Kelli+Bonner+ESSAY+about+DDBC

Kelli Bonner kbonner@saintcecilias.net 239/936-3635 ext. 20

I joined DDBC in support of a colleague. Little did I realize that I had (and still have!) much to learn. Since I thought of myself as a social media junkie, I thought all would be fun and games. That’s the kind of thing we do in our “spare” time, right? I have been challenged to learn new and appropriate ways to minister and share ministry.

God has given us technological advances in many fields—medicine, aerodynamics, agriculture, communication. There are too many to name here. In each of these uses of our God-given human brain power, we must step back for a moment to consider what we are doing. As Catholics, we must apply the gifts of Scripture and Tradition to what we do. We must ask ourselves if there are lines to be crossed, where they converge, and at what points we must be silent or speak out. We must put Jesus, our Wonderful Counselor, before ourselves (and I mean that He is present) as we decipher appropriate means and methods. We must see Him in what we do!

It is my plan, then, to use the Internet and social media to reach out to those in our faith community and beyond. I’d like to reach the “faithful remnant”, luke-warm churchgoers, returning Catholics, and the community-at-large. The days of the parish church as the hub of the local community are gone. For example, we have parishioners who drive past two other Catholic churches to worship with us. There are also several nursing homes to which we minister regularly. Effective communication is essential to the connectedness that makes a parish community thrive. Social media may be the keys that open the parish doors for folks when they are not on campus. For starters, I’ll focus on our parish Facebook page. New projects include an online Rosary and an online book club in conjunction with a parish wide book distribution and study project.

With regard to media technology, we are encouraged by the International Society for Technology in Education in their //National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers//. Among others, the standards encourage us to Design and Develop Digital Age Learning Experiences, to Model Digital Age Work and Learning, to Promote and Model Digital Citizenship, and to Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership. These particular standards appeal to me in that they reflect my own goals.

With regard to the use of social technology in Church ministry, we have the guiding hand of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. In its //Social Media Guidelines//, the USCCB offers the opportunities and challenges of visibility, community, and accountability. The Internet and social media may be used to effectively increase exposure of ministry. In theory, a tiny ministry movement may get the same exposure as its larger entity. While building community online, this translates into a huge responsibility in providing relevant and appropriate information while responding to the needs of those engaged.

The Digital Disciple Boot Camp has taught me that for every application I learn, there are many more yet to learn. This is good news in getting the Good News to the faithful and to the not-so-faithful. Digital technology, the Internet, and social media all have a place in the lives of the people and in the life of our Church. May these tools of the world be tools of the Church as well.

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