October 16, 2013

Communications for Parish Leaders

Leaders need to be able to effectively communicate.

There is a myriad of topics, resources, and tools available on communications, but for this digest we offer articles and resources focused on effective communication. What are the steps that you should be taking before you hit print for the newsletter, send the e-blast, or your Facebook post?

Connect with us for congregation tested tools and resources on Facebook and Twitter, share your resources on Your Turn, and find others in our Tools. Also, be sure to share this email with others in your congregation and invite them to subscribe to ECF Vital Practices.


No More Parking Lot Conversations
“Churches have a responsibility to model Christ like behaviors and when we don’t, we pay a heavy price.” Contentious conversations or ‘parking lot talk’ can damage effective leadership and communications when left unaddressed. In “No More Parking Lot Conversations,” Nancy Davidge looks at how we can build in best practices for healthy behavior and respect.


Sharing Our Church Through Stories
Our stories about church can offer a glimpse into our faith journeys and create a fuller, captivating, and personalized portrait of our congregations. In “Sharing Our Church Through Stories,” Barbara Dundon shares her own story about how her congregation adopted the practice of recording and sharing stories connected to their church. The impact, as she notes, can play out in unexpected and surprising ways.

Blog Posts

How to Write a Reflection: As a church leader, there is a good chance you’ll be asked to write a reflection. Here are some tips to make yours unique and memorable to your readers.

Second Eyes: Misteaks happen. Typpos abound. How do you find the right second set of eyes to catch those typos and what steps do we need for different types of documents?

404 Error, Page Not Found???: Whether a broken website link or forgotten email, how can we make a broken experience better for people, reminding them that they are loved?

Tools and Resources

Communications for Episcopal Leaders: View the recording of this webinar that focuses on the need for leaders to communicate effectively. Slides and resources also available for download.

Episcopal Communicators Manual: This comprehensive manual covers topics ranging from working with local media to photograph do’s and dont's, complete with examples from Episcopal congregations. While it's a bit out of date, the basics covered still apply.

Episcopal Communicators: A great resource for many, this is a professional organization of communicators, from volunteers to part-time secretaries to full-time communication directors, throughout The Episcopal Church.

Covenants in Congregational Life

Having norms and expectations is a healthy practice for any vestry or leadership group in a congregation. Such norms extend to how we communicate to each other in meetings or in correspondence with the congregation or wider community. Tom Brackett shares how covenants can create positive change throughout a congregation in “Covenants in Congregational Life.”