Yesterday, the Pluralist posted one of his amusing Radio Chatterbox dialogues. I must admit that I have taken more notice since I have appeared as Lesley Bloke (of course these characters are entirely fictional). My interpretation is that the other characters are Harold (Alan) Wilson and Kenneth Beans (Nick Baines), who are both blogging Bishops, Harry Tickpaper (The Pluralist) and then a blogging ordinand Rachel Marsovenus (Marszalek). There are a couple of other Bloggers alluded to in the post who have had difficulties with their institutions because of their blogs.
Some of the things that Harry Tickpaper says are:
"Over and over again, people who keep blogs put themselves at risk"......... "you ought to be able to equate ministry with honesty. I've done this myself even without blogging and came a cropper."There is a suggestion that Harry thinks Nick Baines is pretty careful and keeps his more controversial thoughts to himself, which protects him whereas Alan Wilson keeps asking questions and doesn't totally commit himself. Hence, they are okay whereas others are at risk.
I am not sure what I think about all this. I became aware soon into blogging that those who were honest were the bloggers I wanted to read, but their honesty also made life pretty difficult for the authors. In particular, early on, I followed the Nakedpastor and the Madpriest. Neither of them are now ministering in church institutions. However, no one in the 'institution' has said anything negative to me about my blog, quite the opposite really. I do think Blogging makes people both more aware of and more outspoken about difficulties within their institutions, which makes them edgy.... I would love to know what everyone else thinks.
19 comments:
Blogging is just the same as keeping a diary for me which I've always done. Now when it's read it's weird so I have to edit a bit. Reading others blogs has given me insight into others minds. Especially those in the church. Being in a far flung place means I use the net a lot to keep me in touch. Happy blogging to you Lesley and all who blog!
To me, blogging is an extension of what I do in public ministry. You put a lot of yourself into this, sharing sometimes personal things, and sometimes going out on a limb with what you think. But there's no contract that says you are obliged to spill every personal thought and opinion onto the carpet for all to see.
To me, the success of the two bishops you mention is that they have been able to resist the temptation to inflict their opinions on us at every possible opportunity. Instead, they choose carefully when to speak out and when to simply reflect. This doesn't guarantee they don't get their fingers burnt, but it does spare us the spectacle of a Christian leader who stirs up controversy on a continual basis.
I have to admit that my personal blog is like Jean's a record of progress of me in development in Christian life and in particular, how the process of testing a vocation and the process involved has effected how I see things.
I truly believe that blogging by people in public ministry is helpful to me as well as helping me to see things and debate them, which I might not have the opportunity to do within my own parish.
Reality check for me, my Vicar is aware of my blog as is the DDO, whether they choose to read them, it their decision - but I do not believe that I am that controversial, just writing about things as I see them.
I enjoy interaction on blogs, especially with some of those mentioned here - as it helps me personally to take on board things I might have wrong or just to see that there is more than one view on things.
Like it or not, the church will need to get used to bloggers within ministry as it will not go away and making life difficult for them will only reinforce the view that the church is out of touch with modern technology and is afraid of honest opinions, spoken aloud.
First time I've been called Harold Wilson wince the 1970's! I do like questions, because they open out engagement. People often say "how do you manage with all the vicious comments and nastiness?" when, in fact I experience far far less of this on the blog than one would, say, in the Telegraph or Mail. The vast majority of people who engage are thoughtful, reasonable people, who may sometimes have trenchant views but by and large remember they are dealing with human beings the other end much better than people do in Fleet Street.
"Over and over again, people who keep blogs put themselves at risk"...
"I became aware soon into blogging that those who were honest were the bloggers I wanted to read, but their honesty also made life pretty difficult for the authors. I do think Blogging makes people both more aware of and more outspoken about difficulties within their institutions, which makes them edgy..."
I agree with this whole-heartedly. Once you start speaking out and sharing your thoughts it is almost painful "to put up and shut up" when you strongly disagree with the status quo, for various reasons.
So either you don't blog about something which is an important part of your life--your involvement in your church, let's say, or only blog when you have something nice to say, which is terminally old-ladyish and boring; or say what you really think and face the storm.
None of these are brilliant alternatives. If you believe that what you are saying is important and helpful enough to face the storm for, then perhaps the third alternative is the best. One does grow and become braver,stronger and wiser through the process, and that is a reward of sorts.
Anita
Maggi Dawn once said that when blogging you have to ask yourself whether you would be happy for you write to be read by your mother, your boss and your worst enemy. the same obviously applies to other forms of social media as recent cases have demonstrated.
While I agree that honesty is important, there are ways and ways of being honest. How we write is sometimes as important as what we write (medium and message). Blogging as journal/diary is great, but don't be surprised when it gets passed around the playground.
It is a real dilemma. I think Anita puts it best, the honest blogs are the best to read. It isn't a problem for me really because I am a layperson and have more freedom, but I am cautious when mentioning my workplace and keep comments about that general, avoiding specific references or controversial opinions (not that I have that many!)
The advantage of LiveJournal for blogging is that it has different levels of access, so I post in a public entry anything I'm happy for anybody to read, and stick to the 'friends only' posts when I'm in more sensitive territory. I also sometimes post private entries when I'm more in personal diary mode.
That is a first class drawing of me. I like it very much.
Persons featured are entirely you know and no intention is made as regards reflecting on any realish sort of thingy or personable.
I went to my church this morning despite a dusting of snow and -5 degrees considering what on earth could be going on at the Radio Chadderbox Christmas Party and I must have a crystal ball because I had a few smiles and nothing has happened yet. Other drivers must have thought I was nuts but then that might be accurate.
Lesley, one lesson I learned from blogging was from a bishop who was a candidate in our election in the Diocese of Louisiana. I had written critically of certain of the bishop's writings and opinions, and I said plainly that if I was a delegate to the electing convention and had a vote, I would not vote for him.
To my great surprise, the bishop appeared in my comments to say that he was in New Orleans teaching a class to lay ministers, and he invited me to attend the class, which I did. My thinking was that if I said something on my blog about a person, I should have the courage to look them in the eye and speak those same words.
I attended the class, and we exchanged opposing views, but I admit it was a bit more difficult to look the bishop in the eye and repeat the same criticisms. The lesson I took away from the encounters is that I should not say anything critical of another on my blog that I would not be willing to repeat if I looked the person in the eye, which I believe was a valuable lesson to learn.
Thanks all for your comments - I am very interested in your thoughts.
I should say, of course, that all the characters in Radio Chatterbox are entirely fictional and it is merely my interpretation of them ;)
I've amended the post accordingly. Hope I didn't cause any offence Adrian. Glad you like the drawing.
Glorious Things has posted a funny response to this Oh No - I am becoming a terminally nice old lady
Gawd love a duck tha didn't need to change anything! Tha writes whate'er thee likes. That's just t' opposite of ma intentions like and I'm not thee bishop.
LOL. I'm watching Ebenezer Scrooge... his approach to Christmas does remind Harry Tickpaper!
Let me add that I don't think I have become "a terminally nice old lady" quite yet. And I know exactly what glorious things means about wanting to type entire blog posts in caps.
It's OK Mimi. Only MADPRIEST would dare to call you that
The only risk is whether or not you have a place in the Kingdom of God. This is going to sound terribly arrogant but I sometimes wonder if most blogging Christians really believe this to be true.
Oh, and please add Jack Parkes to your list of earthly casualties but heavenly winners.
As for the blogging bishops - Gizza' job, comrades!
Madpriest--"The only risk is whether or not you have a place in the Kingdom of God"--I so, so agree with you. And when we are ruled by fear in what we post, and what we do not post, we are stepping away from that Kingdom.
As the author of the terminally nice phrase ("So either you don't blog about something which is an important part of your life--your involvement in your church, let's say, or only blog when you have something nice to say, which is terminally old-ladyish and boring; or say what you really think and face the storm") let me apologize to all nice old ladies, whose ranks I will be joining in the next 20-30 years (I hope.)No offence meant, of course.
Ha! I wouldn't worry too much, Anita. From my experience in blogging there is no such thing as a nice old lady. But then I have had Grandmère Mimi as my proverbial thorn in the side for nearly five years and that may have influenced my understanding of the female and elderly :-)
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