Ministry Meets Social Networking Connecting with the Digital Natives

Abstract

Social networking has to become part of pastoral ministry, or the church will find itself increasingly marginalized in the lives of digital natives. Pastoral ministers are called to engage today’s technology and recognize and foster mutuality, interdependence, empathy, solidarity, and collaboration with digital natives. T his article seeks to identify the challenges and explore the possibilities of doing pastoral ministry with young adults in the United States. First, it introduces the term “digital natives,” which many educators and sociologists use to explain the online behavior of these young adults. Second, it surveys social networking sites and other contemporary web resources that are frequented by these digital natives. Third, it discusses the reasons that pastoral ministers have to engage digital natives on their social networking turf. Finally, it reflects on the theological and pastoral implications of such an engagement.