Episcopal Church Foundation Vital Practices

by Richelle Thompson on November 9, 2011

When Laura handed me her business card, I could see the sparkle in her eye. Not only was it a tangible sign that she’d snagged a dream job, but she also wanted me to see the clever twist.

On the back of the business card, she had a QR code. You’ve seen these in magazines and storefronts – it’s a square with black shapes and symbols. You can scan a QR code (Quick Response code) with your smart phone and it will take you to a website. (The one at the right will take you to my diocesan website. We use it to promote our mobile application). A note: You also have to have a QR reader on your smart phone. These are normally free applications and easy to upload.

Laura found a new application for the QR code: She created one that will allow friends and business associates to scan the code, which will generate a prompt so that users can upload her contact information into their smart phone. Pretty cool.

There are loads of free QR code generators on the web. For this application, you’ll want to Google “QR code generator vcard.” The vcard is a file format for electronic business cards. I found this one on a quick search -- http://www.quickmark.com.tw/en/qrcode-datamatrix-generator/?qrVCard – but I’m sure there are loads of other sites too.

Beyond the hip-and-now factor, I like the QR code idea on business cards. Already a third of Americans have smart phones and use them as a way to connect to the virtual world. We should be there too. Priests and church staff should add these QR codes right away (or at least the next time they order business cards). For people who have no idea what a QR code is, it will look like a funky labyrinth. For those who do know about QR codes, this is a quick way to make a connection and frankly, a sign that your church is forward-thinking when it comes to technology.

Visitor information and church brochures could include these QR codes. They might lead a visitor to a three-minute welcome video or an engaging multi-media site that speaks to seekers. A QR code on the Sunday morning bulletin might take folks to the church calendar.

You might even take a cue from the communications office of The Episcopal Church, which recently posted large QR codes on the front windows at 815 Second Avenue in New York City. In a city where it’s hard to catch people’s attention, New Yorkers were curious enough to stop and scan the code. Maybe for a few of them, it was the first step toward finding a faith home.