Social Media, Churches, and Christian Formation

As a work in Practical Theology, the purpose of this dissertation is to describe how a mixed methods approach was employed to construct themes from multiple participant meanings regarding congregant beliefs, perceptions, and practices related to social media and their Christian formation. This research project utilizes a national survey and two case studies (including focus group conversations) to study social media practices of United States congregants and churches and participant understandings of the relationship of those practices to their Christian formation. Quantitative findings served as complementary data to substantiate the emergent qualitative themes. The major themes fall within two main categories, ways social media engagement fosters Christian formation and ways social media engagement inhibits Christian formation. After further theological reflection, this study revealed that churches have an opportunity to play an important role in developing necessary competencies related to social media participation, media literacy, and Christian formation