Communications Team Leader

What is my job?

Communicate internally and externally so that members and others will understand and become interested in participating the congregation

Lead the congregation is effective communication for the 21st century

Who is qualified for this job?

Spiritual gifts:

exhortation (encouragement), knowledge, administration, and helping

Experience, skills:

This leader shows passion for communicating a clear message and skill with methods of communication—verbal, written, and electronic. At the same time, this person must be able to work with leaders of other ministry groups, have expertise in the field of communication, and interest in developing and sharing knowledge. This leader must be able to connect their knowledge and expertise to the vision and mission of the congregation.

What do I do?

• Maintain a healthy and growing spiritual life and lead others to do the same.
• Oversee and coordinate the communications that go from your congregation to its members and to the community, such as print and electronic newsletters and announcements, telephone contacts, a website, radio spots and programming, and broadcast journalism.
• Coordinate contacts between your congregation and community media.
• Collaborate with the church leadership team and church staff to plan program and benevolence promotions.
• Develop and produce video resources for internal and external ministry and outreach.

Where can I get help?

Getting Started

• Read Job Descriptions and Leadership Training in the United Methodist Church, Guidelines for Leading Your Church, 2013-2016: Communications and the Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church, 2012 to understand the depth and breadth of your job.
• Invite interested people of all ages in the congregation and the community to join you for planning, learning new communication tools, and projects.
• Set aside time for personal spiritual practices to build your attentiveness to God's will for your leadership and God's direction for your congregation. Keep the pastor and other leaders informed about the ways the communication plans connect with the identity and future plans of the congregation

Agencies and people:

• Build networks with people in the congregation and community who have skill and interest in communication.
• Infoserve, infoserve.umc.org, answers questions and provides current information about United Methodist resources, programs, and staff services
• United Methodist Communications knowledge center has help for a congregational communicator. Click back to the home page for other links and staff contacts.

Web and print

• ReThink Church has materials for congregation. Be sure to fill out the information for your congregation in the "find a church" section.
• Speaking Faith: The Essential Handbook for Religious Communicators Compiled by the Religious Communicators Council