Smart Church Project

Helping Mission-Driven Organizations Improve their Impact

Questions for Report

by

What are your team’s greatest communication challenge?

no central digital communication. We have no cloud based communication or information. If power goes out email, online registrations and planning, as well as folders are immediately unavailable. It's pretty difficult to communicate and collaborate when information is not easily accessible and the communication pipeline is convoluted.

If the church made one significant change in its internal communication, what would it be and how would it help?

A move to the cloud on all levels. Easily access, store, and communicate instantly and from anywhere. Servers are outdated, our church software is outdated, and we don't even use the new web based version of outlook. For this reason my ministry team of youth and families uses Google Drive for everything.

How can the church improve its promotional resources and support?

Our social media presence is terrible, and constant contact is clunky. We have to do better in our local communication strategy

I feel events and programs are adequately communicated to the congregation and the broader community.

1

Why do you feel they are promoted poorly?

Emails on a Friday are not effective, print is not effective, we have no social media presence, we use no digital media or screens, and we use no local sources, e.g., neighborhood print sources, local online such as Patch, etc.

I feel Trinity’s website accurately reflects the character and vision of the church.

1

I feel the church branding accurately reflects the character and vision of the church.

1

I feel Trinity's social media feeds accurately reflect the character and vision of the church.

1

What do you feel is the church’s biggest struggle in effective communication with the congregation and the community?

The resources we use are limited, there are many tools we could use and don't, and we don't communicate to the community at all. We are a Border's church in an Amazon world - Border's went out of business a long time ago

If the church made one significant change in its communication with the congregation and the broader community, what would it be and how would it help?

We need to go digital

What are your team’s greatest communication challenge?

Knowing who has ownership of program particulars, having a centralized collaboration tool to keep track of program elements so that all members of the team can see what is happening and if we are off-track.

If the church made one significant change in its internal communication, what would it be and how would it help?

For internal communications I would say collaboration software of some ilk.

I feel events and programs are adequately communicated to the congregation and the broader community.

3

I feel Trinity’s website accurately reflects the character and vision of the church.

2

I feel the church branding accurately reflects the character and vision of the church.

3

I feel Trinity's social media feeds accurately reflect the character and vision of the church.

2

What do you feel is the church’s biggest struggle in effective communication with the congregation and the community?

Consistency - in timing, delivery, style, etc.

If the church made one significant change in its communication with the congregation and the broader community, what would it be and how would it help?

I think it would be worth knowing how flat a model we should employ, whether departments should be the heavy lifters or if we need this done in a revamped communications department that is properly staffed. The would give the clarity for us to then begin knowing how to focus on the various vehicles of communications and where to focus energy. IMHO

What are your team’s greatest communication challenge?

Keeping the entire team informed

How can the church improve its promotional resources and support?

more staff support and resources allocated specifically to communications

I feel events and programs are adequately communicated to the congregation and the broader community.

4

I feel Trinity’s website accurately reflects the character and vision of the church.

4

I feel the church branding accurately reflects the character and vision of the church.

4

I feel Trinity's social media feeds accurately reflect the character and vision of the church.

4

What do you feel is the church’s biggest struggle in effective communication with the congregation and the community?

The biggest struggle is creating content that will grab the attention of our audience. Often the ministries are disappointed that dry, basic announcements did not result in greater awareness and participation. Writing inspiring stories, taking great photographs, and creating stimulating short videos all require planning and resources. We cannot expect engagement without first getting people's attention.

If the church made one significant change in its communication with the congregation and the broader community, what would it be and how would it help?

STORYTELLING
I believe the congregation would feel more engaged if there was more emphasis on storytelling in our communications across the board.

I feel events and programs are adequately communicated to the congregation and the broader community.

4

I feel Trinity’s website accurately reflects the character and vision of the church.

4

I feel the church branding accurately reflects the character and vision of the church.

4

I feel Trinity's social media feeds accurately reflect the character and vision of the church.

4

I feel events and programs are adequately communicated to the congregation and the broader community.

4

I feel Trinity’s website accurately reflects the character and vision of the church.

4

I feel the church branding accurately reflects the character and vision of the church.

4

I feel Trinity's social media feeds accurately reflect the character and vision of the church.

4

What are your team’s greatest communication challenge?

coordinating time changes
recruiting new members

If the church made one significant change in its internal communication, what would it be and how would it help?

to view actual topics of small groups
to see at a glance each days activities
When Awakening is in the bulletin it should name our current book
If we want recruitment help, how do we decide whom to call ?

How can the church improve its promotional resources and support?

Notices need more of a sales pitch. just the facts are too bland

I feel events and programs are adequately communicated to the congregation and the broader community.

2

Why do you feel they are promoted poorly?

there is either too much happening and nothing standout or just no excitement

I feel Trinity’s website accurately reflects the character and vision of the church.

3

I feel the church branding accurately reflects the character and vision of the church.

2

I feel Trinity's social media feeds accurately reflect the character and vision of the church.

3

What do you feel is the church’s biggest struggle in effective communication with the congregation and the community?

I am unaware of any contact with the community. If there is, please let the members know how to see it .

If the church made one significant change in its communication with the congregation and the broader community, what would it be and how would it help?

Maybe a digital board on Moores Mill or Howell Mill.

I feel events and programs are adequately communicated to the congregation and the broader community.

5

I feel Trinity’s website accurately reflects the character and vision of the church.

1

I feel the church branding accurately reflects the character and vision of the church.

4

I feel Trinity's social media feeds accurately reflect the character and vision of the church.

1

What are your team’s greatest communication challenge?

sometimes wish for centralized communication, sometimes want to ignore centralized communication restraints and timelines

I feel events and programs are adequately communicated to the congregation and the broader community.

3

I feel Trinity’s website accurately reflects the character and vision of the church.

3

I feel the church branding accurately reflects the character and vision of the church.

3

I feel Trinity's social media feeds accurately reflect the character and vision of the church.

3

What do you feel is the church’s biggest struggle in effective communication with the congregation and the community?

Choosing a direction and staying with it. Either we have targeted (ministry level) communication or we have church wide communication.

I feel events and programs are adequately communicated to the congregation and the broader community.

4

I feel Trinity’s website accurately reflects the character and vision of the church.

1

I feel the church branding accurately reflects the character and vision of the church.

1

I feel Trinity's social media feeds accurately reflect the character and vision of the church.

1

What are your team’s greatest communication challenge?

Getting info to parents of CFM

I feel events and programs are adequately communicated to the congregation and the broader community.

3

I feel Trinity’s website accurately reflects the character and vision of the church.

3

I feel the church branding accurately reflects the character and vision of the church.

3

I feel Trinity's social media feeds accurately reflect the character and vision of the church.

3

What are your team’s greatest communication challenge?

No specific challenge, but each member is responsible for their own calendar, knowing when meetings are, etc. Keeping track of all meetings and deadlines can be a challenge.

If the church made one significant change in its internal communication, what would it be and how would it help?

Collaborative tool for reviewing upcoming meeting dates, deliverables, deadlines and documents would allow for all "church business" to be consolidated in one place vs. our personal email and/or business accounts, which are overflowing.

I feel events and programs are adequately communicated to the congregation and the broader community.

4

I feel Trinity’s website accurately reflects the character and vision of the church.

2

I feel the church branding accurately reflects the character and vision of the church.

4

I feel Trinity's social media feeds accurately reflect the character and vision of the church.

3

What do you feel is the church’s biggest struggle in effective communication with the congregation and the community?

The universal struggle of multiple channels/formats to reach a diverse community

If the church made one significant change in its communication with the congregation and the broader community, what would it be and how would it help?

Choose primary channels for external communication to prospective members and invest in them vs. trying to do everything. Up our game to the broader community.

What are your team’s greatest communication challenge?

Getting publicity for music and arts events done far enough ahead of time so they are ready for distribution. Also keeping our area of the website up to date and interesting.

If the church made one significant change in its internal communication, what would it be and how would it help?

If Esther could be relieved of the weekly bulletins and concentrate only on communications that would be very helpful.

I feel events and programs are adequately communicated to the congregation and the broader community.

4

I feel Trinity’s website accurately reflects the character and vision of the church.

4

I feel the church branding accurately reflects the character and vision of the church.

5

I feel Trinity's social media feeds accurately reflect the character and vision of the church.

3

What do you feel is the church’s biggest struggle in effective communication with the congregation and the community?

Getting people to read emails and use the website more.

If the church made one significant change in its communication with the congregation and the broader community, what would it be and how would it help?

Upgrade the website to be easier to navigate and more interactive.

What are your team’s greatest communication challenge?

Making sure that Haiti team members read and respond in a timely manner.

How can the church improve its promotional resources and support?

Not sure

I feel events and programs are adequately communicated to the congregation and the broader community.

2

Why do you feel they are promoted poorly?

Many members that I speak with are unaware of various programs.

I feel Trinity’s website accurately reflects the character and vision of the church.

4

I feel the church branding accurately reflects the character and vision of the church.

3

I feel Trinity's social media feeds accurately reflect the character and vision of the church.

3

What do you feel is the church’s biggest struggle in effective communication with the congregation and the community?

Members on a whole do not bother to read email information.

If the church made one significant change in its communication with the congregation and the broader community, what would it be and how would it help?

Perhaps highlighting a specific area of interest each month, such as a ministry team or Stephen Ministers at multiple church events throughout the month at Thursday night suppers, small groups, within Sunday School Classes, and from the pulpit.

What are your team’s greatest communication challenge?

Having everyone attend our meetings.

If the church made one significant change in its internal communication, what would it be and how would it help?

I do not have a good suggestion here.

How can the church improve its promotional resources and support?

This would start by publicizing what is available

I feel events and programs are adequately communicated to the congregation and the broader community.

4

I feel Trinity’s website accurately reflects the character and vision of the church.

1

I feel the church branding accurately reflects the character and vision of the church.

2

I feel Trinity's social media feeds accurately reflect the character and vision of the church.

3

What do you feel is the church’s biggest struggle in effective communication with the congregation and the community?

We are not recognized as then leader in the community that we should be.

If the church made one significant change in its communication with the congregation and the broader community, what would it be and how would it help?

Take more proactive positions on public policy issues and communicate these to both the congregation and the community. By doing this, we could become a leader for progressive issues in the community.

What are your team’s greatest communication challenge?

I don't think we have enough communications staff; Esther needs an assistant. That's probably my number one wish - more Esther. She is very talented, works smart and she's fast, and I wish I had more of her time and she just doesn't have it to give to me. I wish we had more social media presence. And a little more breathing room to do some more "long range" communications planning other than, "what is due this week?"
Coordinating with other ministry teams is a weakness - the coordination between Adult Ed & Mission with Congregational activities, Youth ministry, Family and Children's ministry, etc. It is left to the admin level staff to try coordinate communication pieces and programming details, however, Admin doesn't necessarily have access to all the information about programming or the ability to make decisions about the details-to-be-determined. So Admin staff attempts to coordinate when info trickles down, but that info is sometimes late, the method haphazard and then the coordination can be awkward. I wish leadership as a whole was more decisive and timely about programming details, and then relayed that info in a consistent and timely fashion to Admin. Leadership has a lot of meetings but I don't think have ever seen a document or email with decisions and next steps from a Leadership meeting to Admin. I get info regularly from Richard and Betsy because we interact a lot, however, what is going on with Youth or CFM or Congregational Life I sometimes find out too late to coordinate anything with them.

If the church made one significant change in its internal communication, what would it be and how would it help?

Give Esther some staffing or outsource funding. If she could delegate some of her tasks so that she has more time to problem solve and plan for communications, I think we would see changes across ministries.

How can the church improve its promotional resources and support?

We don't have the time to promote properly on social media. I don't have the skills or time to work with graphics so I am dependent on Esther for those needs.

I feel events and programs are adequately communicated to the congregation and the broader community.

4

I feel Trinity’s website accurately reflects the character and vision of the church.

2

I feel the church branding accurately reflects the character and vision of the church.

4

I feel Trinity's social media feeds accurately reflect the character and vision of the church.

2

What do you feel is the church’s biggest struggle in effective communication with the congregation and the community?

Trinity staff. Not enough time to do cohesive planning across ministries and not enough staff to adequately keep website and social media communications up to date.
CFM and Youth function so independently that I don't know what their programs/events are - so coordinating Adult ministry communications with Youth and CFM is haphazard.

If the church made one significant change in its communication with the congregation and the broader community, what would it be and how would it help?

Make our online presence current and keep it up to date.

What are your team’s greatest communication challenge?

Using media effectively to encourage attendance at events

If the church made one significant change in its internal communication, what would it be and how would it help?

The Master Calendar was implemented to prevent conflicts, but there are still times where it is not consulted.

I feel events and programs are adequately communicated to the congregation and the broader community.

4

I feel Trinity’s website accurately reflects the character and vision of the church.

3

I feel the church branding accurately reflects the character and vision of the church.

5

I feel Trinity's social media feeds accurately reflect the character and vision of the church.

3

What do you feel is the church’s biggest struggle in effective communication with the congregation and the community?

We live in a world with information overload. We are just trying to find a balance in that world for our congregants.

If the church made one significant change in its communication with the congregation and the broader community, what would it be and how would it help?

I have no idea

What are your team’s greatest communication challenge?

Lack of response from individuals.

I feel events and programs are adequately communicated to the congregation and the broader community.

4

I feel Trinity’s website accurately reflects the character and vision of the church.

4

I feel the church branding accurately reflects the character and vision of the church.

3

I feel Trinity's social media feeds accurately reflect the character and vision of the church.

4

What do you feel is the church’s biggest struggle in effective communication with the congregation and the community?

Lack of interest by the congregation and community in communication.

What are your team’s greatest communication challenge?

Since we are all volunteers, finding time to communicate with each other is our biggest challenge.

If the church made one significant change in its internal communication, what would it be and how would it help?

I find the registration website that Trinity uses difficult work with.

I feel events and programs are adequately communicated to the congregation and the broader community.

4

I feel Trinity’s website accurately reflects the character and vision of the church.

3

I feel the church branding accurately reflects the character and vision of the church.

2

I feel Trinity's social media feeds accurately reflect the character and vision of the church.

2

What do you feel is the church’s biggest struggle in effective communication with the congregation and the community?

Lack of communication with the community. Other challenges mentioned above.

If the church made one significant change in its communication with the congregation and the broader community, what would it be and how would it help?

More community and internal communication, particularly for our new 9:00 informal service, our new youth space and what we offer to the non-churched community.

What are your team’s greatest communication challenge?

We all need to be able to see and work with one set of document. It is also important for us to pass information down from year to year.

If the church made one significant change in its internal communication, what would it be and how would it help?

It would be fantastic if the website was more useful. It doesn't provide much info if you are trying to find groups/activities when you new at the church.

I feel events and programs are adequately communicated to the congregation and the broader community.

4

I feel Trinity’s website accurately reflects the character and vision of the church.

3

I feel the church branding accurately reflects the character and vision of the church.

3

I feel Trinity's social media feeds accurately reflect the character and vision of the church.

3

What do you feel is the church’s biggest struggle in effective communication with the congregation and the community?

I think the website is the biggest struggle.

If the church made one significant change in its communication with the congregation and the broader community, what would it be and how would it help?

Website

What are your team’s greatest communication challenge?

Avoiding getting lost in the clutter of other messages.

If the church made one significant change in its internal communication, what would it be and how would it help?

Texting important messages briefly as opposed to longer emails with multiple topics, which can lead me to defer reading.

I feel events and programs are adequately communicated to the congregation and the broader community.

4

I feel Trinity’s website accurately reflects the character and vision of the church.

4

I feel the church branding accurately reflects the character and vision of the church.

5

I feel Trinity's social media feeds accurately reflect the character and vision of the church.

4

What do you feel is the church’s biggest struggle in effective communication with the congregation and the community?

Distilling the message into easily digestible bites.

What are your team’s greatest communication challenge?

Communicate to a large group. Knowing that communication is received and acted on.

I feel events and programs are adequately communicated to the congregation and the broader community.

2

I feel Trinity’s website accurately reflects the character and vision of the church.

3

I feel the church branding accurately reflects the character and vision of the church.

3

I feel Trinity's social media feeds accurately reflect the character and vision of the church.

3

What do you feel is the church’s biggest struggle in effective communication with the congregation and the community?

Understanding the media that best reaches our target audience

If the church made one significant change in its communication with the congregation and the broader community, what would it be and how would it help?

Improve the web site

What are your team’s greatest communication challenge?

Integrating strategic initiatives into regular communications rhythms of the church

How can the church improve its promotional resources and support?

Create an external communication strategy

I feel events and programs are adequately communicated to the congregation and the broader community.

1

Why do you feel they are promoted poorly?

I don't feel like we promote events to broader community. Sometimes what is communicated to congregation isn't necessarily the most important event.

I feel Trinity’s website accurately reflects the character and vision of the church.

1

I feel the church branding accurately reflects the character and vision of the church.

1

I feel Trinity's social media feeds accurately reflect the character and vision of the church.

1

What do you feel is the church’s biggest struggle in effective communication with the congregation and the community?

Prioritizing communications overall. Figuring out what should be communicated regularly and what deserves a special (one-time) e-mail, etc.

If the church made one significant change in its communication with the congregation and the broader community, what would it be and how would it help?

I think any attempt to begin communicating with the wider community would be a step in the right direction. I also think targeted attempts at communicating with outside groups that use our space would also be good.

I feel events and programs are adequately communicated to the congregation and the broader community.

1

I feel Trinity’s website accurately reflects the character and vision of the church.

1

I feel the church branding accurately reflects the character and vision of the church.

1

I feel Trinity's social media feeds accurately reflect the character and vision of the church.

1

What are your team’s greatest communication challenge?

They tend to live in individual silos and either do not work out details or do not share details so everyone understands the direction things are taking and everyone's expected roles.

If the church made one significant change in its internal communication, what would it be and how would it help?

I think a project management software such as Asana would help make sure all tasks were assigned and communicated effectively across all ministries.

I feel events and programs are adequately communicated to the congregation and the broader community.

3

I feel Trinity’s website accurately reflects the character and vision of the church.

4

I feel the church branding accurately reflects the character and vision of the church.

3

I feel Trinity's social media feeds accurately reflect the character and vision of the church.

1

What are your team’s greatest communication challenge?

We work hard to plan in advance when and what communication will be sent about programs and events coming up.

If the church made one significant change in its internal communication, what would it be and how would it help?

Share practices for using the website effectively.

I feel events and programs are adequately communicated to the congregation and the broader community.

4

I feel Trinity’s website accurately reflects the character and vision of the church.

1

I feel the church branding accurately reflects the character and vision of the church.

4

I feel Trinity's social media feeds accurately reflect the character and vision of the church.

4

What do you feel is the church’s biggest struggle in effective communication with the congregation and the community?

There tends to be A LOT of info needing to be communicated. Things can get lost in the shuffle.

If the church made one significant change in its communication with the congregation and the broader community, what would it be and how would it help?

Clarity in the church website.