Posted by Matt Harrell on March 26th, 2009 Seminaries face unique challenges. Secular universities and colleges are up to their eyeballs in the new world of communications that include social media outlets like Twitter and Facebook. There are few if any filters on these offerings and they generally pose more problems for a seminary environment than they do solutions.
Does that mean that seminaries are to be left in the Dark Ages with regard to communication? Let’s hope not. One of the main needs for future pastors and church leaders is to be in constant communication with their peers and to learn how to best handle the church congregation of the 21st century. It ain’t like your grandaddy’s church anymore .
One way that future church leaders can be prepared is to have more modern means of communication within the seminary environment itself. Of course you can provide courses to help students learn the ins and outs of how the new world communicates (and even reads the Bible for that matter) but there is nothing like learning by doing.
While seminaries are often strapped for capital to implement these types of programs there are now web based software apps that can help facilitate the communication necessary to help them grow as leaders. Of course, MemberHub is one of those options (you didn’t expect me to not say anything about that now did you?).
Here are 3 very simple yet powerful applications for web based communication tools that should be considered.
- Classes can have collaborative activities that strengthen their learning and help to reinforce what is covered in the class
- Seminary wide communication can be taken beyond just e-mail lists and there can more information disseminated in a more efficient and effective manner
- Seminary staff and departments can have greater continuity with less face to face meetings and more time doing what they do best; equipping.
Is your seminary living in the past in the way that it communicates with students and staff? Could there be greater learning and preparing taking place if there were quicker and cleaner communication for these groups? Could seminaries be using software to help improve communications and prepare students for using technology once they go out to shepherd their flocks?
We think so. Tell us what you think.
The first thing which comes to mind, is why not use the technology for outreach to missionaries. connect students with people “real” experience of the power of faith. It can also support the missionary. Real world issues to view through theological lenses.
Absolutely Andrew. That is using the power of technology right there.
Since it is required for all Rockbridge students to have internet access for class why not require them to have a social networking page such as facebook? I use facebook as an effective way to keep up with people from my church as well as letting them know what's going on.
After being a seminary professor for 20 years, I became so convinced that a change was needed in seminary education that I helped launch a 100% online seminary that allows students to complete a degree while serving in a ministry role. In the 5 years we’ve been in business, I’ve seen just how much seminary students can benefit from using 21st century learning tools, just as you say.
Sam Simmons, Cofounder
Rockbridge Seminary
Excellent post and questions Matt! Seminaries definitely should not lag behind other forms of education. They need to not only keep up with best practices for modern communication and technology, but need to see that seminary education applied as much as possible in the context in which ministry occurs. That makes online seminary are increasingly relevant and powerful choice.
I like your suggestion on collaborative online activities to reinforce class content. We’re now using online video chat and exploring things like the kind of communication you suggest. You’re spot on as far as going beyond email lists – the use of Twitter and Facebook can help students interact closer to real time with relevant issues and discuss what’s going on in life with other students beyond the dozen or so in their current class. In a forum today I discussed a blog post by Dave Ferguson in an evangelism class. In fact, I saw this post and am replying because I saw a link on twitter from Sam. I’m currently enrolled in a Master’s of Ministry Leadership program at Rockbridge Seminary. (I have no other affiliation with them, just an extremely satisfied student! :)
I view communication as different from transmitting content. Collaboration, projects, forums, are all good features of current technology.
In a terse immediate electronic environment, people can be misunderstood. Words are more carefully scrutinized. People read quickly through a comment and miss the point.
Discipleship is as much listening as “telling.” The best online faculty have great counseling or listening skills. How can we help students and faculty to listen and ask questions to create better dialog?
Great stuff here! Daryl, you pose a great question.
“How can we help students and faculty to listen and ask questions to create better dialog?”
People run into this all the time when trying to build “online community”. First off, it should never replace true offline community. That much is obvious. But so many folks think that if they provide an online place to communicate that naturally conversation will flow, listening will take place and communication will occur.
Not so fast. Communities whether offline or not still need direction, encouragement and leaders. You can’t just launch a “group” and expect it to mature into a community overnight. So the short answer to your question (in my humble opinion) is to create a plan. Make a plan, set some goals, and execute…just like running a business. The biggest of which is to have a leader or champion to get things going, set guidelines and encourage the conversation to continue.
Rockbridge looks like a fantastic organization! Hat’s off to all you of you!
Obviously, what a good web page and informative posts, I will add backlink – bookmark this web page? Regards, Reader.