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Some things I learned at the Episcopal Communicators Conference

Episcopal communicators from the Dioceses of Newark and New Jersey

I do diocesan communications as a department of one, so I look forward to my annual trip to the Episcopal Communicators Conference. This year we met April 23-25 in Chicago. It's a rare chance for me to talk at length with my fellow communicators and technology geeks about some of the challenges I face in my job, to share with them what I'm currently doing and to be inspired by their successes. It's also a great opportunity to learn about communications trends, especially in the ever-changing field of electronic media, and how they apply to dioceses and congregations.

First: What is Episcopal Communicators, and who can join?

Episcopal Communicators started in 1971 as an informal assembly of 11 diocesan editors who met in New York at the invitation of the Episcopal Church Center's management team. This initial meeting was so successful they decided to remain in contact as a network, and the first conference was held the following year. Today Episcopal Communicators includes more than 200 people with communication responsibilities in the Episcopal Church at congregational, diocesan, regional, and national levels, in both print and electronic media.

Episcopal CommunicatorsAnyone currently working in the ministry of communications in The Episcopal Church is eligible to join Episcopal Communicators, and I commend it to you highly. The next conference will be held April 8-11, 2015 at the Bishop Claggett Center in Maryland, an easy drive from New Jersey. It will be a great opportunity for communications professionals and volunteers in the Diocese of Newark.

There is also a private Episcopal Communicators Facebook group you can request to join (no dues required) where questions and tips are discussed daily.

Social Media Sunday

One thing I learned about that I want to share with you right away is Social Media Sunday on June 29. Started by two Episcopal Church communications volunteers, the idea is simply this: if even a minority of the Episcopalians who use social media all post about their churches on June 29, 2014, millions of our friends and family will learn something about The Episcopal Church. It's evangelism going viral.

Participation can be as simple as an individual acting as a 'social media ambassador" for their church by posting a photo from church on Facebook, putting a church-related tweet or photo with the hashtag #Episcopal on Twitter or Instagram, or checking into church on Foursquare.

My fellow St. Georgian, Ulysses Dietz, is a great "social media ambassador" for our parish because he regularly posts photos of his church activities on Facebook:

Ulysses Dietz, social media ambassador

If you have the time and resources to plan something more elaborate by June 29, Social Media Sunday can include your whole congregation, perhaps through a forum on social media. The idea is being picked up by other denominations as well; ideas and resources specific to Episcopalians are available at episcopalshare.org.

PinterestAny churches using Pinterest?

I know a decent amount about Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, but at the conference I learned that another social media site is increasingly being used by churches as well: Pinterest. I've only ever dabbled with Pinterest myself, but now I'm committed to learning more, so if your church is actively using a Pinterest account, I'd love to hear from you about it. Please email me at nnicholson@dioceseofnewark.org.

I have more to share from the Episcopal Communicators Conference, which I'll write about in a future blog post.

Comments

Thanks Nina. I thought it was a good conference and I learned a lot. I especially enjoyed connecting with my professional friends and sharing notes of what is working, what isn't working, what we should try and what we should consider.
I look forward to your upcoming posts.

Thank you for sharing this post. I was one of many who followed tweets from the Episcopal communicator's conference and I am one of the organizers of the #Episcopal Social Media Sunday on June 29.

We invite all who are interested in sharing the Episcopal Church with the world to "join" the Facebook event for Social Media Sunday, found here: https://www.facebook.com/events/659173444130415/

As for Pinterest, as the volunteer social media manager for my church, Trinity Episcopal Church in Tariffville, CT (www.trinitytariffville.org), I manage a church Pinterest page. It can be found here: http://www.pinterest.com/trinitytville/. Please check it out and follow us.

I invite you to join the weekly #ChSocM (Church Social Media) tweetchat Tuesdays at 9pmET on Twitter by following the hashtag #chsocm. We're a friendly group and there is much to learn there.

Thanks again, and feel free to contact me if you have any questions. The easiest way to reach me is Twitter (@SingingCarolyn).

Carolyn

Hi Nina, We're just creating our Pinterest boards with the help of a Communications intern (unpaid). We don't plan to moderate it because we want to see what people will pin. We're starting with boards to show our meditation paths including a labyrinth, church windows and altar, historic cemetery, food and flowers (we like both!), art, music. We'll also follow a couple of of boards from vts/cmt and from the national church. I'm back as a member of Episcopal Communicators.See you at Claggett in the fall. Susan Robinson

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