By CHRISTINE BORN

Faith-based organizations have been wary about using social networking sites, but more and more have been reaching out to members on Twitter and Facebook. In fact, everything from Passion plays to worship services have been spread via Twitter and Facebook. Social media, however, cannot be totally controlled or censored.

In “Lead Us to Tweet, and Forgive the Trespassers,” New York Times reporter Paul Vitello gave examples of intrusive (and sometimes crude) tweets sent during a Twitter experiment at Manhattan’s Trinity Church.

“If total control is what you want, social media will frustrate you,” said Rev. Bill Reichart, a Presbyterian minister from Atlanta, reprising his advice to the clergy. “But the trade-off is the ability to hear and learn, reach out in new directions.”

The story has since generated more press reports and blogs, debating the pros and cons of social media sites. Meanwhile, Trinity has been tweeting its Sunday services to a small but growing group of followers from Europe to California.

The story also quoted Anne Libby, a management consultant in Manhattan who often follows the services on Twitter between occasional visits to Trinity, and says the connection has drawn her closer to the church community. And, she pointed out, her favorite Bible quotation fits within the 140-character Twitter limit: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

To read the complete article, visit nytimes.com.

To read a blog about the article and controversy, visit the Idol Chatter blog at beliefnet.com.