Yesterday I wrote briefly about thinking about how you portray yourself online, especially on social networks. At the end, I mentioned how those in vocational ministry have a unique challenge, and how I would touch on my own views today.
Lets just say I have raised my fair share of hell, at differing moments in life. When I was a college minster I was grateful to have a student who had known me at one of my deepest, darkest moments. I am open about this, and open about the things that led me to these places. I was a self-medicator, and I will speak openly about how God drew me out of that into a life where I found my worth in him.
But I don't "unfriend" people that I know. Especially on Facebook, I am careful to display who I am. That means owning up to stupid things, and I can only think of 1 time where I untagged myself in a picture. If you are using social networking that reaches back to younger (and sometimes stupider) times, I think you should not try to hide that part of your past.
While I don't have a "strategy" to how I use Facebook and Twitter, I have thought about how to not just devour it with academic or constant theological banter, especially on twitter. Yes, I do use the tools to enhance some of my research, because I believe that I do have a call as a teacher.
But more than anything else, I try to be myself. I am excited about participating in a community of faith in multiple arenas when my time in seminary is over. I know that social networking (when used in the context of a face to face community) enhances relationships and allows for levels of connection that weren't available a decade ago. I also regularly stay off of the internets for a couple of days at a time, especially when I am on sabbath.
I hope people to feel that they know me because of social networking. If that allows them to feel more comfortable around me I have accomplished every goal I have ever set.
Please don't try to make yourself seem to cool. Don't glitz up your profile pic. Mine is of me eating BBQ, possibly one of the happiest things that I can do. As ministers we aren't supposed to be Rock Stars...so lets leave it to the Jonas Brothers to attempt to look like The Rolling Stones lost 40 years.
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