Archived Workshop Resources
Caffeinated Church offers four monthly online workshops: An Expert-Led Workshop, and three more roundtable-style gatherings, the Administrators’ Virtual Café, Church Collaboration Meetings, and Realm User Groups. We strive to always create a space for open, honest, and constructive dialogue.
While our Expert-Led Workshops are always recorded and made available for later viewing, collaborative meetings are recorded selectively. If we anticipate the discussion will remain neutral, we may choose to record; however, when sensitive or personal experiences are likely to be shared, we prioritize confidentiality and do not record. Below, you will find the exhaustive recordings, slides, and other resources shared since the founding of Caffeinated Church. ☕
Expert-led Workshop Archives
Changes in Online Church Community: Moving Beyond Facebook and Twitter
Tuesday, February 25, 2025
Does digital community depend upon big tech? To what extent is it even possible to cultivate connection and community outside of billionaire-run platforms like Meta and X? In this session, we'll explore a few alternatives to traditional social media platforms. We'll look at Bluesky, Mastadon, Patreon, and even Reddit, equipping you with best practices, but also realistic expectations. We'll then contrast virality and niche community, exploring how emerging apps and platforms can niche connections. Whether you're a seasoned digital marketer or a social media novice, this workshop will equip you with the latest trends in digital community building so that you can make thoughtful choices about where you convene church community in an online world. Ryan Panzer is the author of “Grace and Gigabytes: Being Church in a Tech-Shaped Culture” (Fortress Press, 2020) and "The Holy and the Hybrid: Navigating the Church's Digital Reformation" (Fortress Press, 2022). Ryan has spent his career in the worlds of church leadership and technology. He received his M.A. from Luther Seminary while simultaneously working for Google. Ryan serves as a learning and leadership development professional in the technology industry and as a speaker and writer on digital technology in the church. Ryan also serves as the Resident Theologian at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Madison, WI. For more writings and resources, visit www.ryanpanzer.com. Recording | Slidedeck ppt | Slidedeck pdf
Social Media That Connects: TikTok & Other Bible Engagement Experiment
Thursday, January 9, 2025
Thanks to social media, Bible engagement may look vastly different to today’s consumers than it did even a generation ago. Learn about creatively using technology, socials, and communication strategies to engage folks in the Bible. This workshop will be led by Catherine Fink, who serves as Director of Communications & Resources in the North Carolina Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Recording
Small & Rural Church Communications
Thursday, September 26, 2024
Unlock the full potential of your rural or small church with our transformative workshop on digital communication strategies. This workshop provides practical, actionable takeaways, such as crafting consistent, impactful content with limited resources, enhancing community engagement through strategic digital channels, and integrating traditional and digital methods for a hybrid communication strategy. Participants will also use Learning Forte's Unlock Constraints Model, which guides leaders and teams through a process that enables them to leverage the creative possibilities of their context by engaging their imagination to transform limitations into opportunities. This workshop was led by Lisa Brown from Learning Forte. Recording | Slides
Worksheet
Unlocked Constraints Model Explainer
Practical AI & Your Work
Wednesday, August 21, 2024
How might Artificial Intelligence help you in your work? AI can help church staff be more efficient, effective, and strategic in their work. Discover how AI can revolutionize routine tasks, provide data-driven insights, and improve communications, freeing up time for church staff to focus on building relationships and serving the community. Learn to leverage technology practically with this demonstrative workshop chock full of examples and ideas. (Full disclosure: AI helped write this workshop description.) This workshop is led by Canon Mike Orr, Canon for Communications & Evangelism, The Episcopal Church in Colorado. Video | Word Doc | Powerpoint
Canva for Churches
Tuesday, July 30, 2024
Canva, known underground as “Photoshop or InDesign for Dummies,” is a fantastic online tool that allows you to create snazzy graphics for your social media, redo documents, or even create a bulletin! If you know what Canva is, that is a great start. If you have already signed up for Canva for Nonprofits, that is an even better start! We will work together to create 1 or 2 projects, walking through templates, elements, styles, and more. Recording
Is Your Database Failing You?
Tuesday, May 21, 2024
This workshop dug into database systems as the very heart of congregations’ operations (pumping blood — i.e. information — to all other areas of your church. Kelly Champagne of Evoke discusses the top 4 reasons to replace your database and what to look for when you start the search process! Recording | Slides (PDF)
Empowering Church Communications with VoIP
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
This workshop was designed to introduce church staff, lay leaders, communicators, and administrators to the transformative potential of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology. In an era where effective communication is paramount, in the right setting, VoIP is a versatile and cost-effective solution to foster connectivity within church communities and beyond. Recording | Slides (PDF)
Designing Purposeful Digital Ministry Content
Tuesday, February 27, 2024
In this workshop, we discussed practical strategies for developing thoughtful digital content that aligns with your ministry context. We explored two content planning tactics to help you sustainably create and curate blogs, videos, podcasts, and other forms of digital media. We looked at how to align digital content to themes from your community's worship life, liturgy, and preaching. Finally, we explored using AI tools like ChatGPT to simplify the content design process. This workshop was facilitated by Ryan Panzer, a digital ministry author and former Google employee with over ten years of digital marketing experience. Video | Slides (PDF)
SEO & Digital Marketing Essentials for Church Communicators
Thursday, November 16, 2023
This workshop was designed to help your ministry extend a wider-reaching digital invitation. Learn to differentiate between marketing and ministry communications while discovering the basics of how your ministry shows up in search engines. Define the metrics that determine your website's visibility and discover tactics to boost your online visibility. Plus, get hands-on guidance on applying for Google Ad Grants, a resource to increase your website's presence on Google search. You will leave the session feeling empowered to elevate your church’s digital voice and share your message with a wider audience. This workshop will be facilitated by Ryan Panzer, a digital ministry author and former Google employee with over ten years of digital marketing experience. Video | Slides (PDF)
Social Media Ministry 101: How to Create Effective and Relevant Content Online
Thursday, October 26, 2023
Join Deja McGhaw, a Social Media Manager and Consultant, for a workshop on Social Media Ministry. Discover the power and importance of ministering through social media. Learn effective strategies, avoid common mistakes, and stay updated on the latest trends in Social Media Ministry Marketing for churches. Gain valuable insights and skills to enhance your social ministry efforts, while maintaining a balanced approach between online and offline interactions. Don't miss out on this opportunity to grow your social ministry impact. Video | Slides
Church IT 101
Thursday, September 7, 2023
Let’s talk about Google vs Microsoft 365. And servers vs. cloud-based storage. Parke Nimmons, an IT consultant who serves many churches and businesses throughout Colorado, will guide us through the ins and outs of what to plan for and choices to make when planning for both now and the future. Powerpoint | PDF | Video
The Power of a Small Church
Wednesday, July 26, 2023
The Power of a Small Church is a high energy, fast-paced hour of ideas that might just work for your church. We will discuss publicity, music resources, the internet, services on-line, revenue ideas, your niche, and innovation. You’ll hear how a small church of 14 having a positive abundance mindset negates any perceived lack of resources. Learn how your church can be an inspiration for those seeking a meaningful relationship with our Lord. Enthusiasm is contagious and hopefully, you’ll be infected. Our workshop leader, Fr. Dexter Lesieur, was ordained in 2020 and is the Vicar, St. Matthias, Devine, TX, co-chair for the Diocese of West Texas (DWTX) Military Ministry, and member of the DWTX Small Church Ministry. He retired from the Air Force (SMSgt) as a Czechoslovakian cryptologic linguist and motivational speaker. He is an Air Force 12 Outstanding Airman of the Year, Jimmy Doolittle Fellow, and coach of two world-champion problem-solving teams. Fr. Dexter’s passion is helping small churches find their place in the community of faith. Video
Know Thy Neighbor, Love Thy Neighbor
Wednesday, June 14, 2023
Discover creative and practical ways to know your neighbors and make genuine life-giving connections. And, discover the strategies employed by healthy, growing churches to create intentional environments where relationships grow deeper with God and with one another. This workshop is led by Canon Mike Orr, Canon for Communications & Evangelism, the Episcopal Church in Colorado. Video | Slide Deck
Videography & Sharing Stories: From Gear to Post-Production
Thursday, April 20, 2023
In 2022, video made up a staggering 83% of content across digital platforms like social media (LinkedIn). This means that videography is growing as a way to share our story meaning more people will be viewing instead of reading. So, how do we share stories of Good News through the ministry of videography? In this workshop, we dove into gear, how to get people to share their stories authentically, and post production flow. This workshop was led by Canon Easton Davis, Canon for Communications & Digital Evangelism, the Diocese of Atlanta.
Video | Slide Deck
Small & Rural Church Communications
Thursday, March 30, 2023
In this workshop, we learned about utilizing traditional rural communication avenues to spread the gospel, communicating with minimal internet, and using social media in rural spaces. This workshop was led by Jonathan Lemaster-Smith, a Professor of United Methodist Studies, Rural Ministry, and Christian Education and a United Methodist Lay Pastor.
Video | Slide Deck
Tasteful & Creative Bulletin Layouts in InDesign
Thursday, February 16, 2023
Ever wondered why Adobe InDesign is such a beloved program for print layouts by professionals? Mystified by the endless array of options and controls? Curious how to leverage InDesign to add polish to those routine bulletins? Join Bro. Andrew Morehead, OC for “Tasteful and Creative Bulletin Layouts in InDesign,” a fun time of exploring the world beyond Word. Bring your next project, your routine bulletin, and curious questions. Led by Bro. Andrew Morehead, Missioner for Communications and Evangelism, Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee. Video
Focus on 5 Communications Areas & Ignore the Rest!
Thursday, January 19, 2023
Updating your website each week, navigating Facebook's constantly changing platform, writing an article for the church newsletter every month, connecting with folks worshipping online… the list of communication-related tasks can be overwhelming for a full-time staff person let alone for the majority of churches that have volunteers and staff sharing the burden. Kelly Champagne, owner of Evoke Engagement Experts, shares the five areas of communication your congregation should focus on when you have limited time or resources.
Video | Slide Deck
Squarespace Web Design 101
Tuesday, November 9, 2022
Do you have a Squarespace website or are you looking to build a Squarespace website? This workshop will show you how to build and edit a website; from starting a website from scratch to launching the site. We will cover adding pages; stylizing your site to align with your brand; editing content with photos, videos, forms; and more. This workshop is led by Mike Orr, Canon for Communications and Evangelism for the Episcopal Church in Colorado.
Video
Year-Round Stewardship and the Vital Role of Communicators
Tuesday, September 27, 2022
Stewardship is not about money, it's about our relationship with God. Through the spiritual practice of Stewardship, we come to understand that everything we have is a gift from God and God has entrusted us to be good stewards of God's resources. We are called to use what we have been given - our skills, abilities, time, and financial resources - to further God's kingdom in the world. Doing this requires trusting God with everything we have and everything we are. As our relationship with God deepens, we are able to move from fear to grace; from scarcity to living in abundance. The Ministry of Stewardship requires us to teach people how everything they do, every day, is Stewardship. In this workshop, we will focus on practical ways to incorporate Stewardship throughout the year in the parish and the vital role communicators have in developing the spiritual practice of Stewardship. Tammy Pallot is the chair of the Commission on Stewardship for the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta, where she shares the joy of Stewardship at workshops and retreats as a guest speaker and works with parishes as a consultant and lay preacher.
Video | Powerpoint
Social Media Strategy
Tuesday, August 30, 2022
A few months ago, this workshop would have looked drastically different. That is how big a shift Easton Davis, Canon for Communications & Digital Evangelism for the Diocese of Atlanta, has seen in algorithms in a short amount of time. Not only how content is prioritized but specifically. This means much less energy on posts and much more energy around reels (the IG/FB Tik Tok rip-off). This isn't a nuts and bolts workshop on social media. This is a conversation about what Easton is seeing in digital ministry in relation to social media and logical next steps in an ever-changing digital world.
Video | Chat
Camera Tech & Getting Started
Tuesday, July 26, 2022
From camera gear and accessories to gadgets and programs, we explored various photography setups for your ministry. Explore the benefits of using dedicated camera equipment while demystifying photography jargon and shopping. Whether you are wanting to get started or looking to upgrade your setup, this is a great workshop to get started. With over a decade of photography experience, Bro. Andrew Morehead, Missioner for Communications and Evangelism for the Episcopal Church in East Tennessee, leads this workshop.
Video | Powerpoint
Branding Workshop
Thursday, June 23, 2022
Meghan Lamkin, Lead Designer for Digital Media for the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta, presented a workshop about social graphics, newsletters, For Faith, and other new projects. Meghan covered: What is branding? What does it encompass? Why is branding important, and how is it relevant in your ministry? Examples of great church branding & ideas and learnings.
Video
Live-Stream Engagement
Wednesday, May 11, 2022
In this workshop, Sarah Martinez, Communications Director for Trinity Episcopal Church, Fort Worth, discussed what to do to make your live-stream engaging and participatory for viewers. She talked about how you can strategically welcome online viewers, and give them opportunities to share in the worship experience. We talked at a macro-level without getting too far down into technology specifications, but if you have those questions, Sarah and her team are happy to answer those questions offline. Video | Presentation Slides | Chat
Canva for Churches
Wednesday, March 16, 2022
Join Alli Gannett for a hands-on workshop about Canva for Churches. Canva, known underground as “Photoshop or InDesign for Dummy’s,” is a fantastic online tool that allows you to create snazzy graphics for your social media, redo documents, or even create a bulletin! If you know what Canva is, that is a great start. If you have already signed up for Canva for Nonprofits, that is an even better start! We will work together to create 1 or 2 projects, walking through templates, elements, styles, and more. With Canva for Nonprofits you can also upload your logo and fonts, if you have those easily available. Video
Improving Your Church’s Web Presence
Wednesday, February 9, 2022
How do people find a new church? How do you control and edit your search listing as a church in Google? How do you build a "hub" for communications? What are the pros and cons of website platforms? and what information and content should you utilize to build a website and then link that back to make sure people see your website and connect with you? Eric Seiberling is part of a husband-wife duo working to help the church embody “1 > 99” at brokensheep.com. He leverages his 20+ years of marketing and consulting experience to help churches “baptize” and use secular techniques to be more effective at reaching the lost, the least, and the last for Jesus Christ.
Video | Presentation Slides
Healthy Practices for Social Media
Wednesday, January 12, 2022
Join Alli Gannett, Director of Communications for the Diocese of Oregon and the Episcopal Church in Western Oregon, for a conversation discussing some of the healthy practices for navigating social media as a parish/diocesan/church communicator in order to create an engaging, safe, and wholesome account. We will think through the “why” of using social media, and talk through boundaries, politics, trolls, and more. This workshop will focus more on the theory of engaging within social media and the establishment of protocols rather than the “how to post/get more followers/etc.” Spoiler alert: Alli doesn’t know how to do one of those TikTok dances, so unfortunately that will not be on the agenda. Video | Presentation Slides
Podcasting 101
Wednesday, December 1, 2021
Podcasting continues to thrive and in the United States growth is up 10% from 2020 to 2021 with over 117 million downloads per month (according to Insider Intelligence). And that makes sense. Podcasts are a great way to meet people in a space where they don't have to be looking at or reading something. They can simply listen. In the world of ministry, podcasting can be a way to share stories of faith and even be a teaching tool. In this workshop, we do a full podcast walkthrough from recording, to editing, to hosting sites. These are the broad strokes, but in the details we dive into gear, recording remotely, and how to make the perfect template to work smarter and not harder. Your presenter is Easton Davis. Easton serves as Canon for Communications and Digital Evangelism in the Diocese of Atlanta and is the producer of For People with Bishop Rob Wright and A Brave Space with Dr. Catherine Meeks. Video | Resource Sheet | Presentation Slides
The Trinity of Graphic Design: Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign
Wednesday, September 22, 2021
This workshop was led by Jason Franklin, Director of Communications at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Jason shared his screen as he talked us through Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, walking us through the difference of what each is used for; and giving examples of projects. He shared the interplay between the three programs; they all do graphic design work, but each has a purpose and a reason for co-existing. This workshop mainly focused on the fundamentals of all three programs. Video | Resource Sheet
Squarespace Web Design 101
Wednesday, August 11, 2021
Do you have a Squarespace website or are you looking to build a Squarespace website? This workshop will show you how to build and edit a website; from starting a website from scratch to launching the site. We will cover adding pages; stylizing your site to align with your brand; editing content with photos, videos, forms; and more. This workshop is led by Mike Orr, Canon for Communications and Evangelism for the Episcopal Church in Colorado. Video
Communicating Across Political Divides
Wednesday, July 21, 2021
Political divides are growing deeper and more tangible, and many of us look to ahead with concern and worry. We do not have to continue this way. Peacebuilding involves learning from and working with others, while also sharing different perspectives with humility and vulnerability. To solve our world’s greatest challenges, we must learn to unlock the diversity of ideas and viewpoints as an asset for creating stronger solutions. This brief session on civil discourse aims to introduce you ways we can build our community capacity for more constructive engagement on political issues. This workshop is led by Alan Yarborough, Church Relations Officer, Office of Government Relations for The Episcopal Church.
Video
Church Apps 101
Wednesday, June 16, 2021
Why should your church consider having an application for folks to use on their mobile devices? What functionality is helpful? What are some of the platforms available to help you develop an app? Slides (PDF) | Video
Churches & Copyright: How to Be a Weekend Broadcaster Without Going to Prison
Wednesday, May 19, 2021
Learn about how to use print media legally in worship both in-person (reprinted in bulletins and/or on screens) and online. This webinar will focus specifically on print media, like books, Bibles, liturgy, articles, etc. Michael Moore, Rights Management Specialist/Content Management, handles copyrights for 1517 Media, the ministry of publishing of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Slides | Handout | Video
Creating Content that Emotionally Connects
Wednesday, April 28, 2021
Knowing your audience, whether it be the mission field of your community or those who already call your church their faith home, is essential to authentic connection. By understanding your various audience’s hopes, motivations, fears, and needs, you’ll be better able to create content that emotionally connects with them and engages them. Wilson Chu, a social media/content manager based in the San Francisco Bay Area, facilitated this interactive workshop that explored the topics of empathy and content creation and emotional appeal advertising. Video | Slides
Designing Logos
Wednesday, March 31
This 60-minute workshop was led by Jessica Beamond, the Design and Communications Director at Maranatha Assembly of God in Forest Lake, Minnesota. She is also a talented graphic designer, whose work focuses on logo design, print materials, and videography and production. She led a conversation on logos; how to make a simple one that goes with your church’s brand and how to design a simple logo using beginner graphic design skills.
Video
Crisis Communications During COVID-19
Wednesday, February 10
We are in a pandemic. We have been ravaged by fires, by hurricanes. We are in a crisis. How do crisis communications plans mesh with current affairs to insure effective communications in trying times? This hour-long workshop was led by Neva Rae Fox, of The Fox Group, a communications consultant to Episcopal churches, dioceses, and institutions as well as secular organizations.
Video | Powerpoint | PDF
Why “Don’t Give Up” is the Worst Advice
Wednesday, January 13
Peter Englert is the Adult Ministries Director at Browncroft Community Church in Rochester, NY. He also holds a M.A. in Theology and is passionate about providing helpful and practical resources for people to live out their faith in the Monday-Saturday of life and not just Sunday morning. Englert leads this workshop that expands on his article, titled, "Why 'Don’t Give Up' is the Worst Advice."
Video
Maintaining Mental Health for Church Staff
Wednesday, December 9
The Colorado Center for Clinical Excellence led this one-hour workshop earlier today on stress reduction and self-care techniques for church staff with a creative approach to preserving your sanity during post-election season, COVID-19, and the holidays.
Video
InDesign Tutorial
Wednesday, November 18
This 60-minute workshop was led by Jason Franklin, Director of Communications at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Jason shares his screen as he talks us through how to create engaging designs like this Stewardship Booklet using InDesign and Photoshop.
Video
Communications Fatigue & Cutting Through the Noise
Wednesday, October 28
2020 has represented a monumental shift in worldwide communication behavior resulting from COVID-19. As the world continues to embrace social distancing the workplace, schoolrooms, and congregations find a new home online. People are creating and consuming content around the clock in this 24-hour digital landscape. In an era already overloaded with text messages, app notification, emails, and phone calls, how much is too much? What are the best approaches to cutting through the noise and being heard in a time when everyone is feeling the effects of communication fatigue? This 60-minute workshop was led by Joshua J. Smith, a faculty member of mass communications and public relations with the Richard T. Robertson School of Media and Culture at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Video | Slides (PDF)
Social Media for Churches
Wednesday, October 14
This 60-minute workshop focused on using social media to further and expand a church’s mission and reach. This workshop was led by Ellen Singer, social media and multimedia specialist at the Episcopal Diocese of Texas. Ellen discusses best practices for using social media platforms as a church and different approaches for different platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Video | Slides (Powerpoint)
Graphic Design for Beginners
Wednesday, September 16
This 60-minute workshop was led by Ronda Palazzari, a mixed media artist, designer, author, and photographer living in Denver, Colorado. Ronda teaches on graphic design for beginners and color theory. Presenter email:
Video | Slides (Powerpoint)
Creative Storytelling through Video and Live-Streaming
Wednesday, August 26
This workshop from Wednesday, August 26 was led by David Alexander, Communications Coordinator at St. Francis Episcopal Church in Houston, Texas. An Emmy award-winning producer and motion graphic artist with experience in music production and audio editing, David led a presentation on creative storytelling through video and live-streaming. Presenter email: david@houstoncreativemedia.com
Video | Slides (Powerpoint) | Chat
Administrators Virtual Café Archives
Tuesday, September 24, 2024: Communicating Church Programs, Events, & Activities
Do you have a process where church staff and volunteers can submit their programs, events, and activities for promotion? Do you have defined places where these goings-on are promoted like a newsletter, bulletin, on bulletin boards, etc? How do you prioritize big events vs little events, or do you? Do you promote them chronologically? When you’ve already printed the bulletin that week and a volunteer wants to ‘slip in’ a bulletin insert, do you let them? Let’s talk! Let’s strategize! Let’s commiserate the issues we all experience together! This administrator’s virtual cafe is facilitated by Canon Mike Orr, the Episcopal Church in Colorado. Video
Tuesday, December 5: A New Frontier of Church Vitality: Church Attendance Tracking & Reporting in the Digital Age
A generation ago, few could have imagined how technology would impact how we follow Jesus. Nearly every institution and aspect of our society has been altered by technology, including the Church. The internet has allowed the Church’s mission field to be limited only by the imagination and resources of a congregation. As churches have leveraged technology in providing online worship, formation, and connection opportunities, and many have grown their overall participation because of these digital offerings, we recognize the importance of online participation being regarded equally to in-person participation. All people matter and count, especially those who are unable to physically walk through the doors of a brick-and-mortar building. As we, the Church, seek better to understand our reach and impact in the world, we must re-evaluate how we count membership and how we collect data that measures participation, engagement, and commitment, inclusive of not only our in-person worshipers but also our new-found online communities of worshipers. This workshop time will engage our questions as we face this new frontier of church vitality and will be facilitated by the Rev. Matt Holcombe, Rector of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Video | Slides | Handout 1 | Handout 2
Wednesday, November 8: Volunteer Engagement
The lifeblood of any thriving church community often lies in the commitment and passion of its volunteers. From Sunday services to community outreach programs, volunteers play an essential role in the successful operation and growth of a church. However, recruiting, training, and retaining these valuable individuals can be a challenging task that requires a strategic approach. This virtual cafe is a time where we can talk about tools and insights to build a robust volunteer program. Worksheet
Wednesday, October 25, 2023: Event Planning from A to Z
Join us for an engaging session tailored for church administrators, event planners, staff, and volunteers at the Administrator's Cafe. Dive deep into the essentials of planning successful church events as we collaboratively build a comprehensive checklist. Explore ways to optimize your budget, effectively distribute tasks among staff and volunteers, and craft impactful event calendars. Exchange valuable tips on sourcing quality resources, from the right decor to cutting-edge technology. Benefit from shared experiences on strategies that balance logistics, resonate with diverse audiences, and achieve church goals. Don't let this chance to enhance your event-planning expertise pass you by!
Video | Church Event Planning Checklist
Tuesday, September 26, 2023: Creating & Using Program Evaluations for Effective Church Communications
Do you want your church's communications efforts to resonate more powerfully with your congregation and community? Understanding the impact of your communication initiatives is paramount. This peer conversation and workshop is your compass to crafting impactful strategies that are grounded in data-driven insights. We will: Learn how evaluations can help measure success, identify opportunities, make informed decisions, and fostering a culture of adaptability. Start to craft evaluation metrics that resonate with your communications and marketing objectives. From engagement rates to audience demographics, delve into the key performance indicators that matter. Come prepared to share the tools and methods you’ve had success with for gathering data, including surveys, analytics platforms, and social media insights. Understand how to harness data effectively for a holistic understanding. Practice analyzing and interpreting data for communication messages and strategy. Participate in an open discussion with fellow communicators and administrators: By harnessing the power of program evaluations, you'll be equipped to create strategies that resonate, inspire, and engage, propelling your church's message to new horizons of impact. Video
Tuesday, August 15, 2023: Budget Breakthroughs
Join us for this interactive meeting as we delve into the key elements of robust church communications and administration budgets. Whether your church is thriving and experiencing growth or facing resource limitations, our time together will guide you through the essentials. Discover the must-haves that will propel your church forward, while distinguishing between wants and needs. Explore innovative strategies to optimize your budget, uncover potential cost savings, and foster creative resource-sharing opportunities. Together, let's navigate the realm of church finances and unleash the potential of your budget. Facilitated by Mike Orr, Canon for Communications and Evangelism for the Episcopal Church in Colorado. Video
Tuesday, July 18, 2023: eNewsletter Design
In our time together, we'll talk about our eNewsletter audiences, fundamentals of layout and design, content structuring and hierarchy, and maximizing readability and engagement. We'll hear from several people who will share their eNewsletters and we'll ask questions and be curious together. Facilitated by Mike Orr, Canon for Communications and Evangelism for the Episcopal Church in Colorado. Video
Wednesday, June 28, 2023: Working Smarter, Not Harder
In our time together, we will explore common productivity pitfalls and time-wasters in church administration. We’ll talk about practical strategies and tools for optimizing our work and improving our productivity, and applying the principles of working smarter, not harder, to our work through developing an action plan for implementation. Video | Slides
Wednesday, November 11, 2022: Liturgy
Administrators are often tasked with putting together the service bulletins and training resources are not widely available; from a sense of liturgy and ‘why we do what we do.’ This workshop geared for Episcopal, Lutheran, and Presbyterian church administrators will be led by three clergy members: the Rev. Reagan Humber, Pastor of House for All Sinners and Saints (ELCA), Denver; The Rev. Stephanie Kopsch, Interim Rector of Holy Comforter Episcopal Church in Broomfield, CO who is ELCA Lutheran, serving an Episcopal Church and attended Presbyterian Seminary; and the Rev. Joseph Wolyniak, Associate Rector of Christ Church, Denver. These clergy hosted an informal discussion on liturgy.
Video
Wednesday, September 9, 2022: Introductions and Learning What We Need
Video
Church Collaboration Meeting Archives
Graphic Design Resources
Designing graphics for your church events and ministries can be daunting. Where do you find resources inexpensively or free? Are you utilizing the latest AI tools to get you started, and then do you edit using Canva, Illustrator, or Photoshop to put together graphics and text? Do you hire a graphic designer for projects? Let’s talk and share! Join us as we collaborate together and share our collective wisdom. Video
Planning for Christmas
Christmas is coming! Join us for a collaborative time where we will explore how to communicate and advertise Christmas services and events effectively. This session for all church staff and volunteers offers a way to share innovative ideas, resources, and practical timelines as we prepare for the Christmas season. We will talk about how to utilize social media, traditional advertising, and community engagement to maximize attendance and make this holiday season truly special for your community. Video
AI & Your Work
Let's discuss how to unlock the potential of Artificial Intelligence in your work with this hands-on workshop. Together, we'll explore how AI can automate repetitive administrative tasks, enhance your writing and content creation, and expand your creative potential. Let's discover together actionable insights on integrating AI tools to foster a more efficient, engaged, and spiritually enriched community. Video | Word doc | PowerPoint
Advertising and Event/Opportunity Promotion
Let's talk about advertising. Does it sometimes feel like you are expending lots of energy on putting together advertisements or promotional materials and attendance is lower than you expected? Are you advertising internally to church members, or are you advertising to your neighborhood, community, or city? Or sometimes all of the above? Where and how do you spend money on advertising to get your message out further? What tips and tricks do you have to share? Let's talk and collaborate! Video
What You Wish Your Church Staff Would Know About Communications
What do you wish your fellow church staff would understand about your ministry of communications? Who the audience actually is, not what they think it is, and how to reach that audience? Maybe it is how your messaging should connect to your overall church’s mission? Maybe it’s the value of time and intentionality in writing and design, where both are not done well in a last-minute crunch. Maybe it’s how to share their ministry stories effectively on platforms where those stories should be shared. Let’s construct an overview together that can be shared with your church staff; a crash course that fosters mutual understanding and a deepened appreciation for the ministry of communications. Understanding Our Ministry of Communications (collaborated overview during meeting)
Wednesday, May 10: “It’s IN the eNewsletter! Been there for weeks!”
Let’s talk eNewsletters. What email sending service are you using? How do you decide what information and events go in and what doesn’t? How do you highlight the important stuff amidst a lot of other information? How do you get people to actually read it? Facilitated by Canon Mike Orr, Canon for Communications & Evangelism for the Episcopal Church in Colorado. Video
Tuesday, February 21: Record Keeping Best Practices
Summer is a great time to plan to clean up files; both physical and digital. How are you storing documents and records? When are you able to destroy documents? What records should be retained? Is it possible to digitize baptism records or other historical documents? What about minutes from Vestry meetings or photos? Facilitated by Mike Orr, Canon for Communications and Evangelism in the Episcopal Church in Colorado. Video | Records Management for Congregations: An Archives Manual for Episcopal Parishes and Missions
Tuesday, January 24: Emergency Planning for your Work
Sometimes things happen. You’re out of town on vacation but your flight gets cancelled and you need to update your website or your newsletter that has to go out right away. Or you have an unexpected emergency and someone needs to fill in for you. Where do you keep your passwords? What information should you catalogue to be accessed by others at your church or office? Together we put together a template of all information that should be readily accessible in case of an emergency of any kind. Facilitated by Mike Orr, Canon for Communications and Evangelism in the Episcopal Church in Colorado. View template
Tuesday, February 15, 2022: Lent and Easter
Over the past two years, the pandemic has caused us to pivot and adapt; be courageous in our creativity in how we enter a season of Lent and celebrate Easter. What are you planning for this year? How have your plans changed or how do you plan to be flexible in your plans? Let’s learn from one another and share what we are doing. This meeting will be facilitated by Mike Orr, Canon for Communications and Evangelism, the Episcopal Church in Colorado. Video
Tuesday, August 10, 2021: Backup Support So You Can Take a Vacation
How do you make backup plans as a church administrator or communicator with others on staff? When your work never seems to stop, how do you find someone to fill in when you are gone on vacation? What systems do churches use to provide backup for these roles? Facilitated by Mike Orr, Canon for Communications and Evangelism in the Episcopal Church in Colorado. Meeting Notes
Tuesday, July 20, 2021: Communications Standards Manuals
Having a standards manual for your church can be a helpful tool to create consistency and standards for staff and volunteers alike. Your manual may cover everything from punctuation, spelling, and grammar; design and layout; communications vehicles; the communications process and request forms; graphic standards and logo usage; and more. Facilitated by Mike Orr, Canon for Communications and Evangelism in the Episcopal Church in Colorado. Video | Files
Tuesday, June 22, 2021: How to Have a Communications Committee and Not Let It Kill Your Soul
Having a committee for communications can be great thing, until it isn’t. How do you effectively manage your committee, expectations, responsibilities, and projects? Together we will learn from each other what works, what doesn’t work, and what tools are available for more effective committee member management. Video
Monday, May 17, 2021: Beyond Sunday
How do you create hybrid (synchronous and asynchronous) formation opportunities for your church members to engage and grow in their faith? What complexities do you need to take into consideration to accommodate your church members as far as technology, structure of content, accessibility, and capacity? Canon Greg Foraker, who has done great work in the Episcopal Church in Colorado in regards to hybrid formation, co-facilitate this discussion with Mike Orr, Canon for Communications and Evangelism in the Episcopal Church in Colorado. Video
Monday, April 19, 2021: What Does Hybrid Church Even Mean?! (Part II)
As churches plan for regathering in-person while also maintaining an online community that continues to be actively engaged in worship, the question of "how?" begins to be in all our minds. We do know that our "why" begins with God and community. How are you doing synchronous (online, in-person) and asynchronous (on your own time) worship? How are you communicating inclusivity through interaction? Has the pandemic caused you to change your approach to reaching others outside your church walls? In what ways? Every church is different, and there is no "one size fits all" solution to moving forward in this new post-COVID world, but we can learn from one another and think creatively together. Let's talk! Let's explore! Let's scheme about how the church, evangelism, and communications will be different. Video
Monday, March 15, 2021: What Does “Hybrid Church” Even Mean?
As churches plan for regathering in-person while also maintaining an online community that continues to be actively engaged in worship, the question of "how?" begins to be in all our minds. We do know that our "why" begins with God and community. Can online participants be projected into the worship space so that in-person worshippers can see their online fellow worshippers and be in community? Could a pianist play a song or vocalist sing a song from their own home but have an audio line-in to the worship space so that in-person worshippers can see and hear their worship leader virtually? What about synchronous (online, in-person) and asynchronous (on your own time)? How do we communicate inclusivity rather than exclusivity when we now have a church building space and a virtual space where we hope participation is equal and equally valued? What does the future of the church look like? Are we physical buildings with an online presence, or do we have an online church with physical buildings? Every church is different, and there is no "one size fits all" solution to moving forward in this new post-COVID world, but we can learn from one another and think creatively together. Video | Chat
Monday, February 8, 2021: Facilitating Online Worship via Zoom
A behind-the-scenes look at how a church is hosting and facilitating online worship is helpful as you continue to make improvements and adjustments to your online zoom worship services. Kim Keffeler, Vestry Clerk and Altar Guild Directress at St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church in Boulder, CO, walked us through a typical service at her church. We explored ways that digital ushers, staff, and volunteers each take a role in making sure the service runs smoothly and effectively. We talked about digital hospitality and welcome. We talked about how to limit distractions and provide a seemingly effortless experience that allows church members and visitors alike to be active participants in a virtual worship environment. Video | Feb 7 Slides | Jan 24 Slides
Monday, January 11, 2021: Improving Zoom Experiences
We kicked off the new year by talking about how to improve something we all got good at in 2020! In this meeting, we talked about maximizing Zoom services; using digital ushers/greeters, Google Slides vs. Bulletins, and sharing tips and tricks. We shared our Zoom wisdom with others for a smooth and engaging Zoom service. Facilitated by Mike Orr, Canon for Communications for the Episcopal Church in Colorado.
Monday, December 14, 2020: Audio/Video Solutions for Churches
With church audio/video, there is no one-size-fits-all. Our physical spaces are different. Our natural light and lighting fixtures are different. Our audio equipment is different. Churches that are considering upgrades to their worship space have a lot of things to think about: current infrastructure, cable/wire runs, audio system capabilities, hearing induction loop possibilities, video equipment and lines of sight/distance, lighting, volunteer capabilities, and more. Chris Grissom from Grissom Live Audio Services joined us to chat about has many years of experience planning and installing audio/visual equipment in churches and venues across Colorado.
Video
September 14, 2020: Press Releases and Media Relations
The press release is not dead, just transformed to meet today's media requirements and platforms. Press releases remain an effective and easy tool to communicate information to news media and other organizations. What improves your chance of having a press release published or utilized by your local media organizations? What are the different platforms you can use to present news? What elements should be included in a successful press release? Also, when interacting with the media directly, how do you improve your skills as an effective spokesperson? What tips and tricks should a communicator know to be better prepared to work with the media during their coverage of a news event? Join in the conversation and learn from others about how to share your news and be prepared for working with news media organizations. Facilitated by Neva Rae Fox of The Fox Group, a communications consultant to Episcopal churches, dioceses, and institutions as well as secular organizations, and Mike Orr, Canon for Communications for the Episcopal Church in Colorado.
Powerpoint | Video | Chat
August 10, 2020: Communications and Safety Considerations during COVID-19: Gathering for In-Person Worship
What considerations do you need to have in your communications planning for returning to in-person worship? What tools have you used for making reservations for families? What signage did you utilize to guide people as they visited? Did you have to create a flow chart for one-way travel as people moved in the space? Did you create spaces for hand sanitizer and masks? Did you communicate your protocols for cleaning and for safe gathering? Facilitated by Mike Orr, Canon for Communications of the Episcopal Church in Colorado and the Rev. Canon Alex Dyer, Canon to the Ordinary for the Episcopal Church in Colorado.
July 13, 2020: Video Live-Streaming Tech
What things do you need to think about when planning your live-streaming video equipment and software? What platforms will you stream to? In this meeting, we will take a 10,000 foot view of considerations when you are planning live-streaming video from your worship space; whether it be in a church building or from a living room. Facilitated by Mike Orr, Canon for Communications of the Episcopal Church in Colorado.
June 29, 2020: Website Updates during COVID-19
How has COVID-19 changed the way you are being the Church right now with your website? How have you updated your website for easier access to information about how parishioners can engage with one another? In what ways have you partitioned your website for online engagement vs. in-person attendance? What content management system (CMS) do you use, and what tips can you share with others on how to get the most out of your CMS? Have you started a blog during COVID-19? How often have you been updating your site? Have you used Google Analytics and SEO to improve the reach of your church? Do you have a COVID-19 landing page and how have you used your website to keep your congregation informed on plans for reopening in the next year? Let’s learn from one another! Facilitated by Mike Orr, Canon for Communications of the Episcopal Church in Colorado.
Video | Chat
May 18, 2020: New Ways of Engaging in Social Media During COVID-19
How has COVID-19 changed the way you are being the Church right now? How are you leveraging social media (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, etc) to reach your church community or your greater mission field? In what ways have you grown personally in trying new things or what have you seen that has worked well for churches? Let’s learn from one another. Facilitated by Megan Forgey, Communications Consultant, and Mike Orr, Canon for Communications of the Episcopal Church in Colorado.
Video | Chat | Powerpoint slides | PDF
April 27, 2020: Copyright for Music and Videos
Why should we pay attention to copyright law? Why is copyright law important for worshiping communities? What do various music licenses cover? What are the legal rights to consider when filming a choir performance for publishing to YouTube or Facebook Live or elsewhere? What are the differences between posting a recorded video with music versus a livestream with music? What considerations do churches need to make about showing videos or movies? What licensing is needed for showing a film? Are there restrictions on advertising that you’ll be showing a film? Can you charge admission to an event where a movie will be shown? So many questions to ask about copyright! A panel of presenters will be answering these questions: Mark Carroll, CVLI Product Manager, CVLI.com (Church Video License); Nate Scott, CCLI’s Director of Publisher & Songwriter Relations, CCLI.com (Church Copyright License); and Deanna Rose, CCS’s Operations Manager, CCS (Christian Copyright Solutions, christiancopyrightsolutions.com).
Video | Chat | Church Video License Factsheet | Church Copyright License Factsheet | Christian Copyright Solutions Factsheet | CCLI Streaming Page | Song Select Service
April 23, 2020: How to Keep Your Religion While Working for the Church
How do you keep the faith when you work for the Church? Being in ministry can be overwhelming. There are many challenges. If you worship where you work, there can be even greater challenges. How do you keep your religion and remain clinging to your Creator in the midst of storms? Let’s talk together and learn from one another. Facilitated by Michele McCarthy, Communications Specialist, Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Saratoga, CA, and Mike Orr, Canon for Communications, the Episcopal Church in Colorado.
Video | Chat
March 2020: COVID-19 and a New Way of Being Church
How has COVID-19 changed the way you are being the Church right now? What resources have you found helpful? How can we resource one another? Join in the discussion this coming Monday. Facilitated by Mike Orr, Canon for Communications, the Episcopal Church in Colorado.
Video | Chat | Prayer Requests
February 2020: Graphic Design Resources
Designing graphics for your church events and ministries can be daunting. Do you use Illustrator or Photoshop to put together graphics and text? Do you use InDesign for your layout? Do you use Canva? What resources for free images do you use? Do you hire a graphic designer for projects? Let’s talk and share! Join us as we collaborate together and share our collective wisdom.
Video | Chat
August 2019: Photo Directories
A church directory can be a great ministry tool. A church directory helps clergy and other leaders to stay connected with the congregation year-round. A photo directory is a great opportunity to connect members, especially in larger churches where it’s impossible to know everyone. To new as well as current members, directories offer a way to associate faces with names and to act as a source for contact information. Who hasn’t forgotten a name, but knows the face is familiar? What information should you include in the directory? What tools are out there to create a directory? Should I hire a photography company to do this? I’m afraid people will be hounded by a photo company to buy photos if all they want to do is be in the directory. Is there a DIY option that is easy to put together a church directory? Once we have a directory, how do we distribute it? Online? In print? Print on demand? How do we password protect it if we do publish it online?
Video
July 2019: Church Databases
Databases aren’t just for large churches. Having a database can help churches of all sizes to do the work of ministry. Ultimately, church management software can improve your ministry effectiveness through empowering people, both paid and volunteer, and offering insights into the processes you follow. Having the right tools for managing your church can provide systems to engage newcomers, reengage those who have become distant, and deepening relationships within the church for the purpose of making disciples. Choosing the right tools for your church or diocese can be daunting. Talk to other churches who’ve implemented a database/church management system and are strategically using it to grow their church. Facilitated by Barbara McGowan, Director of Communications, St. Columba’s Episcopal Church, Washington, DC.
Video | Chat
June 2019: Liturgy/Bulletin, Bulletin Announcements, & Worship Copyright
This conversation was geared for parish communicators and volunteers who wanted to talk about best ways to more easily put together the church bulletin, announcements, and know the basics of copyright in regards to bulletins. We shared what works, what doesn't, questions we have, and more. This conversation was facilitated by Sarah Martinez, Communications Manager for Trinity Episcopal Church in Fort Worth, Texas.
Video | Chat