U.S. Methodists Launch New Social Media Website

10ThousandDoors is the United Methodist church's entry into the world of Web 2.0. Acting as a portal for the American church, 10ThousandDoors provides several different ways for to connect. The tagline of the site reads “What if church wasn’t just a building, but thousands of doors? Each of them opening up to a different concept or experience of church – and a journey that could change our world. Would you come?”

From the main page, users can follow the big and bold links to listen to music and podcasts, find needs and ways to take action across the world using their Google Earth plug-in, watch embedded video, read articles and discuss it all and more in their forums. While the layout of the main page is somewhat clunky and confusing – the fact it shifts each time you reload doesn't help matters – the site overall seems shows an understanding of the potential of the web atypical of church websites generally.

Check it out at www.10thousanddoors.org

Free E-book for those looking to improve their congregation's website

It's no secret that as society becomes increasingly connected to the internet - and homes without computers become an ever-shrinking minority – more and more people rely on the web as a first source of information on everything imaginable, including churches. This means that very often a church's first impression isn't made when someone reads the sign out front or steps in the door, but rather when a person sees their website. What kind of impression is your church website making?

For those who want to improve their church website (or perhaps get one started) the Alban Institute links to a free e-book copy (in PDF form) of Lynne Baab's Reaching Out in a Networked World.

Take a look at www.alban.org/conversation.aspx?id=7594

Church Promotes Social Media During Sermon

Usually when people whip out their cell phones in the middle of a church service, its a sign of boredom (and arguably rudeness). However, at Next Level Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, thepractice is actually encouraged. Congregation members were asked to use Twitter to post and share there minute-by-minute reactions to theservice and sermon. Next Level's pastor believes the church “has a responsibility to take advantage of every technological advance.... We want to leverage everything that happens technologically in our culture to help people to God and to teach each other. ”

Read the rest of the story at:

http://www.news14.com/content/local_news/charlotte/607693/church-promotes-social-media-during-sermon/Default.aspx

Texting may allow Finns to don8 to church

If you thought twittering a church service was a strange and bold innovation, try this on for size. Dean Matti Pikkarainen of Oulu Cathedral in Helsinki, Finland is looking to get the law changed to allow Finns to donate money to their churches via text messages. Current legislation bars churches from raising funds through texting, but Pikkarainen hopes to get leaders in his denomination to take up the issue with members of the Finnish parliament. If successful, Pikkarainen envisions donation by texting as a way to streamline services in the church, or even allow people to donate from home as they listen and look in via radio, tv and the internet.

Read the full Reuters article on this at:
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSTRE53D3VQ20090414

Jesse Hair is a 29-year-old Presbyterian, recently graduated from an Anglican seminary, and now writing for The United Church of Canada. Naturally, he's a little confused, but the internet is a source of comfort.