For any of you who are not familiar with it, there is an internet service called Twitter where you can send out a 140 character message to everyone in the world, or at least those that are looking for it. For people familiar with Facebook it is a bit like your status line but on Twitter someone does not need to be a friend to see it (although you can protect your updates).
So what is this good for you might ask? Some companies, organizations and celebrities use it to send out messages to fans, followers or interested parties about what is happening. (And yes, the PC(USA) is on Twitter too.) This past week you could have followed the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland as they sent out status messages about what the Assembly was working on. But more than that, you could interact with others, and occasionally the Assembly person as well, about the work of the Assembly — 140 characters at a time. (If you use Twitter you can search on the #ga2009 search term to see the discussion.)
Yes, through the internet and especially “real time” connections like webcasting and Twitter you can have instantaneous connections and interactions with events and individuals on a global level. Why would you want this? In my own case I am very interested in seeing how other Presbyterian branches deal with the same issues that the PC(USA) is working through. And I am interested in the reaction of others to these developments. Yes, I could depend on media reports or descriptions available later. But watching it myself and “talking” with others allows me to see things of interest to me that may not be reported or that the media misunderstands and so misreports. (For instance, one press report identified the Church of Scotland as an Anglican branch of the Church of England.)
But Twitter is being used by individuals to just update friends on “what I am doing now.” And while that may seem boring to you to have a play-by-play of someone’s life, some of our youth workers have f0und it useful to spontaneously say “here is where I’m having coffee right now” and then have a couple of youth stop by to talk. Ministry at the speed of the internet.
And you may have seen that the play-by-play nature of Twitter has gotten some other press this week with a discussion across several blogs of “should you Twitter during worship.” (Don’t worry, the consensus is “no.”) But for a sample you can check out Josh Harris or John Piper.
The point is that new technology is helping us make new connections. Or to sustain old connections in new ways. As with any powerful technology, use with caution — but recognize the potential.
Praying for our Churches
Hanmi: Korean Independent Presbyterian Church, Artesia
Los Ranchos: La Habra Hills Presbyterian Church, La Habra
Pacific: First Presbyterian Church of Los Angeles, Los Angeles
Riverside: Ridgecrest Presbyterian Church, Ridgecrest
San Diego: Linda Vista Presbyterian Church, San Diego
San Fernando: Holy Trinity Armenian Presbyterian Church, North Hollywood
San Gabriel: St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, La Puente
Santa Barbara: Westminster Presbyterian Church, Port Hueneme
And pray for the Presbyterian Church in Ireland as they begin their General Assembly on Monday. Issues related to the global economic downturn have hit them very hard. You can follow them on Twitter as well.
