When the Pastor's Study Moves to Cyberspace: An Examination of Ecclesial Social Media Policies

In recent years, as the use of Internet-based social media has proliferated, the Christian Church and its clergy have considered how to minister appropriately with (and despite) social media. Clergy struggle with questions of privacy, how to balance personal and private social media use, how to manage Internet relations with minors, and other questions of pastoral sensitivity. Though not common, several churches and ecclesial governing bodies have developed social media policies for their clergy and broader ministries. A close reading of four policies (Presbyterian, United Church of Christ, Episcopal, and Roman Catholic) reveals guidelines towards privacy, social convergence, and appropriate ministries with youth, the broad strokes of which are held in common. However, the policies studied display no overall consensus, showing the evolving nature of the Church’s response to social media.