When we had the funeral, there were many of us there who had interacted on Farmville. I knew a third of his classmates by name, as I had tutored in their 4th grade classroom.Those who are around 12 years old are trying to learn who they are. This is prime time for identity formation, and I hope that their faith is a prime part of their identity. I do not put myself in any situation where I can be even accused of improper boundaries. There are always other adults around, and others who see what I post. I know that things online are very permanent.
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