Do we need a Digital Discipleship Pastor, really?

This is a question that I think more and more Senior Pastors and church leaders should start asking? Spoiler alert, the answer is NOT always yes! But it definitely is worth exploring no matter the size or digital proficiency of your church or staff.

There are as many different opinions on the role of the internet as there are protestant denominations. But what we have learned over the years about the overwhelming majority of people in your congregation, is that they are only going to commit an hour a week to your church, whether it is sitting in a pew or sitting on their couch. And that does not fit the definition of discipleship that Jesus painted for us in the Gospels.

One of the main reasons is that our people, particularly our families, are extremely busy. The Church said for years “we will meet you where you are!” But this was not necessarily true because we asked you to come to a certain address, at a specific time, find a parking spot, and navigate our facilities and secret codes to join us in worship. The Pandemic of 2020 blew this notion out of the water as we connected in worship and teaching online with our people.

So that leads me back to the original question I posed at the beginning of this post: do we need a Digital Discipleship Pastor?

There are several factors that figure into the equation of answering this question. Regarding large churches that have invested extensively in their online presence, yes would seem to be a no-brainer response. Many of these churches stream their services online and have a dedicated video production team creating social and digital content daily. I would urge these teams to review their digital strategy to understand how they are connecting and engaging with people on their digital platforms. That’s the goal isn’t it, to connect more people with the love and grace of Jesus Christ?

Conversely, it is not that small and medium sized churches are automatically excluded from this type of ministry. Just as I mentioned for large churches, smaller church teams need to review their evangelism and disciple making strategies to best understand how they are using digital tools and platforms to connect and engage with people, both those inside and outside the congregation. Questions these leaders should ask are what are our goals for using digital platforms to make more disciples and how would a Digital Discipleship Pastor or Director enhance our current capability to reach people on digital platforms?

Another nebulous element to determine whether or not your church should hire a Digital Discipleship Pastor or Director is actually what is this position. What is the job description for this role in the church? Is it like a weather person on the news reading from a teleprompter and pointing to a green screen? Or is it a person fluent in AI and video production that is pounding Mountain Dews in a dark editing room pumping out clips and full length videos? Maybe yes, maybe no, maybe a little of both or it could be something different altogether!

William Vanderbloemen, the highly acclaimed church staffing and recruiting guru recently wrote in the company’s blog:

Unlike a communications pastor, who develops your brand, design, and facilitates announcements, a digital discipleship pastor’s responsibilities focus on spiritual development through those tools. Their job exists to create a digital space that is not just informational, it’s transformational, helping people go from casual engagement to committed discipleship.

How to Hire a Digital Discipleship Pastor - Vanderbloemen

Vanderbloemen goes on to say that “this role can give your team the boost it needs to maximize efficiency. A digital discipleship pastor can take on tasks such as creating devotionals, facilitating online small groups and prayer groups, and social media engagement. They can also expand your church’s digital presence by following up with those who watch services online and integrating the latest tech tools and strategies. Having an expert or forerunner on the team means you have someone to equip your staff and volunteers to integrate digital discipleship in their ministries. This position can transform the way your church utilizes technology for your community.”

If you determine your goals and disciplemaking needs warrant the creation of this position in your church, I highly recommend you read Vanderbloemen’s blog post linked above. He goes through how to clarify and define the role specifically for your situation and then how to approach the recruiting process to find the right candidates.

I think this role will become more and more critical for all churches to address sooner than later. Whether you already have a person on your team that can fold this role into their ministry duties or you need to make an additional hire, it is imperative that churches address their particular goals and needs now. How are you meeting people where they are to make more disciples and followers of Jesus Christ?

If you are discerning this question for your church, please let me know. I want to hear feedback from pastors and church leaders that are considering their options for how to address this need in their congregation. Or, if you want someone to brainstorm ideas or ask questions, I am available to talk. Simply email me at mark@churchcmo.com and we will schedule a call.