On the ‘Comments’ Function … for Blogging Pastors
ByJust read some background information about blogs and you’ll learn that most blogs are intended to be “conversations” between the blogger and his/her readers, who “comment” on their posts.
Blogging purists will tell you that blogs should be open source discussions. Blogs, they will say, are kind of the new community forum for whatever topic you’re blogging about. And in the process, mini-communities of people are created — whether it’s 3 people who happen to have the same last name as you, or 500 people who regularly check the site and participate in the discussion.
Although I appreciate, respect and love this about blogs — that they are often two-way conversations — I caution a beginning blogging pastor against turning “on” the comments feature for their fledgling blogs.
Here’s why: It’s takes a lot of time to keep up with comments. Critics will argue this is controlling the conversation. But frankly, I’d rather my blogging pastors focus their time on getting their blogs off the ground with regular posts, and polishing and refining their unique blog voice.
Then once things are rolling, revisit the “commenting” debate. See if you’re ready to open up your writing to public debate.
But for now, I suggest closing off those comments, and simply posting your email address (another hairy issue for busy pastors, but a less public one too).
OK, dear readers, choose to agree or disagree … by making a comment on this post! 
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4 Comments
October 18th, 2006 at 7:30 am
This is something I’m particularly passionate about. It’s my view that blogging is about developing communities and engaging with people. Turning off comments makes it completely a one-was conversation which is actually no conversation at all.
Imagine trying to engage with someone in the real world and have every remark you make be met with silence? Worse still, imagine how you’d feel if someone spoke to you and then, immediately after they finished, put some headphones on - how interested are they in relating to you?
If pastors are to take full advantage of what this technology does for ministry opportunities and personal development, then engaging with others is critical. How is this done? Through comments!!
October 20th, 2006 at 2:02 pm
I have to agree with Rodd and disagree with you on this one Cori. If you don’t have comments enabled, you’re not really blogging, just using blog software to manage your content.
If you want to publish your material online without open feedback, fine. Great - Go for it…but it’s not blogging.
If pastors are worried about the time it takes to maintain comments and replies, that’s a fair call; spend your energy where you are enthusiastic about what you’re doing, but don’t turn off comments and say your blogging
October 20th, 2006 at 2:50 pm
I appreciate your perspectives, Craig and Rodd, but we’re talking about beginning pastors here …
Maybe I should revise the “no comment” statement though and say “enable comment moderation” instead.
That’s just the advice I would give beginning blogging pastors. Working on two church staffs, I know pastors are busy. Time will always be an issue for them in whether or not they start “blogging.”
The key, in my humble (and fallible) opinion, is getting their message and ideas out there in the first place. Sharing their thoughts with the world.
But what I’ve tried to emphasize here to pastors is … get your blog up, get some momentum going in writing, get in a flow of posting regularly … then open that baby up to the world for dialogue.
–Cory
October 28th, 2006 at 2:18 pm
I was going to suggest comment moderation, but you beat me to it. Care to revise the advice in the article/post itself? “Beginning” pastors won’t make it down here into the comments.