{"id":224,"date":"2007-11-09T01:01:18","date_gmt":"2007-11-09T01:01:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/markdroberts\/2007\/11\/the-pastor-as-godblogger.html"},"modified":"2007-11-09T01:01:18","modified_gmt":"2007-11-09T01:01:18","slug":"the-pastor-as-godblogger","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/2007\/11\/the-pastor-as-godblogger.html","title":{"rendered":"The Pastor as Godblogger"},"content":{"rendered":"

I’m currently at the GodBlogCon at the Las Vegas Convention Center. In former years GodBlogCon, a conference for Christians interested in the new media, convened at Biola University in Southern California. But this year GodBlogCon has joined up with the secular BlogWorld convention. Hence the new venue. I think it’s great that GodBlogCon has now gone out into the world, even into Las Vegas, which is not my favorite city.
\nThis morning (Thursday) was the beginning of GodBlogCon. The keynote addresse was delivered by Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jrl, the president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a leading blogger. Dr. Mohler’s address was a right on challenge to communicate God’s truth in a way that is both truthful and congruent with Christian faith. I’m hoping that he will put up his manuscript online so I can link to it. It was full of theological and practical wisdom.
\nFollowing Dr. Mohler was Dr. John Mark Reynolds, an associate professor of philosophy at Biola University, and another prolific blogger. Dr. Reynolds challenged us to blog in a way that seeks what is true, beautiful, and good. Moreover, he said we should live in the virtual world with authenticity as Christians, rather than making up some alternative persona.
\nI came next in line, presenting a message entitled: Taking Your Ministry to the New Media \u2013 The Pastor as Godblogger<\/em>. This address was meant for pastors who blog (or might blog), though it was applicable to non-pastors as well. I presented 18 Theses on the Pastor as Godblogger. Here they are:<\/p>\n

1. Some pastors should be bloggers.
\n2. Some pastors should not be bloggers.
\n3. Many pastors who are not bloggers today should become bloggers.
\n4. Some pastors who are bloggers today should stop, at least for a while.
\n5. Blogging can enrich a pastor’s ministry with the pastor’s own congregation, and this is sufficient reason for a pastor to blog.
\n6. Blogging can expand a pastor’s ministry beyond the pastor’s own congregation, and this is a strong though not sufficient reason for a pastor to blog.
\n7. Blogging can greatly expand the impact of a pastor’s teaching and preaching with the pastor’s own congregation.
\n8. Blogging can greatly expand the impact of a pastor’s teaching and preaching beyond the pastor’s own congregations.
\n9. Blogging can allow pastors to address topics that otherwise could not be addressed in the ordinary means of pastoral communication.
\n10. Blogging can provide an effective means for congregational communication and interaction.
\n11. Blogging can allow preaching to become more of a conversation and less of a one-way street.
\n12. Blogging can provide an excellent means for pastors to enhance the daily devotional lives of their congregations.
\n13. Blogging can help pastors get “out of the saltshaker and into the world.”
\n14. Blogging can make a pastor’s congregation nervous, even jealous.
\n15. Pastors should exercise caution in their blog topics, making sure that their blogging is first and foremost edifying to their congregations.
\n16. Pastors should talk with their leadership board (elders, deacons, vestry, etc.) before beginning to blog (or ASAP).
\n17. Pastors should communicate clearly with their congregation the purpose of their blog.
\n18. Pastors (and all other Christian bloggers) should see their blog as God’s blog, and should see blogging as part of their calling and stewardship of gifts.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

What do you think about these theses?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I’m currently at the GodBlogCon at the Las Vegas Convention Center. In former years GodBlogCon, a conference for Christians interested in the new media, convened at Biola University in Southern California. But this year GodBlogCon has joined up with the secular BlogWorld convention. Hence the new venue. I think it’s great that GodBlogCon has now…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":214,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-224","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-pastors-and-churches"],"yoast_head":"\nThe Pastor as Godblogger - Mark D. Roberts<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/2007\/11\/the-pastor-as-godblogger.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Pastor as Godblogger - Mark D. Roberts\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"I’m currently at the GodBlogCon at the Las Vegas Convention Center. In former years GodBlogCon, a conference for Christians interested in the new media, convened at Biola University in Southern California. But this year GodBlogCon has joined up with the secular BlogWorld convention. Hence the new venue. 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Roberts","description":"Mark D. Roberts: Thoughtfully Christian Reflections on Jesus, the Church, and the World","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/#\/schema\/person\/1ff094a57b7e41f534434b1723df3d73","name":"Mark D. Roberts","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-content\/wphb-cache\/gravatar\/f2d\/f2ddf5f080861f66ea230384f9d1bab2x96.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-content\/wphb-cache\/gravatar\/f2d\/f2ddf5f080861f66ea230384f9d1bab2x96.jpg","caption":"Mark D. Roberts"},"description":"The Rev. Dr. Mark D. Roberts is a pastor, author, retreat leader, speaker, and blogger. Since October 2007 he has been the Senior Director and Scholar-in-Residence for Laity Lodge, a multifaceted ministry in the Hill Country of Texas. Before coming to Laity Lodge, he was for sixteen years the Senior Pastor of Irvine Presbyterian Church in Irvine, California (a city in Orange County about forty miles south of Los Angeles). Before his time at Irvine Pres, Mark served on the staff of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood as Associate Pastor of Education. (Thanks to Janel Pahl for taking the photo to the right.) Mark studied at Harvard University, receiving a B.A. in Philosophy, an M.A. in the Study of Religion, and a Ph.D. in New Testament and Christian Origins. He has taught classes in New Testament for Fuller Theological Seminary and San Francisco Theological Seminary. Mark has written several books, including No Holds Barred: Wrestling with God in Prayer (WaterBrook, 2005), Dare to Be True (WaterBrook, 2003), Jesus Revealed (WaterBrook, 2002), After \"I Believe\" (Baker, 2002), and Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (Word, 1993). His most recent book is Can We Trust the Gospels? Investigating the Reliability of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John (Crossway, 2007). He is currently working on a commentary on Ephesians that will be published by Zondervan in 2014. Mark writes a devotional for The High Calling of Our Daily Work, a website associated with Laity Lodge. His \"Daily Reflections\" can be viewed online or sent as a daily email. If you wish to receive this email, just visit TheHighCalling.org and sign up. Mark serves on the editorial board of Worship Leader magazine, where he publishes articles and reviews, including his regular column \"Lyrical Poetry.\" Additionally, he has published dozens of articles in leading magazines and journals. He often speaks for churches and other Christian groups, and has been interviewed on over seventy-five radio programs nationwide. Mark is married to Linda, who is a Marriage and Family Therapist, a Spiritual Director, and a retreat speaker. They have two children, Nathan and Kara.For Publicity Photos and Bio Statements for Mark, please check here. Mark's Dossier Professional History: Senior Director and Scholar-in Residence, Laity Lodge, October 2007 to present. Senior Pastor Irvine Presbyterian Church, June 1991 to September 2007 Adjunct Assistant Professor Fuller Theological Seminary, 1994 to 2007. Courses: New Testament Theology and Exegesis. Adjunct Instructor San Francisco Theological Seminary, 1995 to 2001. Courses: New Testament Greek and Exegesis Associate Pastor of Education First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, 1987-1991 Teaching Fellow Harvard University, 1980-1983 Education: Ph.D. in the Study of Religion. Harvard University, 1992. Area: New Testament and Christian Origins M.A. in the Study of Religion Harvard University, 1984. A.B. magna cum laude in Philosophy Harvard University, 1979. Phi Beta Kappa; Danforth Fellowship Books: Can We Trust the Gospels? Investigating the Reliability of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Crossway, 2007 No Holds Barred: Wrestling with God in Prayer. WaterBrook, 2005 Dare to Be True: Living in the Freedom of Complete Honesty. WaterBrook, 2003. Jesus Revealed: Know Him Better to Love Him Better. WaterBrook, 2002. After \"I Believe\": Experiencing Authentic Christian Living. Baker, 2002. Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther in the Communicator's Commentary Series. Word, 1993. Contacting Mark: You can reach Mark at: E-mail: mark@markdroberts.com mroberts@laitylodge.org Phone: Laity Lodge: (830) 792-1216 Address: Laity Lodge 719 Earl Garrett Kerrville, TX 78028","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/author\/mroberts"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/224","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/214"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=224"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/224\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=224"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=224"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=224"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}