Episcopal Church Foundation Vestry Papers - for leading congregations

While the ‘where and how’ of communications has changed dramatically since Vestry Papers’ 2008 issue Parish Communications, the ‘who, what, when, and why’ has not. During the summer, we’ll look at ways congregations are successfully merging the tried, true, and the new in communications.

Central to each of our July and August articles is a strong focus on the practical: how to incorporate an effective communications strategy into the congregation. This includes specifics related to the time commitment required and how staff and/or volunteer roles and responsibilities have been shaped to provide for this communications activity.

Included in our July 2012 content:

“Communication Tune-Up” by Robert Williams offers an eight-step process for getting your congregation on track for fall and the new program year. Available in English & Spanish.

 
Sharon Richey Turner’s “The Promised Land?” explores the new frontier in communications - the Internet - offering concrete examples and resources that share how small, rural congregations are using these tools as part of their overall communications mix.

“Find a Church” by Nancy Davidge introduces readers to the variety of free listings available to congregations and shows how to use these listings to tell your story.


Terri Matthes shares how two different sized – and resourced – dioceses are “Using Video” to tell their stories. Regardless of where your congregation falls on the resource scale, she encourages you to consider the power of video as part of your communications plan.

Each of these articles includes a list of resources to help you with your communication plan and program. Additional resources may also be found elsewhere in ECF Vital Practices - visit our ‘Topics’ page to find a complete content listing organized by subject.

I invite you to add to this content by sharing your communications success stories, tips, and resources in the Your Turn section and by posting comments related to our articles, blog posts, or other content.