Listserv stirs conversation about communication options

Recent interchanges on the Pacific Northwest Conference’s Yahoo! listserv group have led to reflection on whether it should be only a source of conference events, information and resources, or also a venue for discussion and dialogue among its 216 members.

“List members are waking up a desire for more connection because of the impact of other social networking technologies,” said Jim CastroLang, yahoogroup manager.  “It was a bulletin board.  Now we need to decide if it will be for announcements, pronouncements or discussions.

“It’s good that people are seeing emerging technologies as a way to build connections and relationships,” he added, noting that “managing a discussion group will be a challenge, but a good one.”

Members are a mix of clergy and laity, leaders of conference boards and committees and church office staff who have found the yahoogroup as a source of objective information and an exchange on ideas and resources, such as a recent question about whether churches have one or two annual meetings.

Started in 1999 by Jeff Spencer, who now serves a church in California, the listserv has been moderated for five years by CastroLang, acting minister at Colville First Congregational UCC.

Membership is up from 120 members two years ago, and there is room for growth, he said.  People interested in joining the group can send an email to pnwc-ucc@yahoogroups.com.  

On Feb. 5, CastroLang polled participants to learn their preferences: 1) information sharing only, 2) open discussion of issues and concerns or 3) information only but create another forum for discussions.  He’s waiting for 100 replies.

“The issue for management and for those on the listserv is one of overload,” he explained.  “How much exchange do pastors and lay leaders need?  What would the group say “yes” to and what would it say “no” to?  We can have too much of a good thing.  If people become overwhelmed by it, some  might opt out of the loop for some information they may want,” he noted.

Currently, management involves reading content and thinking of the implications for the group.  Discussions on issues will take more time.

As part of the online discussion about the options, Spencer said people who don’t want “a bunch of emails”  can manage their settings to receive only one email a day that is a digest of the day’s emails.

“Others don’t like the discussions on listservs because they aren’t interested in more opinions about subjects—sometimes subjects on which they care little,” he said.  So an alternative is to have two email lists, one for discussion and the other for announcements, which are also posted on the discussion group.  A third option he suggests is the frequent use of the delete key.

Discussion arose with several emails sent recently.  One was an unsigned email encouraging boycotting an oil company.  Another shared an email from a friend of a friend, reporting on the chaos of relief response in Haiti.  CastroLang researched the information on the oil company and found through snopes.com that it was “a mixture of true and false information,” spam circulating since 2006.

He suggests senders check with Snopes.com, an internet reference source for urban legends, folklore, myths, rumors and misinformation, before spreading rumors and claims.

Several readers objected to anonymous pieces for persuasion. So several suggested how to identify people sending posts.  One questioned if the purpose of the listserv is to promote boycotts.

Dan Stern of Broadview Community UCC in Seattle wants “more public debate, not less.”

Mimi Lane of Everett First Congregational UCC said that “as a denomination we often participate in justice issues and inform each other about them.  We don’t have to agree with everything, but knowing what is going on is helpful.”

Jeannette Solimine of Colfax added that living in a rural community where there is limited interaction with other UCC clergy “can be lonely at times.”

Anni Stedman a member of St. Paul’s UCC suggested including identity information in a header or footer to help people know more about each other.

Discussion on the bad experience of a firefighter in Haiti led to Carol Stanley of Eastgate Congregational UCC in Bellevue saying there are “all types of experiences in Haiti.” She said her son Brandon is having “a positive, helpful experience” through USAID.  Her comment was followed by interest in having Eastgate host an event after his return Feb. 9 for people from the conference to hear about his experiences.

CastroLang suggested courtesy, identification and direct response to the people making postings.

Listserv use will be included in the conference’s planned evaluation of communication tools.

Conference Minister Mike Denton commented that there is a need for discussion on how best to use it and not to embarrass people because of small controversies that become annoying and may reduce use of the listserv.

 “We need to build connections within the conference that break through our distances and busyness.  We need to be creative with technology to give people options,” CastroLang said.

For information, call 509-998-7203 or email jimcl@icehouse.net.

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Copyright Pacific Northwest Conference News © February 2010