The Gospel According to Twitter

[Key Guy]

From the Abilene (Texas) online Reporter News

http://www.reporternews.com/news/2009/may/21/the-gospel-according-to-twitter/

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Quote:

Many church leaders have embraced new media such as Twitter and Facebook as a way to create an online gathering place and promote upcoming events. Now some are taking it further, encouraging tweeting and texting during services as a way to create dialogue and strengthen a sense of community.

Michael Campbell, the 30-year-old pastor of the 230-member Montrose Seventh-day Adventist Church in Montrose, Colo., poses questions during his sermons and asks worshippers to text their responses, which are displayed on a screen. Like Loveless, Campbell then discusses the responses.

In other congregations, Twitter has emerged quietly and organically, with parishioners tweeting their reflections during services in the same way they tweet their thoughts or activities throughout the week. The dialogue also allows real-time discussion and gives those who couldn't make it a chance to monitor services from afar.

"I'm a younger pastor," Campbell said. "You're just building that sense of community, and people are interested in that because now they are part of the sermon."

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[Key Guy]

HEY TIMEWARP

WELL this is interesting

but I AM not sure if that is

the way to go doing church service

dgrimm60

The good news is that you can still read and type without being drowned out by the rock music.

[Outta Here]

I think it's great, personally! I've "attended" online services such as this where Christians gather together to pray for one another, to read Bible texts together, to recite the Lord's prayer together. It was a wonderful experience; an experience in which many friendships were borne.

Texting provides a unique spiritual outlet for some who are otherwise inhibited to speak as the Spirit moves.

[Key Guy]

Hey Aubrey,

No joking here... Can a person 'speak in tongues' while texting?

When you stated: "Texting provides a unique spiritual outlet for some who are otherwise inhibited to speak as the Spirit moves", the concept popped into my head.

[Outta Here]

I think it's entirely possible--and I think it does happen.

[Kountzer]

Tongues is a spiritual gift, no doubt, but unknown gibberish is unknown gibberish no matter what medium it is expressed in.

Hopefully the Pastor is able to edit the tweeted responses to his sermon.

DB

[mensk]

Here is a twist to the story, every time the pastor got a text on his phone the P A system would pick it up, and over the speakers would come this awfull electronic noise. Most every Sabbath his phone would be on and sometime during services we would be treated to at least one "P A chatter". Not a good time.