Local religious leaders ask: What would Jesus tweet?

Religious groups are increasingly trying to harness the power of social media — from a Pentecostal church in Canton using Facebook to reel in new members to a Catholic priest in Plymouth who uploads podcasts of sermons to an Oak Park rabbi sparking national debates on his blog.

And with its own particular rules and rituals, the world of social media has become, in a way, its own religion.

“It creates a buzz about what’s happening without you even trying,” said Tami Frailey, 42, director of Twitter and Facebook accounts at Connection Church in Canton.

With the popularity of these sites growing, the U.S. Catholic Church issued guidelines this summer for its leaders and members to keep Jesus in mind when they tweet.

But that can be difficult to practice in the freewheeling world of the Internet. Still, houses of worship are diving into the world of social media to create larger communities that can help spread the faith.

They have a ways to go.

If you’re a church or 501(c)3 looking for direction in this area, comment, call or use the contact form to discuss how this applies to your organization…