Your Church Blog: The Pluses of Google+ for Church Leaders

The Pluses of Google+ for Church Leaders

How churches can benefit from Google’s latest social media tool.

by Margaret Feinberg

Google+ is the latest entry in the ocean of social media. As a church leader, you need to know the potential this has for your leadership and church.

The interface has drawn a number of comparisons to Facebook, and while they look like they’re from the same family, you’d never mistake them for twins.

Sure, you’ll find a profile page where you can add photos, a bio, links and videos. And you can share your whims and thoughts just like Facebook. But the most unique aspect of Google+ is its Circles, which enable you to review updates from different groups, such as “Work,” “Friends,” “Family,” “Foodies,” “Fans of America’s Got Talent,” or whatever categories you’d like to develop for the people you know.

The amazing thing is that you develop Circles like, “Loves Rob Bell” or, “Would Vote for Palin in 2012,” and keep those people as close or as far away from you depending on your preferences. But the whole concept of Circles becomes more helpful (and less tongue-in-cheek) when you think about the natural circles of involvement in your life, whether it’s “Church Staff,” “Small Group,” or “Outreach Event.”

Why is the Circles feature so important to you as a church leader? Because it streamlines who you communicate with and the way you do it. Instead of choosing between an e-mail, a blog post, or a tweet, you now have one place to communicate and an easy way to get the word out. The following has been observed:

• If you address something to a single person, it’s like you’ve written an e-mail or note;
• If you address something to a Circle, such as church members, it’s like you’ve written an open letter or newsletter;
• If you address something to a group of selected Circles, it’s like you’ve tweeted;
• If you address something to Public, it’s like a blog post everyone can enjoy.

It’s important to note that Google+ isn’t open to businesses or organizations like churches—at least not yet. But even through individual accounts, the Circles can be helpful as a staff or leadership tool, allowing you to communicate to your elders, staff, or volunteers in real time. The tool can be used to share everything from vision and goals to last-minute changes for an event.

Another plus of Google+ is the Hangout. This allows both chat and video features that give you instant access to up to ten people who also want to Hangout with you. Just make sure you’re not in your pajamas or birthday suit when you click the video Hangout button or everyone will be in for a surprise.

Like the Circles, the tool allows instant connection with whoever else is on. I expect the Hangout to catch on among youth leaders as they build relationships with kids. Instead ofSkype, Hangout provides the opportunity to allow a congregation to hear from up to ten different missionaries around the world during a service. Or a person can still be at work but pop in during the lunch hour virtually for a Bible study. For larger churches, it opens up a door for hangout times with leaders. The possibilities are endless.

Another big plus is the Sparks, which allows you to search for web content that catches your fancy. You can find news updates, management tips, leadership ideas—anything really—and then search and share what you find with any or all of your circles. This allows conversations to simmer throughout the day. Though still cumbersome to use, Sparks has the potential to allow you to keep up with ministry topics of interest throughout the day.

But the biggest plus of Google+ right now is the high level of engagement (last week, Google said more than 10 million people joined during its first three weeks). The new site is addictive, so people are scanning, reading, sharing, commenting, and creating a sense of energy and excitement. And those engaging are still largely primarily real people, not companies trying to sell you their latest flavor of product.

That means that if you can ask questions about anything on your mind—from a sermon topic to how to improve the scheduling of VBS volunteers—then you can watch answers, links, and feedback from around the world roll in.

For all its pluses, Google+ still has some minuses.

First, it doesn’t play well with other social networks, like Twitter, Facebook, and Blog Feeds. Extensions are limited or non-existent. If you want to auto update your Google+ from Facebook or Twitter, you can’t because it’s not available. Modifications are on the way, but most of us wish they arrived yesterday.

Second, oopsies abound as we’re all still figuring out the limits of Google+. Just the other day I received an inbox full of updates from a newbie who didn’t realize that when he clicked the little box next to "Share" he was e-mailing everyone his updates. The day before that, we added photos and video to our profile page not realizing the entries would push through updates and appear like spam.

Third, the terrain is still so new it feels like a lot of people are missing from the conversation—especially women since nearly 75 percent of the users are male. In addition, a lot of Sparks are overused so the same content appears repeatedly. While some celebrate what they deem a viral success, the rest of us are just annoyed.

Lastly, I think the greatest strength of Google+ so far is the Circles, yet it could turn out to be its greatest weakness. Why? Circles have the potential to streamline conversations among like-minded people. That has tremendous potential to organize people around a common idea or cause. But it also has the potential to filter out the people who are different from us—those who would challenge us to be better than we could on our own.

Want an invite to Google+? We’d love to add you. Simply e-mail us at info(at)margaretfeinberg(dot)com and we’ll send you one.

Margaret Feinberg (http://margaretfeinberg.com) is a popular speaker and author of The Sacred Echo and Scouting the Divine. Become a Fan on Facebook, Follow on Twitter (@mafeinberg) or Circle her on Google+.

Trust Isn't Easy, but It's Powerful

Trust is one of those things that is a relationship definer. If we can't trust someone we aren't able to fully live in harmony with that person. Isn't trust always the cliche "relationship definer" in all the movies? "Why didn't it work out between us?" "Well, I couldn't trust you." 


In the Christian faith trust becomes equally as important. It is one of those things that define our relationship between us and our creator. If we can't trust our Redeemer and Savior we cannot fully live into the people we are called to be. Without trust as our relationship definer between us and God, we are limiting his power and suppressing ours. Its when we break down the walls of insecurity and stand abandoned of ourselves, and place everything we have within Him that we fully become Christ followers. 

Jeremiah 17:5-8

This is what the LORD says:

   “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, 

   who draws strength from mere flesh 

   and whose heart turns away from the LORD. 

That person will be like a bush in the wastelands; 

   they will not see prosperity when it comes. 

They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, 

   in a salt land where no one lives.

 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, 

   whose confidence is in him. 

They will be like a tree planted by the water 

   that sends out its roots by the stream. 

It does not fear when heat comes; 

   its leaves are always green. 

It has no worries in a year of drought 

   and never fails to bear fruit.”

Whom do you place your trust in?

We find instances in our church services where knowingly or not we make pleas unto God, pleas that we might not live up to. My friend Mark Sorensen, in responses to challenging lyrics in a song, says this, "thats something dangerous to sing...."

Some instances we can find are:

"So what can I say what can I do but offer this heart O God to You

So I'll stand with arms high and heart abandoned in awe of the One who gave it all...

So I'll stand my soul Lord to you surrendered....

All I am is Yours" - The Stand by Hillsong United 

"Heal my heart and make it clean 

Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me

Break my heart from what breaks yours

Everything I am for your kingdoms cause" - Hosanna by Hillsong United 




"When we walk with the Lord

In the light of His word,

What a glory He sheds on our way!

While we do His good will,

He abides with us still,

And with all who will trust and obey" - Trust and Obey (traditional hymn) 

Whom do you place your trust in?


This weekend I experienced a holy instance of complete trust in God and neighbor. Twice a year the United Methodist Youth in Louisiana participate in a spiritual weekend called The Happening. Happening is a weekend retreat for youth, led by youth. Through a mere 3 days a complete group of strangers become family. They experience bonds that will last them a lifetime. I had the opportunity to attend Happening my senior year, and serve on staff twice. It was one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had the blessing to take part in. It was at Happening that the calling from God on my life became evident. It was there that I knew God had ordained me to do his work in the world through the ministry of His Holy Church. There is something about that weekend that is special. Lives are changed, and Christ's love are evident in each and every attendee. 


At the conclusion of the weekend the "happeners" are invited to tell about their experiences in their "small families." They always seem to come back to the fact that only three days ago they came here not knowing anyone, but left with an entirely new family. It was because of this peculiar thing we call trust that bonded them together. Trust was the relationship definer. 


Through this weekend they stood, with arms high and hearts abandoned in awe of the One who gave it all.... 

Like a mother who sends their child off for the first time to kindergarten, or a mother bird who pushes the chicks out of the nest for the first time, or a baby kangaroo who exists the pouch for the first time, trust defines each relationship. 

Trust is a beautiful thing. When we finally let go of ourselves, and give it all to God, we become the wonderful, holy people God created us to be. 

So friends, Whom do you place your trust in? 

July 3rd Sermon - Interdependence Day 2011

1 Corinthians 12:12-14

"Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by^[c] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many."

Interdependence Day

It’s crazy how easily we get sidetracked from Holy days by holidays, and how quickly we can smother our central identity in Christ with other identities such as our national identity.  The Fourth of July is one of those holidays that is a little tricky for those of us who are Christian, these peculiar people of God whose kingdom is “not of this world.”  While we want to celebrate the many freedoms and opportunities we have in these United States, we also want to be people that are honest about history, who lament the places where our country and government and founding fathers have fallen short of God’s Dream. .. so without being a real prude or “anti-American” stick-in-the-mud, we want to try to remember the history of this country well on July 4 (and every day) — the good and the bad.  That doesn’t mean we can’t have some serious fun on July 4.  We might as well take advantage of the chance to be with neighbors and family, and to have work off.  But above all, we want to remember that our deepest allegiance and identity run deeper than our nation.  And that may take some creativity to remember with all the fireworks popping and national anthems playing.

Now, many of us have created alternative Fourth of July celebrations like many people do on Halloween, to make sure we teach our kids truth and Jesus.  Don’t get me wrong — as Jesus’ people we need to be people who know how to celebrate and party.  It’s just that our fireworks may be a little different; they may happen on Pentecost.  And our heroes are not war heroes, but heroes of the Cross, folks who have died as Jesus did, loving their enemies.  We want to remember that our Bible does not say “God so loved America,” but that “God so loved the world”. It would do us well as we gather around the barbecue pits today with family and friends and pop fireworks and celebrate our “independence” as Americans, the land of the free and the home of the brave, to remember that real freedom...true freedom, our freedom as Christians, comes not from governments but from God’s life-giving gift in Jesus Christ…

Now, in all seriousness, The Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays. From my earliest childhood, I have loved the parades, outdoor grilling, and fireworks. But more than that, I love the marching bands and music of the day—"The Star Spangled Banner," "God Bless America," and anything by John Philip Souza. It is a day to celebrate our land and its freedoms.

Still I'm not one to join God and country too closely. I believe that theocracy is dangerous for nations and religions alike. Theocracy is a form of government in which a state is understood as governed by immediate divine guidance especially a state ruled by clergy, or by officials who are regarded as divinely guided. But these national holidays—and not just the U.S. holidays—bring out our deepest feelings of gratitude and love for our land, and hopefulness. They are not just celebrations of geography or opportunities for flag-waving; they are also occasions for reflection and even confession of the dissonance between reality and aspiration in our national life.

All countries are imperfect and ambiguous and the U.S. is no exception. We have high ideals and often dismal realities. We have often responded too slowly to the challenges of the moral arc of history. We have proclaimed the equality of humankind and defined some persons as non-human, unworthy of self-determination, equality, or loving relationships. We have affirmed the quest for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness and condemned some persons, based on the accidents of economics, ethnicity, or sexuality, to lives of misery, duplicity, and limitation.

When I look up in the sky as the bottle rockets, tube bombs, sparklers, and roman candles scream into the night, I am reminded of Christ’s inclusive love. Gun powder, oxygen, and a simple spark creates an explosion where a myriad of colors light up the sky. Green, purple, red, gold, blue, and any other color you can image fill up the night. These colors always seem to fold together, to combine into one. Some of you might be asking yourself, “and how does all that remind him of Christ’s love?” I’ll tell you. I am a firm believer that Christ died on the cross for everyone. Christ died for Osama bin Laden, Sadam Hussein, you, and me. Christ had no exceptions to the rule. Now some people seem to be ok with this. It usually leaves a sour taste in their mouth, and sometimes a lump in the stomach, but all in all, they can’t disprove this. It’s when I usually bring up people who are not like us, gays and homosexuals that I start getting the looks, as I am now. Yes, Christ died for those people too. That’s a subject that not many accept. Well friends, I will tell you that Christ loved all people. Not a single person is undeserving of Christ’s agape love. For too long I have seen the effects of racism plague our way of thinking. For too long we have built walls that define who we think we are. For too long those walls have kept us divided. Christ was at work in this world breaking down the walls. John 4 is becoming my favorite selection of scripture. It is the perfect, on the money example of what I am preaching. Jesus reverses, breaks, and changes the normal way of doing things. He invites, loves, and cares for the people who are not so lucky in life. It’s not about you, Jesus comes to tell us, but about the Kingdom of God, where all of God’s people love in Glory with the Father.

At Annual Conference this year I was asked to wear this stole. Some of you have asked what it means… The stole represents the Reconciling Ministries Network. The Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN) is an organization dedicated to the inclusion of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities in both the policy and practices of the United Methodist Church. It is one of many Welcoming Congregation organizations to emerge in American Christianity in the 1980s.

Since 2009, the mission of RMN has read, "The Reconciling Ministries Network mobilizes United Methodists of all sexual orientations and gender identities to transform our church and world into the full expression of Christ's inclusive love." Several of us, clergy and lay persons alike, could be found on the conference floor with this stole. I find truth in wearing this stole. When I put this stole on, I become the outcast, I become the Samaritan woman at the well. I become the one no one wants to talk to. Who shall I rely on? I shall rely on my God and my Savior, the Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit who loves all persons.

Out of the 502 United Methodist Congregations in Louisiana there is one Reconciling Congregation, St Mark’s UMC in New Orleans, La. Its membership in 2003 was 27. 27 people out of the thousands of United Methodists in Louisiana are a part of a church whose missions is to love all of God’s people. How truly blessed those few people must be.

Jesus never lived the comfortable life. He never associated himself with the religious crowd. His disciples came from all over, they were carpenters, fishermen, lawyers, tax collector, they were men, and speculators say that some were women, they were gay, and they were straight. The one thing that unified them was the love of their Savior Christ Jesus. 

While gratefully singing our National Anthem this Fourth of July, we might also join in singing "This Land is Your Land, This Land is My Land" as a call to affirm all the peoples of our land and an inspiration to truly seek liberty and justice for all.

This year, we will sing the traditional patriotic hymns and we will honor those who have served our nation in war, but we should also sing hymns of peace, and add peace crusaders and justice seekers to our hymns of gratitude for this great land. God bless America! God bless all the earth's peoples! Happy Interdependence Day! Let us pray…