I only scored a 62 percent on the religious literacy quiz that Stephen Prothero, chairman of the religion department of Boston University, has been giving his undergraduate students for the last two years. I feel okay about that knowing that the college students consistently fail the quiz. Of course I don’t know what percentage is failing for Boston U.
Prothero appeared this month on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, promoting his new book titled "Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know – and Doesn’t" to highlight this ignorance that he claimed in a recent LA Times editorial is a civic and political issue, not only a religious problem. Since debating moral issues in politics is all the rage, Prothero’s point seems strong that various sides of these hot-botton topics should at least be able to understand what they are saying to one another.
By the way his point is statistically sound as he points out in his editorial that pollster George Gallup has come up with similar results pointing to Americans’ ignorance of the Bible. By way of solution, Prothero recommends teaching the Bible in public schools.
This may be hard to believe, depending on where you live, but we had a Bible class elective at my public high school. I didn’t take it. In view of my poor quiz results I probably should have. Classes such as the ones highlighted in this recent issue of Time magazine, are focused on the Bible as literature and as a foundational document for understanding Western culture.
Here’s my question: Should we teach the Bible the same way we teach Shakespeare and decimals, the scientific method and phonics? I don’t mean should we teach it using the same methods, but should we offer it on the same curriculum plane with other subjects and studies?
Of course Prothero's objectives are rooted in a desire to educate—he’s a college professor. I think Christian objectives are different. We often confuse ourselves with educators. Churches often view making disciples as a matter of educating people using the textbook of the Bible. Yet teaching people to follow Jesus is so much more than giving them an understanding of foundational Bible stories, characters and key tenets.
Here’s what Eric Geiger said in the Simple Church conference I attended last week: "We have made discipleship information and not life transformation."
Ideally information will transform if it is important enough. And most Christians believe the Bible to be powerful enough to stand on its own. But I see too often how the influence of learning a written text misshapes the mission of the church. Ultimately, I won’t be asked by God to name the 10 Commandments or differentiate between Moses and Paul. I will be asked to account for my life, my words and deeds. I would perform poorly on that quiz, too, except that I know a gracious guy who will forgive me and let me be a part of his kingdom anyway.
How did you do on the quiz? Do you think the Bible should be taught in public schools?
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Monday, March 12, 2007
How will you use your church's 'talent' for evangelism this Easter?
What would you do with a $10,000 gift to your church earmarked for evangelism? Some 65 synods will receive just that this month from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), according to a recent news release. The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the ELCA, told the Conference of Bishops that each of the synods will be sent a one-time grant from the churchwide organization to be used for "evangelical outreach."
The money will come this month, just in time for Easter, a holiday that church leaders understand as one of two times each year they can count on a disproportionately large amount of visitors to their worship services. But Rev. Hanson, like many other leaders, is concerned about evangelism the rest of the year as well.
"I suppose one of my greatest frustrations in six years as presiding bishop is, it just feels like we haven't been able to turn around what I think is a deep ambivalence and resistance in this church to being what we claim in our name, and that's evangelical," Hanson said. Such resistance won't change quickly, and it won't be overcome by a program or campaign, Hanson said.
It requires a "deep, fundamental cultural change," and it must be led by the bishops, he said.
The one-time grants will be delivered immediately, Hanson said. "We want you to use your imagination," he said, suggesting that the funds could be used for evangelism, training, transformational mission or to help synods fund new mission starts.
Another idea related to evangelism came from Rick Warren this month. The mega pastor offered his Purpose-Driven crowd six practical ideas this month to spruce up church facilities in preparation for Easter guests: 1)a well-lit worship area, 2) no crackling sound system, 3) comfortable and individual seating, 4) a cool room temperature, 5) clean and safe nurseries, and 6) non-stinking and clean restrooms.
That list may or may not use up a $10,000 grant in your building, but it is well worth paying attention to since visitors probably will. Paying attention to the worship area and the worship service as well as parking lot, greeter and signage issues will be especially key for Easter, as these areas directly impact visitors and help them form their first impressions of your congregation.
Maybe you’re interested in spending money on inviting new people to join you for Easter services. Mailing fliers to the neighbors around your building costs money, but could result in a stream of new faces. You could also opt for advertising on television, radio or print media in your community, but that will eat up your budget quickly. Free publicity for your congregation may be possible, according to Rachel Damien, of Event Management Services, if your church does its homework to find the market for them.
"You need to know your audience and know your media market," Damien writes in a recent press release (another good way to spread the word about your worship for Easter, etc.). She offers a few examples, such as television newscasts, which are geared to different audiences depending on the time of day.
Here’s another question to ask yourself before you dive head first into all the wrong publicity: Are you trying to reach people who have no interest in Christianity, or people who are believers but don’t go to church? The answer will dictate which radio stations you opt to choose to deliver your press release and/or advertising.
Thinking about a gift of $10,000 for evangelism reminds me of the Parable of the Talents from Matthew 25. All churches have resources for evangelism—each according to their ability. What would be the best way for your congregation to double its money, so to speak?
The money will come this month, just in time for Easter, a holiday that church leaders understand as one of two times each year they can count on a disproportionately large amount of visitors to their worship services. But Rev. Hanson, like many other leaders, is concerned about evangelism the rest of the year as well.
"I suppose one of my greatest frustrations in six years as presiding bishop is, it just feels like we haven't been able to turn around what I think is a deep ambivalence and resistance in this church to being what we claim in our name, and that's evangelical," Hanson said. Such resistance won't change quickly, and it won't be overcome by a program or campaign, Hanson said.
It requires a "deep, fundamental cultural change," and it must be led by the bishops, he said.
The one-time grants will be delivered immediately, Hanson said. "We want you to use your imagination," he said, suggesting that the funds could be used for evangelism, training, transformational mission or to help synods fund new mission starts.
Another idea related to evangelism came from Rick Warren this month. The mega pastor offered his Purpose-Driven crowd six practical ideas this month to spruce up church facilities in preparation for Easter guests: 1)a well-lit worship area, 2) no crackling sound system, 3) comfortable and individual seating, 4) a cool room temperature, 5) clean and safe nurseries, and 6) non-stinking and clean restrooms.
That list may or may not use up a $10,000 grant in your building, but it is well worth paying attention to since visitors probably will. Paying attention to the worship area and the worship service as well as parking lot, greeter and signage issues will be especially key for Easter, as these areas directly impact visitors and help them form their first impressions of your congregation.
Maybe you’re interested in spending money on inviting new people to join you for Easter services. Mailing fliers to the neighbors around your building costs money, but could result in a stream of new faces. You could also opt for advertising on television, radio or print media in your community, but that will eat up your budget quickly. Free publicity for your congregation may be possible, according to Rachel Damien, of Event Management Services, if your church does its homework to find the market for them.
"You need to know your audience and know your media market," Damien writes in a recent press release (another good way to spread the word about your worship for Easter, etc.). She offers a few examples, such as television newscasts, which are geared to different audiences depending on the time of day.
Here’s another question to ask yourself before you dive head first into all the wrong publicity: Are you trying to reach people who have no interest in Christianity, or people who are believers but don’t go to church? The answer will dictate which radio stations you opt to choose to deliver your press release and/or advertising.
Thinking about a gift of $10,000 for evangelism reminds me of the Parable of the Talents from Matthew 25. All churches have resources for evangelism—each according to their ability. What would be the best way for your congregation to double its money, so to speak?
Thursday, February 22, 2007
You don't need more time to pray
Lent has begun, and with it an increase in the guilt for the lack of time we all have for pursuing spiritual disciplines more whole-heartedly. However, maybe we are thinking too hard about this. Does a renewed focus on God always require extra time? Or could it come from a shift in perspective?
A press release about a book came through my email that piqued my attention because it sounded completely ridiculous. The subject line was: New Lenten Practice for Busy Multi-Taskers.
Hmm. When I consider Lent, I think of making vows to God, of spiritual discipline, time spent in prayer. When I consider being busy I think of guilt, because it seems somewhat sinful. So the idea that someone has conjured up a way to work Lent into the busy American Christian’s schedule seems ludicrous.
I read the email.
It blames technology for the impossibility of communion with God—we’re apparently so connected horizontally, i.e., with other people, places, screens, phones, devices, that we cannot disconnect in order to work on the vertical link with God.
The solution is multi-tasking prayer—again ridiculous. At least that was my first impression of this idea.
"Put a spiritual spin on the daily tasks you’re already doing," author Barbara Bartocci writes in her book, "Grace on the Go: 101 Quick Ways to Pray." These "one-minute prayers" are described as: "you're filling your car with gas, use the moment to ask God to fill you with loving kindness toward everyone you meet that day. Bingo. You've added a prayer without adding extra time."
This example made the idea begin to grow on me—due in large part to my practice of already praying this way. I don’t say short prayers mid-life because I’m trying to fit communion with God into my hectic schedule—though of course I am—I say these prayers because I am "praying continually," (I Thessalonians 5:17) and continuing a conversation with God that never ends.
Rick Warren recommends exactly this for pastors this week in his Ministry Toolbox article. No. 1 on the list of ways to keep a relationship with God fresh is to spend time with God. No. 2 is to "Talk with God continually." Pumping gas would seem to qualify here.
"I can be going through a fast food drive-in and say, ‘God, I’m really glad to get this taco. I’m hungry!’ The key is, keep talking to God," Warren writes.
While I still think all of my attention should be devoted to prayer at some point during the day, this sort of stream-of-consciousness praying is an additional way to stay connected to the Creator—not so much for the time saving as for the soul saving.
A press release about a book came through my email that piqued my attention because it sounded completely ridiculous. The subject line was: New Lenten Practice for Busy Multi-Taskers.
Hmm. When I consider Lent, I think of making vows to God, of spiritual discipline, time spent in prayer. When I consider being busy I think of guilt, because it seems somewhat sinful. So the idea that someone has conjured up a way to work Lent into the busy American Christian’s schedule seems ludicrous.
I read the email.
It blames technology for the impossibility of communion with God—we’re apparently so connected horizontally, i.e., with other people, places, screens, phones, devices, that we cannot disconnect in order to work on the vertical link with God.
The solution is multi-tasking prayer—again ridiculous. At least that was my first impression of this idea.
"Put a spiritual spin on the daily tasks you’re already doing," author Barbara Bartocci writes in her book, "Grace on the Go: 101 Quick Ways to Pray." These "one-minute prayers" are described as: "you're filling your car with gas, use the moment to ask God to fill you with loving kindness toward everyone you meet that day. Bingo. You've added a prayer without adding extra time."
This example made the idea begin to grow on me—due in large part to my practice of already praying this way. I don’t say short prayers mid-life because I’m trying to fit communion with God into my hectic schedule—though of course I am—I say these prayers because I am "praying continually," (I Thessalonians 5:17) and continuing a conversation with God that never ends.
Rick Warren recommends exactly this for pastors this week in his Ministry Toolbox article. No. 1 on the list of ways to keep a relationship with God fresh is to spend time with God. No. 2 is to "Talk with God continually." Pumping gas would seem to qualify here.
"I can be going through a fast food drive-in and say, ‘God, I’m really glad to get this taco. I’m hungry!’ The key is, keep talking to God," Warren writes.
While I still think all of my attention should be devoted to prayer at some point during the day, this sort of stream-of-consciousness praying is an additional way to stay connected to the Creator—not so much for the time saving as for the soul saving.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Church leaders may be insane
I read a lot about the decline of Christianity in the West, stagnant or falling church attendance, etc. But the conclusion of one recent editorial piece from Michael Craven, continues to stick with me.
Primarily he discussed the lack of discipleship among Christian American youth—who, like their elders, are quite hypocritical in their professed faith and their practices. However, Craven’s take on this was slightly different than what I normally see in these sorts of doomsday for the Church articles.
Rather than advocate for a different and/or better type of ministry (ministry to men is popular again), Craven suggests that church leaders are, well, insane.
According to Benjamin Franklin and Albert Einstein, insanity is “doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” This is exactly what Craven accuses so many church leaders of doing when they address the languishing Christian faith in the United States with a new church program.
Here’s what he ends his editorial with:
“It is astonishing to note that despite the growing body of evidence demonstrating the American church’s failure to adequately and holistically disciple the faithful into maturity; the leadership in so many of our churches continue to do the same thing expecting different results, employing the same paradigm that emphasizes programmatic evangelism rather than making disciples.”
Then he calls for leaders to bring the church back to the Great Commission.
While certainly discipleship can occur within church programming, the statistical point of fact is that it usually is not. How many times must we hear Josh McDowell, George Barna and other of their ilk decry the lack of orthodox Christian beliefs among American churchgoers before we realize our programs are failing?
Another observation by Einstein elucidates the tendency we have to get stuck in the means and fail to ever find the end. "Perfection of means and confusion of goals seem - in my opinion - to characterize our age" the genius said. Probably we could re-phrase it for church leaders, to say, “Perfection of ministries and confusion of commission seem to characterize our churches.”
This sentiment is expressed prophetically in Revelation 2-3 as various churches are admonished for doing great things and also failing miserably.
According to a Religion News Service story about people who change their religion, there is some good news for Evangelical churches, as they rank high in converts from other religions and have seen a net gain over the past few years. However, a 2001 study also points out the biggest shift has been a complete renunciation of faith, nearly doubling the number of people in the United States who say they have no religion.
Though both may be equally as damning, in some ways no religion seems better than false religion. A well-informed atheist decrying the existence of God sits better than the reported 10 percent of Protestant teens who also deny the existence of the author of their faith.
One Southern Baptist church leader is so disturbed by the trend of faithless faithful he is calling for denomination-wide discipline to root out those who don’t believe. I doubt the SBC will go to the extreme of sorting sheep and goats prematurely.
The denomination is offering a free online survey April 1-8 to provide “fresh information about teens, their families and youth ministry.” Personally, I doubt it will turn up anything new. But I agree with Craven that it should inspire a new church paradigm.
Primarily he discussed the lack of discipleship among Christian American youth—who, like their elders, are quite hypocritical in their professed faith and their practices. However, Craven’s take on this was slightly different than what I normally see in these sorts of doomsday for the Church articles.
Rather than advocate for a different and/or better type of ministry (ministry to men is popular again), Craven suggests that church leaders are, well, insane.
According to Benjamin Franklin and Albert Einstein, insanity is “doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” This is exactly what Craven accuses so many church leaders of doing when they address the languishing Christian faith in the United States with a new church program.
Here’s what he ends his editorial with:
“It is astonishing to note that despite the growing body of evidence demonstrating the American church’s failure to adequately and holistically disciple the faithful into maturity; the leadership in so many of our churches continue to do the same thing expecting different results, employing the same paradigm that emphasizes programmatic evangelism rather than making disciples.”
Then he calls for leaders to bring the church back to the Great Commission.
While certainly discipleship can occur within church programming, the statistical point of fact is that it usually is not. How many times must we hear Josh McDowell, George Barna and other of their ilk decry the lack of orthodox Christian beliefs among American churchgoers before we realize our programs are failing?
Another observation by Einstein elucidates the tendency we have to get stuck in the means and fail to ever find the end. "Perfection of means and confusion of goals seem - in my opinion - to characterize our age" the genius said. Probably we could re-phrase it for church leaders, to say, “Perfection of ministries and confusion of commission seem to characterize our churches.”
This sentiment is expressed prophetically in Revelation 2-3 as various churches are admonished for doing great things and also failing miserably.
According to a Religion News Service story about people who change their religion, there is some good news for Evangelical churches, as they rank high in converts from other religions and have seen a net gain over the past few years. However, a 2001 study also points out the biggest shift has been a complete renunciation of faith, nearly doubling the number of people in the United States who say they have no religion.
Though both may be equally as damning, in some ways no religion seems better than false religion. A well-informed atheist decrying the existence of God sits better than the reported 10 percent of Protestant teens who also deny the existence of the author of their faith.
One Southern Baptist church leader is so disturbed by the trend of faithless faithful he is calling for denomination-wide discipline to root out those who don’t believe. I doubt the SBC will go to the extreme of sorting sheep and goats prematurely.
The denomination is offering a free online survey April 1-8 to provide “fresh information about teens, their families and youth ministry.” Personally, I doubt it will turn up anything new. But I agree with Craven that it should inspire a new church paradigm.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Have volunteers manage the volunteers?
What if volunteering at your church was as easy as surfing the Internet? ACS Technologies™ just announced a new enhancement to their Access ACS™ program that allows church members to manage open volunteer positions, including taking stock of spiritual gifts, talents and personality traits, in addition to volunteer qualifications such as background checks, special licenses and clearances.
Traditionally, church staff members may be the only people with access to valuable volunteer data. But according to a news release, ACS has included lay leaders and members by giving them the ability to set up volunteer positions, as well as the ability to search for places to serve and to sign up online. With Access ACS, based on their security level, users can create volunteer positions and assign the appropriate attributes and qualifications to those positions. Then they can let people search for volunteer work that interest them and do an online request to fulfill those needs.
Churches can put a link on their Web site that lists all the openings that the church currently needs to fill. People can easily search to find the areas in which they are best suited to serve. Once an opportunity is selected, people will be able to sign up online to fill the opening. When they do so, the system will create a connection to be made by the contact person for that opening. The leader will easily be able to see who has volunteered and will contact them to help.
Conceptually, a church could change its volunteer issues from no shows and no interest to a virtual backlog of willing and Web savvy volunteers. Think it'll work? I don't think it would be hard to convince your church staff to try it, since it essentially shifts the burden of volunteer management out o their hands and into another volunteer's. As far as healthy ministry is concerned that is definitely a step in the right direction to empower disciples to do their own discipling, and so on and so on.
Anyone already using this or something similar who can comment?
Traditionally, church staff members may be the only people with access to valuable volunteer data. But according to a news release, ACS has included lay leaders and members by giving them the ability to set up volunteer positions, as well as the ability to search for places to serve and to sign up online. With Access ACS, based on their security level, users can create volunteer positions and assign the appropriate attributes and qualifications to those positions. Then they can let people search for volunteer work that interest them and do an online request to fulfill those needs.
Churches can put a link on their Web site that lists all the openings that the church currently needs to fill. People can easily search to find the areas in which they are best suited to serve. Once an opportunity is selected, people will be able to sign up online to fill the opening. When they do so, the system will create a connection to be made by the contact person for that opening. The leader will easily be able to see who has volunteered and will contact them to help.
Conceptually, a church could change its volunteer issues from no shows and no interest to a virtual backlog of willing and Web savvy volunteers. Think it'll work? I don't think it would be hard to convince your church staff to try it, since it essentially shifts the burden of volunteer management out o their hands and into another volunteer's. As far as healthy ministry is concerned that is definitely a step in the right direction to empower disciples to do their own discipling, and so on and so on.
Anyone already using this or something similar who can comment?
Monday, January 22, 2007
After-school hours offer enormous outreach opportunity for churches
Churches in the know, know that after-school care is a major issue for working parents, and therefore has major potential as an outreach strategy in the community. Kids who are old enough to be home alone, yet still young enough to get into trouble or to need help with homework are more often benefiting from some type of faith-based after-school care these days. More and more churches are stepping in to fill this 3-6 p.m. gap for busy moms and dads.
According to a news release, a new survey of 1,200 teens conducted by JA Worldwide™ (Junior Achievement) shows that nearly one in five (18.1 percent) U.S. students surveyed said they participate in after-school programs at churches, temples and other faith-based facilities. Fewer than one in ten students (8.6 percent) participate in more traditional after-school settings, such as at a YMCA, Boys & Girls Club or a similar facility. Most students (58.6 percent) participate in after-school programs at their schools.
While these numbers show a solid percentage of kids benefiting from after-school programs at faith-based facilities, more numbers from the After School Alliance indicate that many more children are not involved in programs but would be if they were available or affordable.
Some 87 percent of respondents to a 2005/2006 After School Alliance survey said that there are children in their community who need after school programs and don’t have access to them. Affordability is key for more than half (55 percent) of the programs surveyed, where some three in five students qualify for free or reduced price lunches.
All this got me thinking about the Church. Where does that leave us but standing squarely in front of an enormous children’s outreach opportunity. Take a look at a quick tutorial in beginning this type of ministry if you’re interested. But, don’t be confused about what you are actually doing when you engage your church in this sort of work. This is not a mission. It may not even be evangelism, unless you proclaim the gospel to people.
Take a look at what Dr. Thom Rainer has to say about churches that are confused as they describe their ministries of this type as missions and evangelism when they are not.
"I'm well aware that when churches offer a soup kitchen, job training, after-school programs or host a ‘downtown mission,’ that this is often called ‘mission work.’ Not so. It is ministry. Missions is evangelism that leads to churches. That is what missionaries do."
While after-school care may not lead to church planting, it will plant seeds. And as anyone who works with children will tell you, kids offer some of the most fertile soil for the gospel.
Read how a group of 12 churches in Mooresville, Ind., came together to transform their community with an after-school program.
According to a news release, a new survey of 1,200 teens conducted by JA Worldwide™ (Junior Achievement) shows that nearly one in five (18.1 percent) U.S. students surveyed said they participate in after-school programs at churches, temples and other faith-based facilities. Fewer than one in ten students (8.6 percent) participate in more traditional after-school settings, such as at a YMCA, Boys & Girls Club or a similar facility. Most students (58.6 percent) participate in after-school programs at their schools.
While these numbers show a solid percentage of kids benefiting from after-school programs at faith-based facilities, more numbers from the After School Alliance indicate that many more children are not involved in programs but would be if they were available or affordable.
Some 87 percent of respondents to a 2005/2006 After School Alliance survey said that there are children in their community who need after school programs and don’t have access to them. Affordability is key for more than half (55 percent) of the programs surveyed, where some three in five students qualify for free or reduced price lunches.
All this got me thinking about the Church. Where does that leave us but standing squarely in front of an enormous children’s outreach opportunity. Take a look at a quick tutorial in beginning this type of ministry if you’re interested. But, don’t be confused about what you are actually doing when you engage your church in this sort of work. This is not a mission. It may not even be evangelism, unless you proclaim the gospel to people.
Take a look at what Dr. Thom Rainer has to say about churches that are confused as they describe their ministries of this type as missions and evangelism when they are not.
"I'm well aware that when churches offer a soup kitchen, job training, after-school programs or host a ‘downtown mission,’ that this is often called ‘mission work.’ Not so. It is ministry. Missions is evangelism that leads to churches. That is what missionaries do."
While after-school care may not lead to church planting, it will plant seeds. And as anyone who works with children will tell you, kids offer some of the most fertile soil for the gospel.
Read how a group of 12 churches in Mooresville, Ind., came together to transform their community with an after-school program.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
How outsider friendly is your church Web site, really?
The Internet Evangelism Coalition isn’t mincing any words or any html code about what really makes a church Web site friendly to outsiders. The IEC posted a church site design checklist to help assess a congregation’s virtual impact on a community.
Church leaders should know that most visitors are first hitting the church Web site. What first impression do they find there? IEC experts have created a scoring system for church sites based on three main areas: usability, welcoming aspects, and whether the site can be found from major search engines. IEC says their aim with the tool is to help church leaders think through the main issues related to reaching their community via the World Wide Web. Also, the diagnostic relates only to the Web site as a tool to reach outsiders and not as a tool for inside discipleship or congregational communication.
I checked the readability of my own church’s site, which was recently completely redesigned with outreach in mind, to see if it measured up to the IED recommendations. It did. In fact, I think they may have had this diagnostic tool before them as a blueprint in redesigning the previously cluttered and complicated site into a streamlined visual and interactive communication piece that really is catered to guests and visitors.
How do you accomplish that on a Web site? One way is to choose the graphics you use in representing your church with new people in mind. The IEC tool asks about pictures on your site. Do you include photos of people or just buildings? Secondly, are the people photos pictures of real congregation members, and people who represent a cross-section of gender, ethnicity and age? Real, diverse people are the most welcoming images for people surfing your site who are also real, and from diverse groups.
Another way to create a welcoming Web site is to write text that uses common language rather than Christianese or churchy sounding jargon. Descriptions of ministers should include normal, human aspects of their personality and interests rather than only spiritual descriptions.
According to IED, people want real, everyday information, and stories about people’s lives. A listing of ministerial qualifications, appointments or even a bubbly description about how a staff member’s favorite pastime is exegesis may make visitors feel as though they won’t fit into your church unless they are a regular Billy Graham themselves.
IED is encouraging churches to take a good, hard look at their Web site with growth and outreach in mind. Not only is your Web site worth this sort of analysis, so is your building, your programs, your communications pieces, in short, everything about your church. Keeping the church accessible to outsiders while also building a Christian community requires a vision to reach the lost that saturates every aspect of a church. For most visitors this vision is first seen on your Web site. How’s it look?
Church leaders should know that most visitors are first hitting the church Web site. What first impression do they find there? IEC experts have created a scoring system for church sites based on three main areas: usability, welcoming aspects, and whether the site can be found from major search engines. IEC says their aim with the tool is to help church leaders think through the main issues related to reaching their community via the World Wide Web. Also, the diagnostic relates only to the Web site as a tool to reach outsiders and not as a tool for inside discipleship or congregational communication.
I checked the readability of my own church’s site, which was recently completely redesigned with outreach in mind, to see if it measured up to the IED recommendations. It did. In fact, I think they may have had this diagnostic tool before them as a blueprint in redesigning the previously cluttered and complicated site into a streamlined visual and interactive communication piece that really is catered to guests and visitors.
How do you accomplish that on a Web site? One way is to choose the graphics you use in representing your church with new people in mind. The IEC tool asks about pictures on your site. Do you include photos of people or just buildings? Secondly, are the people photos pictures of real congregation members, and people who represent a cross-section of gender, ethnicity and age? Real, diverse people are the most welcoming images for people surfing your site who are also real, and from diverse groups.
Another way to create a welcoming Web site is to write text that uses common language rather than Christianese or churchy sounding jargon. Descriptions of ministers should include normal, human aspects of their personality and interests rather than only spiritual descriptions.
According to IED, people want real, everyday information, and stories about people’s lives. A listing of ministerial qualifications, appointments or even a bubbly description about how a staff member’s favorite pastime is exegesis may make visitors feel as though they won’t fit into your church unless they are a regular Billy Graham themselves.
IED is encouraging churches to take a good, hard look at their Web site with growth and outreach in mind. Not only is your Web site worth this sort of analysis, so is your building, your programs, your communications pieces, in short, everything about your church. Keeping the church accessible to outsiders while also building a Christian community requires a vision to reach the lost that saturates every aspect of a church. For most visitors this vision is first seen on your Web site. How’s it look?
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