Beloved Community is a rich theological concept suggesting that inclusive love and radical justice are at the heart of Christian community. People engaged in ministry need one another in order to build the kingdom of God, which is the Beloved Community. Ministry teams of clergy and lay leaders form a Beloved Community when they come together to serve the local church. Our lifestyles often prohibit having the necessary time it takes to build Beloved Community. In the church, we are challenged to create ways to build Beloved Community using new resources and tools. The internet social networking phenomenon known as Facebook has become a popular and powerful way for people to connect. Since Facebook has emerged in the past few years it has introduced new possibilities and challenges for ministry. This cultural shift invites the church to engage in both theological and practical ministry questions. This thesis explores what happens when a consultant group of clergy and lay people are invited to participate in a Facebook group for the purposes of building Beloved Community.
