LOCAL CHURCH COMMUNICATIONS: A MINISTRY OR ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT?

ATCH?FEATURE=PLAYER_DETAIL PAGE&V=WBEKSTDILAC Local church communications

GOAL To provide tips/resources and exchange of ideas to support your local church communications. To enhance your local church communications planning.

WHAT WE HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH: 1.Participants will be able to identify the difference in communications as a ministry or administrative support 2. Identify ways to garner the support needed to improve your local church communications plan

WHAT WE HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH: 3. Provide updated tips and tools that will enhance local church communications (even if you are not high tech!) 4. Learn from shared experiences to better utilize the communication skills of members of your congregation

WHAT WE HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH: Connecting with your Conference Communications Team and beyond to tell your story

ANIMALS COMMUNICATING

Communications as ministry: from WACC – The first principle : “Communication is a spiritual exercise”

Interactive discussion! Scripture support: Habakkuk 2:2-3

Habakkuk 2: 2-3 The Lord answered me and said: Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so that a runner may read it. For there is still a vision for the appointed time; it speaks of the end, and does not lie. If it seems to tarry, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay.

garner the support needed to improve your local church communications plan: Supporting members Conference communicator Local business communication professionals

Excerpt from : We Must Speak ; Rethinking How We Communicate Faith in the 21 st Century by Larry Hollon, General Secretary, United Methodist Communications Tips on getting started: Identify your church’s unique identity and contributions in your community and the world; Learn and test every form of communication available today, from traditional one-way messaging to digital platforms allowing for dynamic, vibrant discussions;

Larry Hollon’s tips: Choose communication methods that best convey your church’s message to all persons within your reach; Practice developing and repurposing visual, audio and text media to share with your audiences; Lead others to work as teams to create, implement and evaluate communications and marketing strategies for your church and ministries.

United Methodist Communications offer tips and tools that will enhance local church communications (even if you are not high tech!)

share experiences to better utilize the communication skills of members of your congregation… how do you recruit members with communication skills and interest to help you? How do you connect with your Conference communicator? how do you get Local business communication professionals involved? (budget or no budget!)

GROUP CONNECTIONS EXERCISE!

Connecting with other local churches in your Conference and beyond to tell your story

Connecting with your conference communicator

principle from wacc: “Communication builds and shapes community” asserts that genuine communication calls for mutual accountability and trust.

Wacc principle: “Communication celebrates cultural diversity” communication is especially vital when cultural memory, language, religion, gender, age, ethnicity or race are not denigrated or denied by members of other cultural groups.

wacc principle: “Communication promotes freedom and demands accountability” affirms that freedom of expression must be respected. groups must be assured access to technology and to all media platforms.

building connections... “Communication for All”

Video reviews … Does this apply to your role as a local church communicator.

IS THIS WHAT YOUR LOCAL CHURCH COMMUNICATIONS LOOK LIKE

Do you have a current and active website?

questions to consider for building/enhancing local church Communications: how would you define communications in the local church is your communications ministry team leader a decision maker or influencer what influences communications ministry in your local church how do you market your local church (outreach) is ‘it’ a part of the communications plan (tech development) is communications part of church council in decision making or support

how can the local church communicator change the perception of communications from support to ministry what tools are required to enhance local church communications what are some best practices for communication within the congregation and outside do you have a crisis communications plan – if so, how was that developed and who are the key players public and media relations plan how do the other ministry groups of your church work with communications

Evaluation Time… What went well? What did not work well? What was missing? What would you change? Were the goals and objectives met?

How did the facilitator do?

Thank you! Now, go tell your local church story And make it plain! Amelia tucker-shaw UMAC, Arlington VA