New guidance being published by the Church in Wales is suggesting that clergy utilise websites such as Facebook and Twitter to stay connected with their flock and help spread the Gospel beyond the limited reach of the church's pulpit.

The guidance outlines the advantages - as well as potential pitfalls – of engaging with social media but also tips on how clergy can weave sites such as YouTube, Facebook and Flickr into their parish life.

The Bishop of St Asaph, the Rt Rev Gregory Cameron, who is on Facebook, said social media offered great opportunities for the clergy to connect with the wider world.

“It has never been easier to keep in touch with other people – and people all over the world from wherever we are," he said.

"We can keep people up-to-date with what’s going on, generate discussions and debates and offer help and advice to those in need.

"The Church should be part of the public marketplace, and making contact in new ways are an opportunity not a threat. I'm sure St Paul would have been a regular blogger had the technology been available to him."

Aware of the dangers of relying too much on social media, he said it would be an "obvious failing" if clergy became so glued to their computer screens that social media started to replace face to face contact.

"We are not advising clergy to reduce the time they spend out and about meeting people in their parishes, but we are keen to be part of the huge online community at our fingertips and serve those who surf," he said.

The Church in Wales Social Media guidelines for clergy can be found at:
www.churchinwales.org.uk/resources/clerics/docs/C20.pdf