CERG

These resources are complied by Beth Casebolt, our CERG Communications Consultant. We also recommend you visit the UUA Resources Pages for additional resources listings. Of particular note is the Top Picks for Social Media.

Facebook UU Labs - if you are on facebook, consider joining one of the new UU Facebook Labs. Currently there are ones for Websites,  Social Media, Growth, Young Adult Growth, Spirit in Practice, Adult RE, Worship, UU Evangelists and Stewardship

You might also be interested in our Newsletters, Websites and Podcasting Resources Page.

Basics of Social Media

• The Social Media Wiki is helpful to learn the lingo.
• Top Social Media Tools for UU Congregations http://uugrowth.wordpress.com/2009/12/20/social-media-tools/
• Dos and Don'ts of Facebook for Congregations - http://www.uua.org/communications/facebook/119149.shtml
• A slide show on the basics of social media use in congregations has been created by the UUA. View it at http://newmedia.blogs.uua.org/2009/12/23/presentation-on-new-media-for-unitarian-universalists/
• A blog entry on Why My Congregation Should Have  Facebook Page When We Already Have a Website - http://newmedia.blogs.uua.org/2010/02/01/q-why-should-my-congregation-have-a-facebook-page-when-we-already-have-a-website/
• Introduction to Twitter for Congregational Leaders - http://www.uua.org/communications/twitter/153393.shtml
• Mashable's Twitter Guidebook - http://mashable.com/guidebook/twitter/
• Mashable's Facebook Guidebook - http://mashable.com/guidebook/facebook/
• Sign up for the UU New Media email list at the UUA website at lists.uua.org/mailman/listinfo/newmedia-l
• Here is a book on the topic of websites and social media connections: Web-Empowered Ministry: Connecting With People through Websites, Social Media, and More. Phil Lund wrote a blog about this book if you want to read it - http://philontheprairie.wordpress.com/2011/02/25/church-websites-that-rock-ginghamsburg/

Social Media Policies

• From the UUA's New Media Blog: Does the UUA have a sample “new media policy” for congregations? It’s a list of “some general principles that may help guide congregations in their new media use.”
• Safe Church guidelines for social media from the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut. It has specific suggested language, and even a way to create a small booklet to distribute.
• "Congregations Utilize Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, Podcasting" from Interconnections is an article that provides an introduction to the major tools that a congregation may want to use, some strategic considerations in building a congregation's social media presence, and links to resources.
• 12 Tips for Developing a Social Networking Policy and Usage Guidelines for Your Church has another helpful checklist of things to consider.
• Church Crunch also recommends this Policy tool to help you develop a social media policy.
• Here is Fox Valley UU Congregation's social media policy.
• A sample Facebook policy can be found here - http://newmedia.blogs.uua.org/2010/12/03/q-where-can-i-find-a-sample-facebook-policy-from-a-unitarian-universalist-congregation/
• Do you have a communication's plan for when all normal modes of communication are down? Read this blog by Rev. Fred Hammond on disaster communications, which can include social media  - http://serenityhome.wordpress.com/2011/06/01/modes-of-communication-in-a-disaster/

UUA and District Blogs (sometimes it is best to learn by watching the experts)

• UUA Congregational Stewardship Blog - http://congregationalstewardship.blogs.uua.org/
• UUA Inspired Faith, Effective Action Blog on Social Justice Issues - http://socialjustice.blogs.uua.org/
• UUA Standing on the Side of Love Blog - http://www.standingonthesideoflove.org/blog/
• UUA Interconnections Tipsheet Blog - http://tipsheet.blogs.uua.org/
• UUA Green Sanctuary Blog - http://greensanctuary.blogs.uua.org/
• UUA Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries Blog - http://blueboat.blogs.uua.org/
• Cooking Together - a Justice GA resource - http://immigrationjustice.blogs.uua.org
• UU World's UUs in the News Blog - http://www.uuworld.org/news/blog.php?h3
• UU Word's Interdepdent Web weekly Blog - http://blogs.uuworld.org/web/?h3
• UU World's UU Parenting Blog - http://blogs.uuworld.org/parenting/
• Beacon Broadside from Beacon Press - http://www.beaconbroadside.com/
• Peter Bowden's UU Growth Blog - http://uugrowth.com/
• CERG UUA Staff Blog - http://cerguua.org/blogs/
• OMD Staff Blog - http://ohiomeadville.org/blogs/

DiscoverUU.com is a blog aggregator set up by a California UU named Aaron Sawyer. The site picks up feeds from a wide range of UU blogs, UU church podcasts, and other media (including UU World), essentially making it easier to keep up with blogs than trying to remember to visit all of them. Another aggregator, uupdates.net, is less flashy but picks up the feeds of many more blogs. It also allows users to customize the site. Finally, Peter Bowen in Rhode Island has set up a video aggregator called UUPlanet.TV that highlights video from UU congregations and individuals. Visit http://www.uuplanet.tv/.