Episcopal Church Foundation Vestry Papers - for leading congregations

Who—or what—occupies your prime real estate in the church newsletter?

Does a missive from the rector always run on the front page? Or do you have a pencil drawing of the church façade, circa 1955?

Either way, you’re squandering opportunity.

As a longtime surveyor of church newsletters, I have discovered that many are wrought with old-fashioned ideas of content (and frankly, design. But that’s another blog). The position of the rector’s letter on the front page recalls a different era and suggests a different understanding of ministry.

It makes sense that we put what we value most in the best spot of the newsletter, the place where more people have a chance to read the information. If the rector’s letter is always first, then it stands to reason that the congregation values the words of the rector above all else. I’m not saying that congregants shouldn’t hear from their priest on a regular basis. They should. A note or reflection by one of the clergy (priest or deacon) should be a part of every church newsletter. But it’s not the most important part. At least not for every issue. 

This prime real estate belongs to the people of God. Stories of ministry and mission, of lives transformed by a growing and deepening faith, communities built and strengthened by engagement with scripture and commitment to service…these are the stories that should claim the front page. 

When the priest’s article is always on the front, it reflects a community with clergy at the center and members and ministries as spokes. But God should be the center. Clergy are important, to be sure, but they are spokes nonetheless. 

The same is true if a picture of the building occupies the front page—or a majority of it. We tend to be very proud of our beautiful structures, and we should be. Many of them are amazing buildings that offer praise to God through the beauty of architecture and design. But the building isn’t the church. We are the church. We, the gathered people professing our belief in God, striving to become Christ-like in our words and deeds, are the church. The building is important, to be sure. But it’s protection from the rain not the source of our strength. 

What we place on the front matters. It reflects what we value, how we see and define ourselves as people of faith. What is front and center in your newsletter? Who—or what—occupies the prime real estate?