Digital directions

Group 236

by Karen Krueger

Looking pretty good, Metro D.C. Synod! Here is a Digital Directory* of what you are doing online and some observations I collected in the process of compiling it which may help you. Using our list of congregations in the current directory:

  • 99% of us have a website
  • 82% of us are on Facebook (a few use groups, but most use pages)
  • 35% of us are on Twitter
  • 12% of us are on Instagram
  • 15% of us are on YouTube
  • Plus a smattering of other placement such as iTunes, Pinterest, SoundCloud and Vimeo.

1701digitalpresencebargraph300“Say you pastor a church of 300 attenders. Approximately 87% of American adults use social media, which means 261 of your regular attenders use the Internet. Out of your 261 regular attenders, 193 of them use social media regularly,” is how Chris Martin broke it down in a recent Church Tech Today article.** He continued, “Pastors and ministry leaders, if you and/or your ministry do not have some sort of presence on social media, you are non-existent in a world in which over HALF of your people spend 16 minutes of every hour of their day!”

This all can get overwhelming and annoying as well as appealing. I like the broad rule of thumb that your congregation’s website is generally for people new to the church, and social media is for those who are already engaged with the congregation.***

I also found truth in a quickie list from Pro Church Tools.**** Paraphrased, it said: 1) don’t have to do it all, 2) match your online personality with your congregation’s, 3) think of social media as a conversation and listen, 4) post things useful to people, and 5) let trust build by persistence and consistency.

As for our congregations, these pointers may be ring helpful to you.

  • It’s reassuring to see a city and state on a home page. Stumbling onto St. So-and-so Lutheran Church’s site and not realizing it’s actually in Oregon can lead to wasted time and goodwill.
  • Obvious links to your social media presence from your homepage invite quick and easy engagement. Very friendly!
  • Give your congregation five stars! Notice that section at the right when do a search for your congregation? Positive comments will be free, front and center if someone reviews you.
  • Making your handle easy-to-recognize usually takes just a few steps, even if the default username contains lots of numbers and whatnot when first set up. Sometimes this is called a vanity url or custom url.
  • By the way – the synod used to have varied usernames on our social media accounts (when I first set them up) until someone suggested advantages to using “metrodcelca” consistently. Took some changing, but it did streamline and simplify synod recognition!
  • Even if no one is updating a digital presence your congregation established, it is STILL visible to folks searching on your congregation. You may be saying something by saying nothing. Recruit someone comfortable with the format to update it or, if now isn’t the time to contribute content to that account, consider closing it.

Go ahead, snoop around! Let me know if I don’t have accurate info for your congregation. And maybe what someone else has done will inspire you.

*The Digital Directory follows in this blog post and can be found under the “For Congregations” tab.

**”3 Rationales for Using Social Media to Promote Your Church” by Chris Martin, ChurchTechToday.com, 9/28/16.

***”How to Use Social Media Effectively in the Church” by Jay Caruso, ChurchLeaders.com, 5/23/16

****”The Ultimate Social Media Strategy For Smaller Churches,” prochurchtools.com, 2/11/13


DIGITAL DIRECTORY (also find under the “For Congregations” tab)

Metro D.C. Synod, ELCA
WEBSITE: metrodcelca.org
FACEBOOK: metrodcelca
TWITTER: metrodcelca
INSTAGRAM: metrodcelca
YOUTUBE: metrodcelca
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Abiding Presence Lutheran Church
Beltsville, MD
WEBSITE: www.aplchurch.org
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Advent Lutheran Church
Arlington, VA
WEBSITE: www.adventlc.us
FACEBOOK: FB/AdventArlington
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All Saints Lutheran Church
Bowie, MD
WEBSITE: www.allsaintsbowie.org
FACEBOOK: FB/AllSaintsLutheranChurchBowieMD
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Augustana Lutheran Church
Washington, DC
WEBSITE: augustanadc.org
FACEBOOK: FB/AugustanaLutheranDC & FB/AugustanaLutheranBroadcast
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Bethel Lutheran Church
Manassas, VA
WEBSITE: bethelmanassas.org
FACEBOOK: FB/BethelManassas & groups/BethelManassas/
TWITTER: @BethelManassas
INSTAGRAM: bethelmanassas
YOUTUBE: bethelmanassas
OTHER: including Google+, pastor’s blog
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Bethel Lutheran Church
Lovettsville, VA
WEBSITE: Bzchurches.org
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Bethlehem Lutheran Church
Fairfax, VA
WEBSITE: www.blclife.org
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Christ Ev. Lutheran Church
Fairfax, VA
WEBSITE: www.fairfaxchristlutheran.org
FACEBOOK: FB/Christ-Evangelical-Lutheran-Church-ELCA-111713318863881
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Christ Lutheran Church
Washington, DC
WEBSITE: christlutherandc.org
YOUTUBE: UC4wZ85miJ8aqRAlNNloxD2g
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Christ Lutheran Church
Bethesda, MD
WEBSITE: www.christlutheranbethesda.org
FACEBOOK: FB/CELCBethesda
TWITTER: @ChristBethesda
OTHER: Vimeo christlutheranbethesda
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Christ the King Lutheran Church
Great Falls, VA
WEBSITE: gflutheran.org
FACEBOOK: gflutheran.org [sic]
TWITTER: @CTK_greatfalls & @ctkgreatfalls
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Christ the Servant Lutheran Church
Montgomery Village, MD
WEBSITE: www.ctslutheranelca.org
FACEBOOK: FB/ctslutheranelca
INSTAGRAM: ctslutheran
OTHER: Pinterest: ctslutheran
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Christ the Servant Lutheran Church
Reston, VA
WEBSITE: www.christserves.org
FACEBOOK: FB/Christ-the-Servant-Lutheran-Church-255956281115651/
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Community Lutheran Church
Sterling, VA
WEBSITE: communitylutheran.org
FACEBOOK: FB/clcsterling

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Community of Christ Lutheran Church
Washington, DC
WEBSITE: www.cofcdc.org
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Emmanuel Lutheran Church
Bethesda, MD
WEBSITE: www.elcbethesda.org
FACEBOOK: FB/elcbethesda

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Emmanuel Lutheran Church
Vienna, VA
WEBSITE: elcvienna.org
FACEBOOK: FB/elcvienna
TWITTER: elcvienna
YOUTUBE: ELCVienna
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Epiphany Lutheran Church
Dale City, VA
WEBSITE: www.epiphlutheran.org
FACEBOOK: FB/epiphany.l.church
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Epiphany Lutheran Church
Burtonsville, MD
WEBSITE: elcserves.org
FACEBOOK: FB/elcserves
YOUTUBE: UC1BFCu-FFSKLyWcQixg2Ssw
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Epiphany Lutheran Church of Mount Vernon
Alexandria, VA
WEBSITE: www.epiphanylutheran.org
FACEBOOK: FB/Epiphany.Lutheran.Mount.Vernon
TWITTER: @ELCMountVernon
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Faith Lutheran Church
Arlington, VA
WEBSITE: www.flcva.org
FACEBOOK: FB/FLCArlington
TWITTER: FLCArlington
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First Trinity Lutheran Church
Washington, DC
WEBSITE: www.firsttrinitydc.org
FACEBOOK: (group) groups/194393597272894/
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Georgetown Lutheran Church
Washington, DC
WEBSITE: www.byfaithhopelove.com/GTL/
FACEBOOK: FB/Georgetown-Lutheran-Church
TWITTER: Gtown_Lutheran
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Good Samaritan Lutheran Church
Lanham, MD
WEBSITE: www.goodsamaritanlutheran.org
FACEBOOK: FB/goodsamaritanlutheran
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Good Samaritan Lutheran Church
Lexington Park, MD
WEBSITE: www.goodsam.community
FACEBOOK: FB/GoodSamLutheran
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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Woodbridge, VA
WEBSITE: www.goodshepherdwoodbridge.org
FACEBOOK: FB/Good-Shepherd-Lutheran-Church-111464922219914
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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Gaithersburg, MD
WEBSITE: www.goserve.net
FACEBOOK: FB/goservenet
TWITTER: @goservenet
INSTAGRAM: goserveyouth
YOUTUBE: goserveGSLC
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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Alexandria, VA
WEBSITE: gslutheran.net
FACEBOOK: FB/gsluth
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Grace Ev. Lutheran Church
Washington, DC
WEBSITE: http://graceelcadc.org
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Grace Lutheran Church
Bowie, MD
WEBSITE: www.gracerock.org
FACEBOOK: FB/GraceLutheranBowieMD
TWITTER: (pastor’s account)
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Grace Lutheran Church
Fort Washington, MD
WEBSITE: www.sharinggrace.org
FACEBOOK: FB/gracefortwashington
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Holy Cross Lutheran Church
Herndon, VA
WEBSITE: www.holycrosslutheranchurch.net
FACEBOOK: FB/Holy-Cross-Lutheran-Church-Herndon-VA-120112718018790
TWITTER: @HolyCrossELCA
INSTAGRAM: HolyCrossELCA
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Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
Falls Church, VA
WEBSITE: www.holytrinityfallschurch.org
FACEBOOK: FB/HolyTrinityFallsChurch
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Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
Leesburg, VA
WEBSITE: http://holytrinityleesburg.org/
FACEBOOK: FB/HolyTrinityLeesburg
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Hope Lutheran Church
Clinton, MD
WEBSITE: www.hopeclinton.org
FACEBOOK: FB/hopeclinton
TWITTER: @hopeclinton
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Hope Lutheran Church
College Park, MD
WEBSITE: hopecp.org
FACEBOOK: FB/Hope-Lutheran-Church-and-Student-Center-124346727648372
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Hope Lutheran Church
Annandale, VA
WEBSITE: www.hopeannandale.com
FACEBOOK: FB/HopeAliveAnnandale
TWITTER: @HopeAnnandaleVa
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In Christ Fellowship
Bethesda, MD
WEBSITE: http://inchristwc.org
TWITTER: @inchristwc
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King of Kings Lutheran Church
Fairfax, VA
WEBSITE: www.kofk.org
FACEBOOK: FB/kofklc
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La Sagrada Familia Lutheran Ministry
Silver Spring, MD
WEBSITE: http://173.66.73.2:83/lasagradafamilia/
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Living Faith Lutheran Church
Rockville, MD
WEBSITE: www.mylivingfaith.org
FACEBOOK: FB/mylivingfaith
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Lord of Life Lutheran Church
East (Fairfax, VA) and West (Clifton, VA) Campuses
WEBSITE: www.lordoflifeva.org
FACEBOOK: FB/LOLJOY
TWITTER: LordofLifeVA
OTHER: iTunes @lordoflifelutheranva
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Luther Place Memorial Church
Washington, DC 20005
WEBSITE: lutherplace.org
FACEBOOK: FB/Luther-Place
TWITTER: @LutherPlace
INSTAGRAM: lutherplacedc
YOUTUBE: LutherPlaceDC
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Lutheran Church of the Abiding Presence
Burke, VA
WEBSITE: www.abidingpresence.net
FACEBOOK: FB/AbidingPresence
TWITTER: @AbidingPresELCA
INSTAGRAM: apyoungadults
YOUTUBE: UCRkEoUMC0CAXBW4UDEeAELA
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Lutheran Church of the Covenant
Dale City, VA
WEBSITE: www.lcocdalecity.org
FACEBOOK: FB/Lutheran-Church-of-the-Covenant-LCOC-Dale-City-VA-560956413948342/
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Lutheran Church of the Holy Comforter
Washington, DC
WEBSITE: https://sites.google.com/site/lutheranholycomforter/
FACEBOOK: FB/LutheranChurchOfTheHolyComforter
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Lutheran Church of the Redeemer
McLean, VA
WEBSITE: www.redeemermclean.org
FACEBOOK: FB/redeemermclean
TWITTER: @RedeemerMcLean
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Lutheran Church of the Reformation
Washington, DC
WEBSITE: www.reformationdc.org
FACEBOOK: FB/ReformationDC2
TWITTER: @ReformationDC
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Messiah Lutheran Church
Alexandria, VA
WEBSITE: www.messiahelca.org
FACEBOOK: FB/messiahalexandria
TWITTER: @Messiah_Alex
YOUTUBE: UCKujkKVA9U09W7zSY6KBciA
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Nativity Lutheran Church
Alexandria, VA
WEBSITE: www.nativitylutheran.org
FACEBOOK: FB/Nativity-Lutheran-Church-Alexandria-Virginia-129766480406145
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New Jerusalem Lutheran Church
Lovettsville, VA
WEBSITE: www.njlclovettsville.org
FACEBOOK: FB/njlclovettsville
TWITTER: @NewJerusalemLC
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Oromo Ev. Lutheran Church
Washington, DC
WEBSITE: wdcoelc.org
FACEBOOK: FB/wdcoelc
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Our Redeemer Lutheran Church
Washington, DC
WEBSITE: www.ourredeemerchurch.org
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Peace Lutheran Church
Bermuda
WEBSITE: www.plc.bm
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Peace Lutheran Church
Waldorf, MD
WEBSITE: www.myplc.org
FACEBOOK: FB/Peace-Lutheran-Church-Waldorf-MD-150456924971740
TWITTER: @plcwaldorf
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Peace Lutheran Church
Alexandria, VA
WEBSITE: sharingpeace.org
FACEBOOK: FB/PeaceLutheranAlexandriaVa
INSTAGRAM: peacelutheranalx
OTHER: Soundcloud peace-lutheran
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Prince of Peace Lutheran Church
Gaithersburg, MD
WEBSITE: www.poplutheran.org
FACEBOOK: FB/Prince-of-Peace-Lutheran-Church-129128030434397
TWITTER: @PoPGaithersburg
YOUTUBE: UCVWOcspGsHOOcshVbflPxMQ
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Resurrection Ev. Lutheran Church
Arlington, VA
WEBSITE: www.relcarlington.org
FACEBOOK: FB/relcarlington
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River of Grace Lutheran Church
Manassas, VA
WEBSITE: www.riverofgracenova.com
FACEBOOK: FB/RiverOfGraceNova
TWITTER: RiverofGraceVA
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Saint Andrew Lutheran Church
Centreville, VA
WEBSITE: www.saintandrewlc.org
FACEBOOK: FB/SaintAndrewLC
TWITTER: @StAndrewLCYouth & @StAndrewLC
INSTAGRAM: standrewlc
YOUTUBE: SaintAndrewLutheran
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Saint John Lutheran Church
Riverdale, MD
WEBSITE: www.stjohnriverdale.org
FACEBOOK: FB/StJohnRiverdale
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Saint John’s Ev. Lutheran Church
Rockville, MD
WEBSITE: www.stjohnsrockville.org
FACEBOOK: FB/stjohnsrockville
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Saint Luke Lutheran Church
Silver Spring, MD
WEBSITE: saintluke.us
FACEBOOK: FB/Saint-Luke-Lutheran-Church-School-119722358045083
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Saint Luke’s Ev. Lutheran Church
Derwood, MD
WEBSITE: www.stlukesderwood.org
FACEBOOK: FB/stlukesderwood
TWITTER: StLukesDerwood
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Saint Mark’s Lutheran Church
Springfield, VA
WEBSITE: www.stmarks-elca.org
FACEBOOK: FB/St-Marks-Lutheran-Church-Springfield-Virginia-310455782268
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Saint Matthew’s Lutheran Church
Woodbridge, VA
WEBSITE: www.stmatthews.us
FACEBOOK: FB/StMatthewsVA
INSTAGRAM: stmatthewsva
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Saint Matthew’s Lutheran Church
Washington, DC
Saint Michael’s Truth Lutheran Church
North (Mitchellville, MD) and South (Temple Hills, MD) Campuses
WEBSITE: www.saintmichaelstruth.org
FACEBOOK: FB/StMichaelsTruth
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Saint Nicholas Lutheran Church
Huntingtown, MD
WEBSITE: saintnicholaslutheran.org
FACEBOOK: FB/saint.nicholas.lutheran.church
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Saint Paul’s English Lutheran Church
Washington, DC
WEBSITE: www.stpaulslutherandc.org
FACEBOOK: FB/StPaulsELCADC
TWITTER: @StPaulsLuthDC
OTHER: Soundcloud stpaulsdc
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Saint Stephen Lutheran Church
Silver Spring, MD
WEBSITE: www.sselca.org
FACEBOOK: FB/Saint-Stephen-Lutheran-Church-Silver-Spring-Maryland-221632858503
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Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church
Haymarket, VA
WEBSITE: www.comeandbe.org
FACEBOOK: FB/ComeAndBe
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Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church
North Bethesda, MD
WEBSITE: www.trinityelca.org
FACEBOOK: FB/trinityelca
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Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church
Takoma Park, MD
WEBSITE: www.zionelc.com
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Zion Lutheran Church
Lovettsville, VA
WEBSITE: BZChurches.org
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