Communication Strategy

**** Mission Area

201*-1*

Purpose of the Strategy

The Mission Area needs to ensure that it has robust methods of communication both within the Ministry Team, among church attendees and to the wider community. Current communication methods are designed for parishes and there are changes required to ensure that where necessary, communication reaches across the Mission Area.

There are methods of communication that are not currently used to their full potential and we need to explore how we can actively utilise the tools we have to ensure the messages are getting out. This strategy aims to identify all the possible methods of communication, plan for the development of the use of those methods through the next year and give basic guidelines about what should or can be communicated through which method.

1.Methods of Communication

a)WebsiteAll church web pages should be kept up to date with regular services (inclusive of midweek services, Messy Church etc) as well as having relevant special services added at appropriate times of year. Any changes to normal service patterns should be added to the website. Ideally the Mission Area should have a shared front page with individual church details linked from it.

ACTION 1: A nominated person (and Deputy) to update the website for each of the churches in Mission Area.

ACTION 2: A Website Manager to oversee the Mission Area websites, send out reminders in time for Christmas and Easter updates (and other relevant times) and ensure the websites are kept up to date.

ACTION 3: Each person involved in service planning to have the email of the relevant website updater

and ensure that they are provided with all the relevant information in plenty of time.

b)MA newsletterThis was started in February 2015 and the intention is to continue these as and when there is news.

Distribution?

ACTION 4: All relevant people to regularly send information on special services and events to the Mission Area Leader.

c)EmailEmail is used quite regularly within particular churches or parishes and will continue.

Email should be used more regularly across the Mission Area. Special events and services should be shared with mailing groups across the Mission Area. Training opportunities and any trips that are open to the Missions area can be shared by email.

Email can be used to request assistance from the network of Worship Leaders, Pastoral Assistants and others. Need to be clear how –through clergy?

ACTION: Ensure all the appropriate people have the email addresses required for the above.

ACTION: Ensure that these people also have a note of those not available on email and the best method of contact for them so no one is excluded.

ACTION: Look into the possibility of having linked Outlook calendars that can be accessed and updated by people across the Mission Area. This should help to avoid date/time clashes.

d)Church notices

Some churches have weekly notice sheets and some just verbal notices at Sunday services. Details of contacts and submission deadlines are given below.

Church notices should be used for information about services and events in the individual church as well as events across the Mission Area in the near future that are likely to be of interest to church attendees. They should always include shared Mission Area services and events.

ACTION: All those involved in organising services and events should have the contacts below and regularly send the relevant information (only).

MontgomeryContact: Jenny Brignall Submissions by: end of the day WednesdayDistribution: Notice sheet to Montgomery, Forden and Llandyssil every Sunday they have services

Four CrossesContact: Jim Thompson/Evelyn?Submissions by: Tues eveningDistribution: Notice sheet to Llandysillio, Llandrinio, Penrhos and Criggion churches every Sunday? and local shop

BerriewContact: Peter Pike Submissions by: Friday morningDistribution: Berriew Church every Sunday and available during the week, Fron and Pantyffridd twice a month, when they have services

Welshpool – St Mary’sContact: Sue Williams Submissions by: Friday Distribution: Verbal announcements only – every Sunday

Castle CaereinionContact: Vojke TurnerSubmissions by: FridayDistribution: Verbal announcements only – not 3rd and 5th Sundays

Pool QuayContact: June ParrySubmissions by: Friday Distribution: Verbal announcements only - every Sunday

e)Magazines/Community NewslettersEach church should use their relevant magazine or community newsletter to publicise regular local services and events – particularly those that may be of interest to non-church-goers. Where possible, Mission Area special services and events, especially those that may be of interest to non-church-goers, should be submitted for publication in Magazines and Newsletters across the Mission Area.

ACTION: All those involved in organising services and events should have the contacts below and regularly submit information on events that may be of interest to the wider community.

Montgomery – Town NewsletterContact: Currently we don’t have any spare roomFrequency: Bi-monthly

Forden – Community NewsletterContact: Toni BennettFrequency: Quarterly

Llandyssil – Community NewsletterContact: Toni BennettFrequency: Quarterly

Four Crosses – Local NewsletterContact: MyfanwySubmissions by: 16th of monthFrequency: Monthly

WelshpoolContact: stmaryschurchmag@hotmail.com or The Vicarage, WelshpoolSubmissons by: 21st of month

Castle CaereinionContact: Rev Steve Willson

Submissions by: ??Frequency: Quarterly?

Pool Quay – Community NewsletterContact: Rev Steve Willson Submission by: 21st of month (bimonthly)Frequency: Bimonthly

Berriew Contact: Val Wallis barrywallis246@btinternet.comSubmission by: 21st of month?Frequency: Monthly

f) Teulu AsaphContact: Diocesan Office – insert new contact?Submission by: ??Frequency: Bi-Monthly

ACTION: ?? Fill in details and send out

g)StARContact: Sian Connelly sianconnelly@churchinwales.org.uk Submission by: RollingFrequency: Every Thursday

h)Telephone /Local postChain/Buddying System

Primarily for those not on email

ACTION: Collate the phone numbers of all those not on email/who would prefer phone. Organise into contact lists for relevant subjects such as prayer contacts, worship leaders, pastoral assistants etc.

ACTION: Agree a procedure for the use of chain/buddying system – who will begin it and ensure all participants are aware of the procedure. Phone 2 people each?i) Word of mouth

There is no official policy on the use of this but church members should be given all the relevant information and encouraged to share and invite others.

ACTION: To supplement word of mouth, leaflets could be produced to detail the regular services and relevant contacts that members can carry and distribute as appropriate.

j) FacebookFacebook is used by many organisations as a way to promote information and events. It is more and more often being seen as the place to get information and the church needs to be more proactive in using this opportunity. Each church should have a Facebook page as well as one for the Mission Area and they should regularly put out information that may be of interest to their community.

ACTION: Identify a nominated person for each church and one for the MA to manage the Facebook page (could be the same person as does the website?).

ACTION: Set up Facebook pages for each church and one for the MA and input the basic contact details and regular services.

ACTION: Agree a protocol for how often to post and what should and shouldn’t be posted and ensure all nominated people are aware of the protocol.

k)Twitter We don’t have a MA Twitter account and don’t feel we have a need for one at the moment but there is a St Asaph Twitter account and we could request information to be put out on this where appropriate.

ACTION: Ensure major special events are promoted on the St Asaph Twitter account.

l) Local community groups outside church

Special events and services should be advertised through local community groups outside of the church who might have a particular interest. For example children and

family events and services should be publicise through local children’s clubs. Events and services aimed at older

people can be publicised through community groups they attend.

ACTION: Each church to compile a list of community groups in their area and the relevant contacts and ensure they are circulated to all the relevant people.

ACTION: All those involved in organising services and events should ensure that all special events and services are publicised through these groups as appropriate.

m)Ecumenical communication opportunities Special events and services should be advertised through other churches in each area when appropriate.

ACTION: Each church to compile a list of the relevant contacts for the churches in their area and ensure they are circulated to all the relevant people.

n)SchoolsRelevant services and events that may be of interest to children or families should always be advertised through schools where possible. This should include information from across the Mission Area.

ACTION: A nominated contact to be identified for each church that has local schools who will collate information about relevant events and circulate to the school

What do we need to communicate and where?

a)Websiteb) MA newsletterc) Emaild)Church notices e)Magazines/Community Newslettersf) Teulu Asaphg)StARh)Telephone i) Word of mouthj) Facebookk)Twitter l) Local community groups outside churchm)Ecumenical communication opportunities o)Schools

Courses - e.g. Israel/Palestine, Lent, discipleship, quiet day, bible study

MA

Special service - shared services also, different days or timesMA if openSometimes just local community Sometimes just local church

Normal services - Local churchLocal community

Regular other things!Local churchLocal communitySometimes MA if open

Things from StarLocally to those who don't access star

Special eventsLocal community

Local churchMA if openWider to diocese if open

Significant MA developments/announcementsAll those in churches in MAOccasionally might be wider

Prayer requestsThose who have agreed to join - many avenues - ecumenical?

Things that are being done as a MAMA churchesCommunitiesWider around diocese where appropriate

Good news storiesLocally to encourage others MA sameDiocese

Childrens/Youth EventsLocal communitiesMA where openSchools

Need to say who is deciding or advising what goes where

Who can help with communication?

Possibly have group of secretaries/minute takers with support etc