St. Martin's Episcopal Church Communications Workshop Aug. 11, 2012 Pray also for me, so that when I...

St. Martin's Episcopal ChurchCommunications Workshop

Aug. 11, 2012

Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known

with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains.

Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak.(Ephesians 6:19-20)


Aug. 11, 2012

Com-mu-ni-cate:verb

1. to impart knowledge of; make known: to communicate information.

2. to give to another; impart; transmit: to communicate a disease.

3. to administer the Eucharist to.

4. Archaic: to share in or partake of.

Communication is, in essence, all about giving and receiving a message.


Aug. 11, 2012

Church Communications is what we do.

It's how we spread the gospel, disciple believers, and connect the disconnected in relationships with God and each other.

We tell, shout, herald, preach, and evangelize the world.

We communicate.

- Brandon Cox, Three Layers of a Total Church Communications Strategy


Aug. 11, 2012

Workshop Goals:

1. To understand the importance of communications at St. Martin's.

2. To explain the various communications tools available at St. Martin's (print and online).

3. To explore how to use those tools to invite newcomers, promote ministry work and spread the Good News.

4. To work together to make our communications more effective for our church community and the community at large.


Aug. 11, 2012

Why we communicate:

Let's brainstorm....


Aug. 11, 2012

Why we communicate:- Five Steps to Effective Church Communications, by Yvon Prehn

• INVITE: to get people inside your church doors or attend a church-sponsored activity

• INFORM: to help people understand what is happening

• INCLUDE: to grow in faith, people need to be included in more than Sunday morning

• INSTRUCT: intentional training offers opportunities to grow spiritually

• INSPIRE: reaching out, taking action to share your passion (outreach, stewardship, etc.)


Aug. 11, 2012

Three layers of church communications:- from Three Layers of a Total Church Communications Strategy, by Brandon Cox


Aug. 11, 2012


1. Communication among the leadership

STAFF MEMBERS LAY LEADERS

- crucial for day-to-day operation of church

- meet the needs of the people

- get the right information to the right people at the right time

- sort out the big signals from the smaller matters

- starts with the Rector; vision spreads among leaders


Aug. 11, 2012


2. Communication between the pulpit and the pew

CHURCH LEADERSHIP CONGREGATION

- passing along information; getting attention

- giving a voice to ideas

- setting priorities for business of the church and for spiritual growth


Aug. 11, 2012


3. Communication as outreach

THE CHURCH OUR COMMUNITY

- letting the community know about our service ministries

- inviting the community

- fulfilling the Great Commission: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20)


Aug. 11, 2012

Ways we communicate:

Let's brainstorm....


Aug. 11, 2012

Ways we communicate at St. Martin's:

1. Talk -- Word of Mouth


Aug. 11, 2012



2. Print: - Sunday Announcements - Monthly newsletter: Messages - Flyers, posters, brochures, bulletin inserts - Bulletin boards - Sign-ups - Snail mail: letters, invitations, cards, etc.


Aug. 11, 2012



2. Print: - Sunday Announcements - Monthly newsletter: Messages - Flyers, posters, brochures, bulletin inserts - Bulletin boards - Sign-ups - Snail mail: letters, invitations, cards, etc.

3. Online: - Website: www.stmartinschurch.org - Parish calendar - Weekly e-mail: iMessages - Social media: www.facebook.com/stmartinschurch - Pictures: www.flicker.com and narthex monitor


Aug. 11, 2012


4. Office forms: - Ministry Reservation Request (pink form) - Campus Use Agreement (for private events) - Request for Funds / Budget Allocation Authorization (green form) - Tax Exempt Status - Parish Administrator - Purchasing - Food Service Supplies - Cash Handling


Aug. 11, 2012



5. Property / Outdoor Signage: - City of Ellisville: www.ellisville.mo.us


Aug. 11, 2012



5. Property / Outdoor Signage: - City of Ellisville: www.ellisville.mo.us

6. Prayer - Prayer list: contact Michelle Magee in office - Prayer Chain: contact Virginia Noel - Everything else: contact God


Aug. 11, 2012

Are we effective communicators?


Aug. 11, 2012

Church Communications: Best Practicesfrom Outreach Magazine, "The Next Thing in Church Conferences"

"Effective communications has less to do with sending the right message, and everything to do with releasing the right response. To release the right response with anyone, you've got to take time to figure out what makes your message worth their time; figure out how it relates to their world."

- Ken Myere, Granger Community Church


Aug. 11, 2012


"For every piece of communication, before you do anything else, determine the goal. Do whatever you need to do to gain clarity about the desired outcome and keep it in front of you during the entire creation process."

- Lori Bailey, Life Church


Aug. 11, 2012


"If your goal in church communication -- whether you're designing a bulletin or launching a social media campaign -- is something other than serving people, stop and start over."

- Scott McClellan, Echo Conference


Aug. 11, 2012

Church Communications: Obstaclesfrom "10 obstacles to effective church communications," CommunicateJesus.com

1. All messages are communicated as if they have the same importance - people won't know how to prioritize.

2. The same message is communicated the same way, too many times - people tune out.

3. People can't quickly see why the message is relevant to them - people tune out.

4. Person communicating the message is boring, long-winded or doesn't seem to know what they're talking about - people will tune out.

5. It's unclear what people should do as a result of the communications - they probably won't do anything.


Aug. 11, 2012

Church Communications: Obstaclesfrom "10 obstacles to effective church communications," CommunicateJesus.com

6. Different messages are communicated at different times - people will be confused and tune out.

7. Not easy to respond immediately - people probably won't respond.

8. Blanket announcements and mass e-mails asking people to respond generally have little impact - personal conversation, e-mail work better.

9. Communication is done too early - people will tune out.

10. People think they're the only one likely to respond - they probably won't respond.


Aug. 11, 2012

General Principles for Good Communications:

• Seek consistency with branding and themes (Style Guide)

• Language, photography and layouts should be simple, approachable, authentic and welcoming. Avoid jargon, "church-speak" and clutter.

• Share stories, rather than facts and figures. People learn through storytelling.

• Encourage word-of-mouth, both face-to-face and online.

• Do not be afraid to revel in our history and tradition.

• Do not be afraid to try something new.


Aug. 11, 2012

Good Storytelling Techniques:

• Always answer who, what, when, where, why, how.

• Assume you are writing for someone who has never heard of St. Martin's or anything you are talking about.

• Be concise and clear.

• Use and upper case "T" for The Episcopal Church; don't use "The National Church"

• Avoid acronyms... or at least give a first reference (ECW / Episcopal Church Women)

• Pictures should be clear and active.

• Identify people in pictures (first names only for children under 18)


Aug. 11, 2012

Are we effective communicators?

What can we do better?


Aug. 11, 2012

Good Communications in Action:

• Proverbs 2: 1-11

"If you want to be an effective church communicator, as with every part of your Christian growth, you have to work at it. It isn't easy."

- Yvon Prehn, ChurchCommunicationsBlog.com


Aug. 11, 2012

Event Planning 101

1. Set date for event - use parish calendar - turn in pink Ministry Reservation Request Form (for ministry events) or Campus Use Agreement (for private events) to Janet in office - staff will review event date and respond, usually within 1 week (fundraisers need vestry approval)


Aug. 11, 2012

Event Planning 101

1. Set date for event - use parish calendar - turn in pink Ministry Reservation Request Form (for ministry events) or Campus Use Agreement (for private events) to Janet in office - staff will review event date and respond, usually within 1 week (fundraisers need vestry approval)

2. Pre-event publicity - send info about event to Janis for weekly announcements & newsletter (who, what, when, where, why, how) - create flyers, posters, sign-ups, outdoor signage, etc. - maintain all publicity


Aug. 11, 2012

Event Planning 101

3. Event - photographer - record details (who, what, when, where, why, how)


Aug. 11, 2012

Event Planning 101

3. Event - photographer - record details (who, what, when, where, why, how)

4. Post-event publicity - send pictures & story to Janis for publication - record details of event for future


Aug. 11, 2012

Inter-ministry communications

• Use the committee system.

• Use the parish calendar in planning events; avoid conflicts.

• Work with other ministries & ministry leaders.

• Include the staff and vestry liaisons in your planning efforts.


Aug. 11, 2012

Resources

• St. Martin's Style Guide (contact Janis for digital copies)

• St. Martin's Episcopal Church: www.stmartinschurch.org

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/stmartinschurch

• Online Photo Storage: www.flickr.com/stmartinschurch

• Diocese of Missouri: www.diocesemo.org

• The Episcopal Church: www.episcopalchurch.org

• Online Bible: www.biblegateway.com

• Online Book of Common Prayer: www.bcponline

• Online Weekly Lectionary: www.lectionarypage.net


Aug. 11, 2012

What's next?

• Twitter

• You Tube / videos

• New format for website, newsletter

• Communications team

• Communications / Privacy Policy

• Crisis Management

• Regular evaluations


Aug. 11, 2012

Almighty God, you proclaim your truth in every age by many voices: Direct, in our time, we pray,

those who speak where many listen and write what many read; that they may do their part

in making the heart of this people wise, its mind sound and its will righteous, to the honor of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

St. Martin's Episcopal Church Communications Workshop Aug. 11, 2012 Pray also for me, so that when I...

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