As part of the "Blogging 101 for Pastors" series [click here to see all the posts], I've been asking several proflic blogging pastors or believers to answer five basic questions about blogging.

Anthony Coppedge is well-known as a church communications, media, technology guru, regularly consulting with pastors all over the country. He blogs on "maximizing media and communications in media," and recently started a podcast with Greg Atkinson called Creative Synergy Podcast.

As a church communications director, I'm very appreciative of his perspective and wisdom in the field ... I've admired his work for a while now ... here's his answers to the 5 Blogging Questions:

1. Why (or how) did you start blogging?

I have been a part of forums in the past as a way to share and exchange information and ideas, but they always – always – turned into a clique comprised of a few people that turn inside jokes into an members-only environment. No matter how successfully moderated, forums are, by default, a gathering of a faithful few interrupted by an outsider. Not wanting to do that, I looked for a method of expressing myself without having to typing copious amounts of HTML and publishing new pages on my website. Blogging, therefore, was the ideal solution. I can share information, news, ideas, rants – whatever – and have people respond without it being about the same people giving the same excuses everytime. Furthermore, blogging allows me to make updates in real time from my Blackberry so I can use it when I’m on the road (which is frequent).

2. What subject do you post most about?

Well, being a media & communications guy, I tend to focus on those general topics. However, I’ve had a much larger audience of senior pastors over the last year since I started blogging and I try to help them understand the flip side (the tech side) so that they’re better equipped to work with the artists, techies and communications folks and increase their ministry reach and potential.

3. What are your favorite blog tools?

I’m not a Mac vs. PC guy (use the right tool for the right job and don’t get emotional about it), so I don’t care what platform someone uses. I use B2Evolution for my Blog because it has the advanced features that are not found in the free software. For me, this is important. But if someone wants to use Blogger or iWeb – fine. Just use something, use it well and say something worth reading!

I’m a fan of Bloglines as an aggragator for the blogs I read daily. It’s easy and it works. ‘Nuff said.

4. How often do you post?

Well, now that’s a trick question. Sometimes I post 3 times a day and sometimes I’ll post once a week. I don’t post just to read myself, so I won’t post unless I think that what I’m sharing is worth sharing.

5. What one piece of advice would you give for prospective blogging pastors?

1) Don’t blog to be cool or to be like another pastor. Blog because you want to use a communication format that’s capable of reaching a whole lot more people than your church newsletter or bulletin.

2) Have something to say before you start typing. For some, this is a personal space to talk about anything and everything while others view it as an extension of their pulpit ministry. Whatever your motivation, do it well.

3) Don’t look at blogging as a communications replacement tool. Blogging is a communications force multiplier, not yet another place to say the same thing you say everywhere else. Use it wisely.

[[ THANKS, ANTHONY, I LOVE OUR PERPSECTIVE!!! ]]


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