91ÁÔÆæ

Your congregation’s written communications have great potential to bless members, newcomers, and the community. Your congregation has unique stories of God’s love and care. That’s why it’s worth your while to evaluate and tweak current church content and write new materials. Doing so will help people grow together in becoming more like Christ.

 

Key Insights

1. Ask who, what, and why before you ask how and when. who is the audience of your written communication? What do you hope they know, feel, or do after reading it? Now explore whether your delivery strategy is working.
 

2. See your congregation’s print and online content through others’ eyes. Ask friends who don’t know your church to skim your bulletin, newsletter, website, newspaper ad, and outdoor signs—and then have them describe your congregation. Create a simple survey to ask people at church how they learn about what’s going on at church. What kinds of communication would help them participate more deeply in worship or connect better with each other and God?
 

3. Invite many people into communications team conversations. Shared vision is crucial, so your communications team should include a staff member with decision-making authority. Ask good questions. Listen well. Pray together about what you’re hearing.
 

4. Build on what God has blessed you with. Weekly bulletins and monthly newsletters work well in many churches. Some congregations are heavy into texting and social media. But if you have lots of people who don’t read well, you might try asking everyone to bring their calendars to church each time they come. Or hand out preprinted weekly or monthly calendars to post on refrigerators or use as Bible bookmarks.
 

Publications

(Zondervan, 2004)
by Robert Hudson 
This guide is a great help when you wonder which religious terms to capitalize or you want to root out religious jargon that many people don’t understand.


(Emerson & Church, 2005)
by Tom Ahern
Even though fundraising isn't your congregation's main purpose, this book deserves your attention. Its clear advice will help you write newsletters that inform and inspire your congregation.

 (Alban Institute, 2005)
by Lillian Daniel
Read this for ideas on what to ask before you interview someone whose story will be shared in your church newsletter or on your website.

(CreateSpace, 2001)
by Tim Schraeder
More than 60 church communications experts contributed to this book. They explain how to use the web and new media to connect people to the gospel message.


(thirty: one press, 2009)
by Kem Meyer 
Kem Meyer, communications director at Granger Community Church in Indiana, zeroes in on how churches can communicate clearly and simply.


(Alban Institute, 2008)
by Lynne M. Baab
Baab draws on her experience as an editor, pastor, and professor to help church communicators shift from only words to words and images. This book includes an excellent communications audit template.
 

Web Resources

Your Church’s Digital Front Door: Choosing your online presence
This feature story about church website findings may surprise you.


This feature story shows how asking good questions helps congregations move worship forward.


You’ll communicate the gospel even better when you include worship in church-based community outreach and include community service in congregational worship.


Download or listen online to this 91ÁÔÆæ Symposium session on how to connect with local reporters who can spread your church’s mission and service to a wider audience.


This site includes practical resources, blog posts, and a friendly forum where you can ask questions and share experiences with others who work or volunteer in church communications.


Trust us. It’s a lot more fun to read someone else’s church bulletin bloopers than your own.


This basic advice for volunteer citizen reporters also applies to writing content for congregations.


Are you a pastor who dreads writing for your church newsletter? Check out this essay and heartfelt comments.


This helpful article includes links to examples of good church websites.


Changing the ways that churches communicate (or worship stirs up) fear. This feature story shows how several congregations overcame fear and changed in healthy ways.


Perhaps your church messages aren’t reaching the people you long to reach. In this feature story, pastors share how asking better questions and giving away power helped their churches experience more unity in Christ’s body.


A surprising portion of North American adults don’t read well, which means they don’t always understand the Bible translations used in church worship and congregational life.


Reading this Q&A may inspire you to interview someone in your church or community about Christian worship practices in another culture.


Download or listen online to this 91ÁÔÆæ Symposium session on how churches are using social media to strengthen ties among members and reach new people.


Download this four-page pdf as a blueprint for how to start improving church communications in your setting.