Presenting Authentically and Pastorally Online
Ability to explore, claim, and present in online spaces appropriate traits of religious leadership, paying particular attention to continuities and discontinuities with one’s in-person identities. This literacy involves questions of authenticity, authority, vulnerability, and intentional ethical conduct.
Research Interview Excerpts
What did the experts say?
“They may already be on social media for their own selves. They have to think about it differently when it’s their church or their pastoral presence. Sometimes they do, and sometimes they don’t.”
“[We should be] empowering students to have some agency in how they use technology to get across their values, and their culture, and their message rather than imitating somebody else. Even though that person is set up as though they’re hugely successful and aren’t they wonderful?”
“I would say some of the case studies that were most compelling were pastors or leaders that had a very authentic video presence. It became really clear to me, as a frontier of digital literacy, learning to be comfortable with the short, pithy video format is hugely important. “
REAL WORLD EXAMPLES
@JesKast
Reformed pastor who brings her whole self to her online presence, and in the process challenges her followers to bring their whole selves to their lives of faith.VISIT
David Gortner
We realize it’s not hugely helpful sharing Facebook examples, since most content on this network isn’t fully public. But the author of Transforming Evangelism has a real knack for reflecting on the spiritual aspects of his and his family’s life in a way that is accessible, inviting, and appropriately intimate.VISIT
EXPLORE RESOURCES FOR PRESENTING

Foundational Research Now Published
The research upon which this website is based now appears in multiple peer-reviewed journals!
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