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5 simple steps to keep church policies and procedures current
Deborah Ike Religious CommunityTackling policies and procedures aren't exactly tasks people are excited to handle. However, having documented and up-to-date policies and procedures can save a church time, money, and even legal issues. What happens way too often is a committee approves a set of policies, then those documents are filed away somewhere never to be seen again. Instead of letting these documents become dust collectors, it’s best to allocate time throughout the year to review and update each one. Here’s how to get started.
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Why your church should use email marketing software
Deborah Ike Religious CommunityDoes your church send email newsletters with information about upcoming events and church news? If so, can you tell how many people read each email? Are you seeing an increase in visits to the church website or more event registrations within a day or two after sending a mass email? An email marketing software can help with those items and much more. Here are a few reasons why your church should consider email marketing software.
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5 reasons why social media isn’t easy
Mark MacDonald Religious CommunityChurch is about fellowship, which by definition is social. And social media is simply a (mostly free) communication channel that has millions of potential followers on it. Because of this, it’s an excellent way to extend your ministry reach while being involved in the daily lives of your members. So why do many churches struggle with social media? Check out these five requirements that make social media management incredibly complex.
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Will the safety of houses of worship become a new focus for law enforcement?
Bambi Majumdar Law Enforcement, Defense & SecurityIf the past years have seen an increase in mass shootings, the past few months have featured a slew of extremist attacks on houses of worship. One of the latest horrifying attacks was on a congregation of worshippers at a synagogue in California. Houses of worship have always been synonymous with places of refuge. But these attacks have turned them from sanctuaries in the truest sense of the word to being targets of hate. Some people are now concerned and fearful when worshipping.
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Despite controversy, HHS releases conscience protection rule for healthcare…
Scott E. Rupp Healthcare AdministrationThe Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Office for Civil Rights has released a new final rule designed to protect individuals and healthcare entities in HHS-funded programs from discrimination on the basis of their exercise of conscience. It will take effect in approximately two months. The "conscience rights" rule will allow healthcare workers to refuse care based on religious or moral objections and will grant protections to healthcare workers who refuse to provide services such as abortion or transition care for transgender individuals.
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Spring clean your church website communication with these 5 tips
Mark MacDonald Religious CommunityYou're busy. You juggle a ton of details and maybe even manage a group of chaotic people. And that's in your personal life! Then, you duplicate that in your ministry life and it doesn’t leave much time for anything else. In fact, in the quest to take it all in and remain sane, most people have to edit, half-listen, or ignore. We listen more to those who say less but still have great content. Our church websites need to take heed and spring clean, or we risk being ignored. Here are five spring cleaning tips.
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5 resources to create or update your church’s security plan
Deborah Ike Religious CommunityUnfortunately, we continue to see churches and places of worship become victims of violent attacks. While our first and most important tool is prayer, there are several additional steps church leaders can take to protect their congregations. Deciding when and which doors to lock, how to respond in the event of an emergency, how to collaborate with first responders on emergency response plans, and establishing safety teams are just a few examples. Here are five resources to consider.
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Preparing for VBS and other summer church events
Deborah Ike Religious CommunityThe summer months are when many churches host Vacation Bible School, summer camps, and other events. While most of the staff's focus has been on preparing for Easter up until now, schools will be letting out within the next month or so. If you haven't started planning summer activities yet, here are a few quick tips to help you get started.
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How to resurrect a church website
Mark MacDonald Religious CommunityEaster's here and spring is hopefully taking hold near you. New life is everywhere (especially as we emphasize the Gospel). Now, it's time to resurrect your church's website. Please! If you created your website (and it still looks similar) more than three years ago, it's dying. And if you're not updating your website content weekly, it's certainly feeling dead. Unfortunately, your congregation (and community) don't like visiting the information grave. Here are four ways to resurrect your website, make it new, and something worth celebrating!
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How to avoid file storage chaos
Deborah Ike Religious CommunityWith all of the videos, graphics, documents, and other items we use each week for ministry, file storage can be chaotic at best without a good electronic filing system. Trying to maintain a server for your church staff's files might not be the best fit for your team. Instead, consider using an online storage option that can grow with your team's needs.
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