Comments on: How the Web is Changing the Role of the Church Communications Director http://churchcrunch.com/how-the-web-is-changing-the-role-of-the-church-communications-director/ Exploring the Intersection of Web Technology and the Church Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:20:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: human3rrorhttp://churchcrunch.com/how-the-web-is-changing-the-role-of-the-church-communications-director/comment-page-1/#comment-48171 human3rror Sun, 27 Sep 2009 11:56:04 +0000 http://churchcrunch.com/2009/09/23/how-the-web-is-changing-the-role-of-the-church-communications-director/#comment-48171 word. word.

]]> By: klreed189http://churchcrunch.com/how-the-web-is-changing-the-role-of-the-church-communications-director/comment-page-1/#comment-48040 klreed189 Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:11:46 +0000 http://churchcrunch.com/2009/09/23/how-the-web-is-changing-the-role-of-the-church-communications-director/#comment-48040 That was a great two part post. Funny story about church communication.... The church I attend just hired a new Senior Pastor (the church runs about 3,000 to give a little context). He has been there a month and decided to send out an all church email. He talked about strategy and moving forward, ways to get involved and then a renewed vision of communicating and technology. It was a good email and he outlined things well, there was just one problem that went unnoticed. In the "from" category of the email it said his name "John Smith" (not his actual name) but next to his name there was an email address, but it had nothing to do with him or his name. The email address was from a past minister who was fired by the church in a pretty big ordeal. This email went out to thousands of people, trying to communicate the vision of the church, but the only thing I took away from it was that they sent it from a past minister and how the heck did that happen. I think this story goes to show the importance of someone who can use communication to advance the vision and mission of the church in a professional and strategic way. The church missed out on an opportunity to move forward, and because of poor communication the message could have gotten lost. That was a great two part post. Funny story about church communication….

The church I attend just hired a new Senior Pastor (the church runs about 3,000 to give a little context). He has been there a month and decided to send out an all church email. He talked about strategy and moving forward, ways to get involved and then a renewed vision of communicating and technology. It was a good email and he outlined things well, there was just one problem that went unnoticed.
In the "from" category of the email it said his name "John Smith" (not his actual name) but next to his name there was an email address, but it had nothing to do with him or his name. The email address was from a past minister who was fired by the church in a pretty big ordeal. This email went out to thousands of people, trying to communicate the vision of the church, but the only thing I took away from it was that they sent it from a past minister and how the heck did that happen.

I think this story goes to show the importance of someone who can use communication to advance the vision and mission of the church in a professional and strategic way. The church missed out on an opportunity to move forward, and because of poor communication the message could have gotten lost.

]]> By: Tim Schraederhttp://churchcrunch.com/how-the-web-is-changing-the-role-of-the-church-communications-director/comment-page-1/#comment-48028 Tim Schraeder Thu, 24 Sep 2009 04:47:50 +0000 http://churchcrunch.com/2009/09/23/how-the-web-is-changing-the-role-of-the-church-communications-director/#comment-48028 John, I think that's a great question... just posted my response! <a href="http://www.timschraeder.com/2009/09/23/the-web-is-changing-the-role-of-a-church-communications-director/" target="_blank">http://www.timschraeder.com/2009/09/23/the-web-is...</a> John, I think that's a great question… just posted my response!

http://www.timschraeder.com/2009/09/23/the-web-is...

]]> By: Bill Whitthttp://churchcrunch.com/how-the-web-is-changing-the-role-of-the-church-communications-director/comment-page-1/#comment-48026 Bill Whitt Thu, 24 Sep 2009 02:58:13 +0000 http://churchcrunch.com/2009/09/23/how-the-web-is-changing-the-role-of-the-church-communications-director/#comment-48026 I've been a communications director before. Now, I'm quickly moving into the role of communications "consultant." In other words, I help ministry leaders where I work do communications. I train on proper maintenance of blogs, myspace pages, Facebook pages, Twitter accounts, etc... as well as the traditional flyers, community calendars, radio ads, press releases, etc. We have so many departments that I can't do it all myself. And I think it's more authentic if the youth leader is the one managing the youth myspace page anyway. I’ve been a communications director before. Now, I’m quickly moving into the role of communications “consultant.” In other words, I help ministry leaders where I work do communications. I train on proper maintenance of blogs, myspace pages, Facebook pages, Twitter accounts, etc… as well as the traditional flyers, community calendars, radio ads, press releases, etc. We have so many departments that I can’t do it all myself. And I think it’s more authentic if the youth leader is the one managing the youth myspace page anyway.

]]> By: Sandyhttp://churchcrunch.com/how-the-web-is-changing-the-role-of-the-church-communications-director/comment-page-1/#comment-48024 Sandy Thu, 24 Sep 2009 01:53:20 +0000 http://churchcrunch.com/2009/09/23/how-the-web-is-changing-the-role-of-the-church-communications-director/#comment-48024 How about a "both-and" viewpoint? i.e. An internal+external coordinator ("CCD" person, whether "paid staff" or "volunteer") who understands branding (a consistent quality message), but is one who empowers staff and members alike to freely handle ministry area communications/connections. It's really all about relationships, not power. A CCD should especially oversee the all-church-oriented print media (newsletter, bulletin, welcome/overview pieces), web, rss/twitter/facebook, ads, etc. while empowering ministries to communicate in their area, perhaps with a basic "style" guide. I personally think the trickiest part of this in a larger church is what Kem Meyer and other experts call "clutter" and "noise". People start tuning out if they get too many disjointed, random, contradictory, visually-different, incoherent communications. Therefore, I vote for a CCD that doesn't control, but facilitates and watches out for the "target audience" as well. :-) How about a "both-and" viewpoint? i.e. An internal+external coordinator ("CCD" person, whether "paid staff" or "volunteer") who understands branding (a consistent quality message), but is one who empowers staff and members alike to freely handle ministry area communications/connections. It's really all about relationships, not power.

A CCD should especially oversee the all-church-oriented print media (newsletter, bulletin, welcome/overview pieces), web, rss/twitter/facebook, ads, etc. while empowering ministries to communicate in their area, perhaps with a basic "style" guide.

I personally think the trickiest part of this in a larger church is what Kem Meyer and other experts call "clutter" and "noise". People start tuning out if they get too many disjointed, random, contradictory, visually-different, incoherent communications. Therefore, I vote for a CCD that doesn't control, but facilitates and watches out for the "target audience" as well. :-)

]]> By: John Lhttp://churchcrunch.com/how-the-web-is-changing-the-role-of-the-church-communications-director/comment-page-1/#comment-48022 John L Wed, 23 Sep 2009 23:37:27 +0000 http://churchcrunch.com/2009/09/23/how-the-web-is-changing-the-role-of-the-church-communications-director/#comment-48022 John... the problem IS centralization. "Centralizing" communications, in light of virtual connectivity, is backwards. We're entering into an age of distributed community, with largely self-organizing (vs. centralized) coordination and control. I'm sorry to be the party pooper here but I find this trajectory misaligned from way communication is unfolding in our broader communities. Religious communciation centralization (or even "coordination") perpetuates the "us/them" - "in/out" - "lay/clergy" dualities. We need to be moving towards distributed, not centralized. Participatory, not stage-centric. Creative-class, not clergy-class. Unpaid servant-ship, not salaried leadership.All-body participation rather than a perpetuation of 3c religious dualisms. John… the problem IS centralization. "Centralizing" communications, in light of virtual connectivity, is backwards. We're entering into an age of distributed community, with largely self-organizing (vs. centralized) coordination and control.

I'm sorry to be the party pooper here but I find this trajectory misaligned from way communication is unfolding in our broader communities. Religious communciation centralization (or even "coordination") perpetuates the "us/them" – "in/out" – "lay/clergy" dualities. We need to be moving towards distributed, not centralized. Participatory, not stage-centric. Creative-class, not clergy-class. Unpaid servant-ship, not salaried leadership.All-body participation rather than a perpetuation of 3c religious dualisms.

]]> By: Trust Agents – Group Blogging Projecthttp://churchcrunch.com/how-the-web-is-changing-the-role-of-the-church-communications-director/comment-page-1/#comment-48018 Trust Agents – Group Blogging Project Wed, 23 Sep 2009 22:20:17 +0000 http://churchcrunch.com/2009/09/23/how-the-web-is-changing-the-role-of-the-church-communications-director/#comment-48018 [...] read a post earlier today titled “How the Web is Changing the Role of the Church Communications Director”. It links to two more posts written by Tim Schraeder. [thinking out loud: He lives in Chicago... [...] [...] read a post earlier today titled “How the Web is Changing the Role of the Church Communications Director”. It links to two more posts written by Tim Schraeder. [thinking out loud: He lives in Chicago... [...]

]]> By: Maryhttp://churchcrunch.com/how-the-web-is-changing-the-role-of-the-church-communications-director/comment-page-1/#comment-48017 Mary Wed, 23 Sep 2009 22:18:27 +0000 http://churchcrunch.com/2009/09/23/how-the-web-is-changing-the-role-of-the-church-communications-director/#comment-48017 I think every church needs a CCD . As the body of Christ grows we need to get connected not only within the Church but with other churches who are moving in the same or different directions to fulfil God's purpose. One church may have something that another church needs etc... I think every church needs a CCD . As the body of Christ grows we need to get connected not only within the Church but with other churches who are moving in the same or different directions to fulfil God's purpose. One church may have something that another church needs etc…

]]> By: Jimhttp://churchcrunch.com/how-the-web-is-changing-the-role-of-the-church-communications-director/comment-page-1/#comment-48014 Jim Wed, 23 Sep 2009 21:20:32 +0000 http://churchcrunch.com/2009/09/23/how-the-web-is-changing-the-role-of-the-church-communications-director/#comment-48014 wow...great post...I love Tim's blog wow…great post…I love Tim's blog

]]> By: Matt Harrellhttp://churchcrunch.com/how-the-web-is-changing-the-role-of-the-church-communications-director/comment-page-1/#comment-48012 Matt Harrell Wed, 23 Sep 2009 20:48:46 +0000 http://churchcrunch.com/2009/09/23/how-the-web-is-changing-the-role-of-the-church-communications-director/#comment-48012 Well many tools help facilitate a de-centralized model in the sense that each ministry has it's own communication channel. Using technology like MemberHub.com you empower each ministry to get organized and communicate among themselves. I believe this is important for church staff to understand. Online tools really help enhance communication and collaboration and can really save time and money if processes are put into place to take advantage of these tools to their full potential. Let the internet and technology do what it does well...speed things up and connect people. This really allows the BODY to work the right way. As always John, thanks for making the conversation available. Well many tools help facilitate a de-centralized model in the sense that each ministry has it's own communication channel. Using technology like MemberHub.com you empower each ministry to get organized and communicate among themselves. I believe this is important for church staff to understand. Online tools really help enhance communication and collaboration and can really save time and money if processes are put into place to take advantage of these tools to their full potential. Let the internet and technology do what it does well…speed things up and connect people. This really allows the BODY to work the right way. As always John, thanks for making the conversation available.

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