Aaron Spiegel
Information Technology Director at Center for Congregations and Campus Rabbi for Butler University
RCCongress 2010 Workshop:
Social Networking and Congregations
Aaron’s work for the Center for Congregations includes resource consulting with congregations to enhance congregational effectiveness and efficiency and management of the Center’s in-house information systems projects. Together with Nancy Armstrong, he developed the course-series “Computers and Ministry: Making Technology Work for Your Congregation” which resulted in publication of the book (with co-authors Nancy Armstrong and Brent Bill) 40 Days and 40 Bytes: Making Computers Work for Your Congregation.
Before relocating to Indianapolis in 1996, Aaron served several congregations in South Florida. A transdenominational rabbi, he has a BA in Comparative Theology from the Union Institute & University (Miami, FL), rabbinic ordination from The Rabbinical Academy of Mesifta Adath Wolkowisk, and is currently a D.Min. candidate in congregational studies at Hartford Seminary. He is the board chair of Synagogue 3000, member of the Synagogue Studies Academy, and the campus rabbi for Butler University and Butler Hillel.
He is the author of many articles, including Volunteer or Indentured Servant?, Is there a Jewish mainline?, Technology Plan for Your Synagogue, Spiegel on Scripture Software, The Tech Commandments, Best Practices for Using Computers in Congregations, Analog Thinking in a Digital World, and Books and Bytes.
Social Networking and Congregations
All the data points to social networking as the primary way in which people communicate and enhance their communities. Yet the local congregation, one of the most important community building institutions, often struggles with how to incorporate these effective ministry tools.
This workshop will discuss how congregations can build community online and overcome stumbling blocks based on the consulting work of the Center for Congregations and a survey conducted by the Center.
Congregants are “using” their congregations differently. Instead of getting their “religion fix” once a week, it’s not unusual for an attendee to download the pastor’s sermon to her iPod after church on Sunday. While she’s working out Monday evening, she listens to it again. When she gets home she logs on to the pastor’s blog, where after reading how the sermon impacted others, she offers some feedback. The pastor, who is offering responses to the feedback, offers some resources for further study. The conversation encourages another attendee to post the sermon to another blog and start an entirely different discussion. And the scenario snowballs. The Internet offers us the ability to affect the world in ways we literally cannot 