Workshops

We will offer 18 workshops over 6 time slots at the Caffeinated Church conference. Here is the tentative workshop schedule. Full workshop descriptions are below. You can view the conference schedule in its entirety here. (Of course, all workshops and times are subject to change.)

Lessons from the Narthex

The Narthex is a new 5-year initiative based at Christ Church Denver. This project uses a peer-mentoring framework to support traditional, mainline churches in expanding their digital capacities, while building virtual community through engaging content (aimed especially at the “nones”), developing digital whole-life discipleship resources reacquainting existing believers with ancient faith practices, and establishing a learning cohort of likeminded Mainline churches. This panel will feature participants in The Narthex’s inaugural cohort and be facilitated by The Narthex coordinator, the Rev. Joseph Wolyniak.

The Power of the Past: Sharing History to Shape the Future

History plays a crucial role in helping us understand who we are, where we’ve been, and where we’re going. Historical assets not only play a significant role in shaping the identity of an organization, but also serve as powerful tools for marketing and engagement. In this session learn more about how you can use your church or organization's history as a source of content and a tool to engage members, the public, and even donors with your mission. This workshop is led by Martha Tye, a seasoned marketing professional with over nine years of experience, specializing in crafting and executing strategies that drive significant growth. As Vice President of Marketing at HistoryIT, she excels in connecting nonprofits, associations, and businesses with the tailored services, products, and resources that best fit their needs. Martha’s passion lies in helping organizations preserve and share their historical narratives, leveraging her communications expertise. Her work reflects a deep commitment to strategic innovation and storytelling excellence.

REIMAGINING YOUR CHURCH BULLETIN

If the phrase "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" sums up your attitude towards your church bulletin, this workshop may make you reconsider. While sticking to old methods is tempting, taking a fresh look at your bulletin's design and content could transform it into a more effective tool for connection and engagement. In this workshop, we'll share practical advice on optimizing your church bulletin for better readability, accessibility, and cost-efficiency, without compromising on its essence and purpose. This workshop is led by John Reid, Chief of Finance & Operations at St. Paul’s Memorial Church at the University of Virginia.

Deepening our Experience of Divine Love and Community through Color and Line

"The church needs new language to meet the new realities we are living in," said The Rev. Winnie Varghese. Discover new ways of articulating our spiritual selves; ways that connect with God, within our church communities, and with people of other faith traditions. This workshop is led by Angela Hummel, who, through a Roanridge Grant, has brought this method of visual and color thinking to communities throughout Colorado. Learn more about Angela's Art Theology project at https://youtu.be/PoigWumwZBU. She has an MFA from Naropa University and an MA in Theology from the Ecumenical Institute in Baltimore, MD, and she is currently working on her Art Theology project in her doctoral work at Iliff School of Theology.

Effective Leadership for Small Teams

Life is too short for bad meetings! Designed for church leaders, administrators, and anyone who works with people, this workshop will introduce, explore, and practice effective goal setting, feedback, and brainstorming for more meaningful and creative outcomes. Come prepared for an interactive session! This workshop will be led by Ashley Graham-Wilcox (she/her). Ashley is an independent consultant working in religious communications since 2009, a 2017 ECF Fellow, podcast host, event planner, and Intercultural Competency Training facilitator.

Supporting Mission and Ministry with Your Church Database

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. This workshop is led by Tracy Methe, Missioner for Baptismal Living for the Episcopal Church in Colorado.

What is Christian Nationalism, and why is everyone talking about it now?

As more political leaders are naming themselves as Christian Nationalists, and evoking far-right Christian imagery and rhetoric in their political speeches, we ask: what is Christian Nationalism, and why is it a threat? In this conversation, we will dig into the history of the movement, the myths that perpetuate it, and the current political trends that evoke concern. We will also explore ways Christians can take action to counter the movement, and how we can foster Christian communities rooted in inclusion, interconnection, and justice. This workshop is led by Rev. Amanda Henderson, Director of the Institute of Religion, Politics and Culture at Iliff School of Theology. Amanda is ordained with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), author of Holy Chaos, Creating Connections in Divisive Times, and is pursuing a PhD in religion and politics at the University of Denver.

Video Storytelling: Start to Finish Video Production Training

How do we capture the stories of our people in modern ways in 2024? It starts with video. In this workshop, Easton Davis, Canon for Communications and Digital Evangelism in The Diocese of Atlanta, will lead participants in a hands-on experience in capturing Good News behind the lens. It will include video and audio basics, a live demonstration of someone sharing their story, and post-production. There will also be time for questions and responses. You will leave this workshop knowing how to use your phone to do pro videos, capture professional audio on a budget, capture someone's story, and manage post-production. This workshop will be led by Canon Easton Davis, Canon for Communications & Digital Evangelism, the Diocese of Atlanta.

Focus on 5 Communications Areas & Ignore the Rest!

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.

BUDGETING

Join our Church Administrators’ Workshop on Budgeting and Cash Flow to gain essential skills in financial stewardship. This hands-on session will be more practical than theoretical and will cover budget creation, expense tracking, and cash flow management tailored for church operations. Hear why clear internal and external communications are essential to a successful budget cycle. Talk about the need for a compensation philosophy for your church. Learn practical tools for improving your budgeting processes while also hearing about pitfalls to be avoided. Perfect for administrators, finance teams, and clergy interested in fiscal responsibility. This workshop is led by John Reid, Chief of Finance & Operations at St. Paul’s Memorial Church at the University of Virginia.

Depolarization & Dialogue: Discipleship for our political times

Across the church, people are hungry for a way out of our polarized political moment. “What do I say to someone who believes [X]?” “How can someone be a Christian and think [Y]?” Many people despair that we’ll never find a way forward together. People of faith have an opportunity at this moment to respond in a different way than what our ideologically fraught culture has to offer, rooted in Jesus’ call to love our neighbors. This workshop will be an introduction to depolarization and respectful dialogue in the context of faith-based advocacy, offering a model for loving engagement across ideological and cultural divisions that neither precludes passionate advocacy nor requires ‘watering down’ one’s own moral commitments, equipping you to lead constructive conversations in your ministry context. This workshop will be led by Peter Severson, Director of Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Colorado for the Rocky Mountain Synod, ELCA.

Practical AI & Your Work

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.

SMALL & RURAL CHURCH COMMUNICATIONS

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.

Lisa Brown will be the on-site presenter, with interactive and
multimedia content from the Rev. Stacy Williams-Duncan, a founding
member of the Small Churches Big Impact Collective, and the Rev. Tisha
Brown, an ordained UCC minister, to leverage their deep experience in
small congregations. By combining Rev. Stacy's firsthand experience in
leading rural churches, Lisa’s expertise in digital strategy, and Rev.
Tisha’s innovative approach to resource management, you’ll gain
valuable, diverse perspectives. Join us to transform your church’s
communication strategy!

Camera Tech & Getting Started

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 want to get started or are 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.

Know Thy Neighbor, Love Thy Neighbor

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.

Visual Identity Strategy and Best Practices

Why is visual identity important? What graphic and design elements make your organization or “brand” memorable to your audience? In this workshop, learn how to create a visual identity strategy that will guide your design decisions, improve your recall value, and create a lasting impression. Workshop led by Canon Mike Orr, Canon for Communications & Evangelism, The Episcopal Church in Colorado.

RELATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS

Join us for an interactive workshop tailored for church communicators and administrators, focusing on the art of Relational Communication. Dive deep into understanding listening filters—those biases and experiences that shape how messages are received—and learn how to ensure your message truly "lands" with your audience. Through role-playing, case studies, and group discussions, you'll gain essential skills for enhancing community building, spiritual guidance, and administrative efficacy. Whether you're delivering a sermon, coordinating a church event, or resolving conflicts, this workshop will equip you with the tools to communicate more effectively. Workshop led by the Rev. Dr. Dee Cooper, Lead Presbyter of the Denver Presbytery.

TikTok Tell It! and Other Bible Engagement Experiments

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. Bio.

Maximizing Impact with Your Church eNewsletter

Are you tired of saying "It's in the eNewsletter! Been there for weeks!"? In this workshop, we'll cover various aspects of crafting a compelling church eNewsletter that gets read and maximizes engagement with your congregation. Explore email service selection, content curation, and strategies for highlighting crucial information amidst the clutter. Discover tactics for boosting open rates, including segmenting your audience, optimizing subject lines, and keeping your email list clean. Learn how to enhance readability, ensure brevity and consistency, and ultimately engage your congregation effectively. Don't miss out on this opportunity to revolutionize your church communication!

This workshop will include:

  1. Understanding Email Platform Utilization: Participants will learn how to effectively utilize their chosen email platform to maximize the impact of their church eNewsletters, including exploring features, functionalities, and best practices

  2. Content Selection and Highlighting Key Information: Participants will gain insights into how to select and curate relevant content for their eNewsletters, as well as strategies for highlighting important information amidst a multitude of content, ensuring key messages are effectively communicated.

  3. Improving Open Rates and Engagement: Participants will discover techniques for increasing open rates and engagement with their church eNewsletters, including segmenting their audience, optimizing subject lines, maintaining a clean email list, and personalizing content.

  4. Enhancing Readability, Brevity, and Consistency: Participants will learn how to enhance the readability of their eNewsletters, ensure brevity and consistency in messaging, and ultimately create eNewsletters that effectively engage and communicate with their congregation.

This workshop is led by Sheila Chester, member of the Denver Presbytery. Read bio. View website.