Digital Ministry is more than having a Facebook page or using the latest technology. It is about using the tools and media available to us to reach out where people are and in the ways they interact and build relationships. This presentation will help you think about the questions that need to be asked when developing a strategy for your digital ministry, including social media, web pages, live streaming and other tools so that all you it all works within your mission goals.
1. Presented by
Pastor Joelle Colville-Hanson
Director for Evangelical Mission, ELCA
@PastorJoelle #NEIASA16 #CHSOCM
Developing Your Digital Ministry
Strategy
2. •About using the tools that
are available
•More than technology
•Emerging culture change
What is Digital Ministry?
5. • You show up
where the folks are
• Speak their
language
• Available
Incarnational
6. “You know you’ve become
someone’s pastor, not
because you are allowed to
preach from the pulpit, or
preside at the Table, but when
you are called (or texted,
messaged, or tweeted) when
they are in need.”
Keith Anderson
The Digital Cathedral
Relational
10. • A mission statement is a BRIEF statement that says what
your congregation is about.
• Will help you decide what you do and do not do
• Unites all the networks, helps you integrate – so you are
all working towards your mission
• It should inform your strategy.
Start with Your Mission Statement
11.
12. • What is our Story?
• Who is our Audience?
• What do we want them to know about us?
• What are the tools which will best tell that story?
Questions to Ask
14. • Your web presence is as important as your
building
•Budget for this the same as you budget for
building
Your Website is your Platform for your Digital
Ministry
15. • Why do we need a website?
• Who do we expect to visit our website?
• What do we want people to know about us from our
website?
• What information might people be seeking from our
website?
• What do I look for when I look up a church online?
Questions to ask
16. • Do it yourself or volunteer on free hosting
• Do it yourself or volunteer with open source like
WordPress and pay for hosting
• Pay a professional to do it for you
Who will Create & Maintain your Website?
18. • Tell them your budget
▫ Ask what they can do for
▫ Half your budget
▫ Your budget
▫ 1 ½ or twice your budget
If hiring a web designer
19. • Who will update software
• How will you protect security
• Who will back up your data
• Who will renew domain name
• If using free hosting, what happens if the site disappears
More Questions
20. • Who will be responsible for updating content
• Who will have access to the website
• Who is responsible for deciding what content goes on website
• What kind of training will be provided to those who work on
the website
• What is in place for when those who work on website leave
• Who will have passwords?
More Questions
21. DO NOT ALLOW ONE PERSON TO SET UP AND
MAINTAIN A WEBSITE ON BEHALF OF THE CHURCH
THE INCLUDES THE PASTOR
This is the congregation’s Digital Ministry. Not one
person’s
22. •Blogs are a great way to attract visitors if your
topics answer Faith questions people are asking
•Blogs must be published consistently
•Who will blog?
Will you have a blog?
25. • What is the story you want to tell?
• Who will be responsible for updating social media?
• What policies will you have about what is published on social
media?
• What is your privacy policy?
• How will social media achieve the goals of your mission?
• How will you integrate social media into your communications
plan?
Social Media
26. • What is your story
• How will you tell it
• Will you use Facebook ads?
• How will you engage conversation?
Build a Long Range Calendar & Weekly
Content Plan
27. Follow other church social media
accounts
It’s okay to steal ideas.
Just not intellectual property.
28. Use Web based E-Mail
programs like Constant
Contact or Mail Chimp
29. • It’s what people are used to
• Inexpensive way to use photos, color
graphics
• You can include links
• Daily devotions
• Ask the same strategy questions
▫ Why?
▫ Who?
▫ What?
30. • Why?
• Who is our audience?
• How will it achieve our
mission goals?
• Do we have the
bandwidth and
technology?
• What equipment do we
need?
• What licenses do we
need?
• Who will do it?
Live Streaming