The Peter Bowden Show

For congregations to thrive in today's digitally oriented world, their leaders need to understand how DIGITAL MINISTRY differs from SOCIAL MEDIA and MARKETING.

To illustrate, I explain how to shift from using social media to market an event where you'll be educating and orienting newcomers to using social media as the venue where you are educating and orienting them.

That's a shift from PROMOTING your congregation's ministry using social media to using social media platforms to DO ministry.

Friends, Happy Fall!  Before diving into our first regular episode of the Fall I wanted to share some personal and podcast updates.

First, this has been a busy time for me working to help congregations and other organizations adapt to life online and now work on multi-platform and hybrid approaches. I’m grateful to be in the position to help leaders learn new skills, strategies, and be of service. 

That interrupted my regular routine of sharing public content, which I'm now excited to get back to.  I've shifted to more group training and coaching programs which is making more time for the podcast. Oh yeah!

As for the podcast, in addition to working on a weekly release schedule, I’m going to be sharing some different kinds of content.

I want to share more of the stories and insights that come up in my coaching with leaders but that aren’t within my primary training areas.

Want to reply to something in the podcast? I’m on social media everywhere @PeterBowdenLive.

In this interview with the Rev. Christana Wille McKnight, UPDATE: now former minister of First Parish in Taunton, MA, we discuss the principles and strategies that helped this Unitarian Universalist congregation move from being at risk of closing to becoming a thriving small congregation playing a major role in Taunton’s revitalization efforts.

You may find a text copy of the "playbook" and the YouTube version of our interview at: https://www.peterbowden.live/blog/march-2021-interview-rev-christana-wille-mcknight

The Covid19 pandemic forced us to move congregational life online. When we are able to safely phase in offline physical gatherings, how do we integrate our digital/online and physical/offline ministry?  In this session, I share ideas to help your leadership approach these conversations.  Note:  Always make sure you are following public health guidelines! 

This episode features audio from session 4 of my Leader Recharge 2021 video series.

UPDATE:  This series is complete.  Signup here to receive FRESH new video, audio, and text resources for congregations.   https://www.peterbowden.live/congregations-subscribe

This episode features audio from session three in my Leader Recharge 2021 video series: Making sense of digital trends and the factors impacting your congregation's 2021 strategy.

This on-demand leadership series is designed to help you start the NEW YEAR strong. I'll be releasing the audio of all four sessions via this podcast.

UPDATE:  This series is complete.  Signup here to receive FRESH new video, audio, and text resources for congregations.   https://www.peterbowden.live/congregations-subscribe

This episode features audio from session two in my Leader Recharge 2021 video series:  Tips to reduce "Zoom fatigue" and promote engagement.   

This on-demand leadership series is designed to help you start the NEW YEAR strong. I'll be releasing the audio of all four sessions via this podcast.

If you'd like to watch the videos, visit https://www.peterbowden.live/recharge2021

This episode features audio from session one in my Leader Recharge 2021 video series: My blueprint for reflecting, gathering insights, and moving forward!

UPDATE:  This series is complete.  Signup here to receive resources for congregations including FRESH new video, audio, and text resources.  https://www.peterbowden.live/congregations-subscribe

This on-demand leadership series is designed to help you start the NEW YEAR strong.   I'll be releasing the audio of all four sessions via this podcast. 

Series Schedule

Week 1: Reflecting on 2020, gathering insights, and moving forward!
We need to learn from our experiences. I'll share the blueprint for the conversations I've been facilitating with leadership teams.

Week 2: Digital ministry tips to reduce "Zoom fatigue" and promote engagement.
There are simple things we can do with our video content and the experiences we facilitate to shift them from being SOUL-SUCKING to energizing. I'll share practical easy to implement tips.

Week 3: Making sense of digital trends and the factors impacting your 2021 strategy.
To make smart decisions, your leaders need to understand the shifting context of your ministry. The pandemic has accelerated digital trends, established new habits, and changed human behavior. I'll share my understanding of present trends.

Week 4: Exploring digital + physical "hybrid" ministry models.
Covid19 forced us to move congregational life online. When we are able to phase in more offline physical gatherings, how do we integrate our digital/online and physical/offline ministry? What are the options? What are the considerations?

And, of course, I'm bringing my joy, energy, and enthusiasm!

This episode features audio from my new Leader Recharge 2021 video series.  This on-demand leadership series is designed to help you start the NEW YEAR strong.   I'll be releasing the audio of all four sessions via this podcast. 

UPDATE:  This series is complete.  Signup here to receive resources for congregations including FRESH new video, audio, and text resources.  https://www.peterbowden.live/congregations-subscribe

Series Schedule

Week 1: Reflecting on 2020, gathering insights, and moving forward!
We need to learn from our experiences. I'll share the blueprint for the conversations I've been facilitating with leadership teams.

Week 2: Digital ministry tips to reduce "Zoom fatigue" and promote engagement.
There are simple things we can do with our video content and the experiences we facilitate to shift them from being SOUL-SUCKING to energizing. I'll share practical easy to implement tips.

Week 3: Making sense of digital trends and the factors impacting your 2021 strategy.
To make smart decisions, your leaders need to understand the shifting context of your ministry. The pandemic has accelerated digital trends, established new habits, and changed human behavior. I'll share my understanding of present trends.

Week 4: Exploring digital + physical "hybrid" ministry models.
Covid19 forced us to move congregational life online. When we are able to phase in more offline physical gatherings, how do we integrate our digital/online and physical/offline ministry? What are the options? What are the considerations?

And, of course, I'm bringing my joy, energy, and enthusiasm!

Online church isn't working? Attendance down? People Zoomed out? Here are some thoughts on how to respond. What would I do? Here are seven ideas / strategies to consider. Episode notes and time codes at https://www.peterbowden.live/blog/seven-strategies-to-help-your-ministry-online 

A great Q&A question came in last week: 

"Peter, In the pre-social-media church world, the 'membership funnel' was simple, or at least seemed simple. People entering our congregation's orbit started as visitors to Sunday worship and/or attendees of programs. The end goal, from the church's perspective, was to get those people to ... join the congregation. Is there a similar end-point in the new social media world? Is it the same endpoint?"

My Answer: Before we can talk about specific endpoints, there are conversations that require our attention. What's your congregation's mission and vision look like in today's digital context especially with digital trends being acclerated by the pandemic?

Are you looking to serve people in your local zipcode with a focus on a local face-to-face congregation? Given your size, facility, and finances is that viable? If a local primarily offline focus is the goal and priority, your ministry and membership process will look very different than if your goal is to use your local community and building (if you have one) as the headquarters and hub for a larger online ministry serving people nationally or internationally. And there are all the variations in between -- the hybrid approach, using the digital to go from local to a more regional ministry. Guaranteed, if you haven't discussed it, your leaders have differing opinions. It is important to get your leaders on the same page even if that is "We don't know." 

Once we're on the same page we can move on to strategy. I'll talk about that and related endpoints in an upcoming episode.