Lisa Hendey
This presentation was given at the 2011 Catholic New Media Conference. Below are my notes on the presentation:
Why Bother?
- Educate about the Church
- Provide parish information
- Outreach to interest groups
- Build community
10 Best Practices for Parish Websites
From Craig Berry:
- Useful contact us page
- About Us/History Page
- Prominent use of Social Media
- Online Map/Directions
- Calendar of Events
- Weekly Bulletins
- Blog
- Site Map
- Mass Times
- Donate Online
What Parishioners Want (from online polling)
- Priestly presence (this can be easy or hard)
- Ministry schedule information
- Homilies available online
- Q&A with Pastor
- Photos, photos, photos!
- Religious education resources
- Opt-in text reminders
- Bulletin online early
- Mobile version
- Online forms and registration
- Active Facebook presence for wired parishioners and teens
- Online stewardship
- Ride sharing resources
Outreach
- We are at the service of the Word.
- Never neglect human relationships.
Is social media right for your parish?
From Jared Dees, Today's Parish
- What are my parish's goals?
- Does the parish website align with these goals?
- Do I have the time and people to participate in social media?
- Will I be able to relinquish control of the conversation?
- Are you ready?
Building Community
- Involve many and non-traditional volunteers
- Offer cultural and linguistic diversity
- Include photos (within existing usage policies)
- Meet them where they are
- Establish a parish hastag
- Activate youth and young adult resources and don't forget "wired" seniors
- Hang Out (on Google+)
- Find a Knight in shining armor
- Check in at church
Dealing with Resistance
- What are some of the best practices for overcoming resistance in social media efforts in the parish?
- Parish leaders are often unable to see the online component of the parish as more than a 'publishing medium'
- Assure leaders that you can put limits and boundaries on things so it doesn't grow out of control or too expensive
- You can still have active and beautiful online presences without vast resources
- Start small, and incrementally grow. Sometimes you just need to take a small step, and then wait.
Hall of Fame
- ourladyofhope.net
- Nativity Catholic Church
- St. Mary's Catholic Center
- Introduction to New Translation of the Roman Missal
- eCatholic
- St. Clement Catholic Church
- St. John the Baptist in MA (couldn't find link)
- Lisa M. Hendey