So…you might be ready to venture into this whole online church thing
YAY! I probably don’t have to tell you, but not being online these days is akin to not being in the phonebook…and everyone wants to be in the phonebook.
But then the question is how to do it? How much? What are good resources? I plan to list here some of the resources I have gathered.
Websites
www.textweek.com resources on the lectionary also www.workingpreacher.org has regular and narrative lectionary resources
http://www.monkdevelopment.com/ website with tips and tricks for churches
http://www.churchmarketingsucks.com/2014/09/certification-lab-instructors-conversation/ offers workshops and trainings bc too often…church marketing sucks
http://churchtechtoday.com/about-2/ Free resources to help churches communicate better. No matter the medium, it’s time to be intentional about reaching your congregation and community.
ChurchTechToday was born out of the need to find a place to discuss how technology can truly impact the Church in positive ways, whether it be reducing administration with a church office, allowing para church organizations to connect with their members online, or simply to share the Gospel message through non-traditional channels.
http://pomomusings.com/ Adam Walker Cleveland’s blog about tech and ministry Social Media Sunday experiences
http://www.adamjcopeland.com/category/technology/ Adam Copeland’s blog about technological topics
http://textinchurch.com/ a marketing resource with some free and some pay content to learn about texting/email and media follow ups for visitors, etc.
Follow on Twitter
@cmsucks : idea sharing and marketing techniques
@NewMediaAtCTS : blogs and ideas
@pewresearch : pew research info to help to stay up to date
@dreampcusa offers twitter prayers on a regular basis
@andrewyb publishes his own unofficial daily Presbyterian News blog on twitter
@unvirtuousabbey monks who tongue and cheekily provide ministerial guides and twitter prayers (in my opinion the best in twitter ministry)
@chsocm Content & conversation about social media for church & faith. Lively ecumenical chat Tuesdays, 9PM (ET). Founded by @meredithgould, July 2011. Also on Facebook.
Experiencing the Word of God : Two nontraditional and GOOD experiences of the Gospel online that are possibilities for your church to take on are
http://faithandwonder.com/ Biblical Storytelling
http://www.90secondsermon.com/ Essential Sermon (created by a tech and a media person both of whom are now pastors, they are very saavy)
I tend to follow the Geek/Nerd world, issues in LBQT* and CisNormativity issues as well as feminism and theology
including
Suey Park @suey_park
@revmamd MaryAnn McKibbean Dana
(those two tend to butt head so watch out)
Pastrix’s cool author Nadia Bolz-Weber @sarcasticluther
PCUSA Washington Justice advocate J. Herbert Nelson @jherbertnelson
A Queer Seminary student Alan @awhooker
as well as various Christian Magazines (CC Century, Christianity Today, Presbyterian’s Today, etc)
and my local Presbytery
My church has a website (which we are still figuring out, I hired someone to construct it, but do not like the results http://www.albanyncpc.com) three facebook pages 1 church, 1 farmer’s market and 1 nursery school all controlled through the church website, and a meetup group for our playgroup.
We JUST hired a 10hr a week media coordinator. Her job description reads as follows
10hr a week position, 5hrs onsite at New Covenant Presbyterian 916 Western Ave and 5hrs flexible
pay $8-$9 an hr
*Maintain website weekly
*Maintain facebook M-Fri
*Maintain Farmer’s Market Facebook
*Assist with Email Correspondances
*Design and Print Brochures, Flyer, Invites & Newsletters
*Assist with Advertising
Qualifications
Must be internet savvy, understand how to maintain and update FB, Twitter, and Basic Blog style Website
Self-Starter: Must be able to work alone and propose independent ideas
Organized: Must be able to routinely check on media without prompting or instruction
Team Player: Must interact and work well with pastor, secretary and staff
Preferences
Degree in Media, Publishing, Communications, or some related field
Experience in either attending or working at a church environment
The media person is to support all the online ads (local newspaper, craigslist) and free media resources that we could be using more, but I only maintain adhoc. This person is onsight for some coordination and to show the congregation that she is actually working (because many of them don’t get what a media person does).
If you have questions/comments about media or other resources, let me know!
