Is your church using Web 2.0? Actually, do you know what Web 2.0 is?

According to Wikipedia, the term Web 2.0 refers to a perceived second generation of Web-based communities and hosted services that aim to facilitate collaboration and sharing between users.

A recent Internet poll conducted by the Center for Church Communication, asking churches what Web 2.0 technologies they were using, revealed the following:

* 20% use a social networking site, such as MySpace or FaceBook

* 12% post photos to a photo site, such as Flickr

* 19% actively use a blog on their church Web site

* 16% post video to a video site, such as YouTube

Clearly, it's not enough to have just a church Web site anymore. Church Web sites are more interactive today than ever before, employing the same techniques and technologies used by church members in their personal lives.

As more and more people are reading (or writing) daily blogs, posting vacation photos to share with friends, and using personal Internet pages to express their personalities and network, churches, too, are starting to keep up with these trends and using these innovations as a means for communicating with and staying connected to members.

Our annual Technology in the Church section focuses on the newest ways to use high-tech tools to engage your congregation. Plus, we include a roundup of some of the latest and greatest products to hit the church technology market.

I'm always interested in hearing from you. You can reach me at jill@rpnmag.com .

God Bless,

Jill Pinheiro
Managing Editor