I just had a great conversation in the doctoral seminar I’m attending at Trinity Seminary. Dr. Bill Donahue, Willow Creek’s guru on small groups is teaching the seminar.

We talked about whether or not real community can happen through social media (facebook, twitter, etc). He didn’t have an answer, but here are some thoughts that surfaced.

• The verdict is still out as to whether or not social media helps or hinders community. Recently in a Story Chicago conference one of Lifechurch.tv’s guys who works in their online ministry said that they are still asking questions about its effectiveness.
• Social media has the potential of fostering and opening up community.
• People tend to open up more quickly through social media than they do when in person.
• Social media could hinder people from learning to appropriately communicate honest feelings when in the presence of others.
• Using social media to foster community probably scares boomers.

Do you have any thoughts?