The passing of Nobel Prize-winning economist Milton Friedman offers a lesson for misunderstood webmasters who can’t get their organizations to adopt Web 2.0 participatory media. Here’s how he described intellectuals:

“We do not influence the course of events by persuading people that we are right when we make what they regard as radical proposals. Rather, we exert influence by keeping options available when something has to be done at a time of crisis.”

(From “Two Lucky People” memoir as quoted by The Wall St. Journal.) The same holds true for church webmasters who are trying to evangelize using the latest tools available. Keep speaking up. Your parish leaders may not be ready for participatory media today, but tomorrow may bring your opportunity.