Public Relations

As communication leader, you are responsible for building, monitoring, and protecting the image of your local church and its name, within your community.

To do this effectively: Insure that the church is identified by an exterior sign appropriate to the building’s architecture and check the church’s appearance regularly for problems needing attention. Arrange for the identification of the church through listings in local telephone directories, tourist publications, highway signs, and hotels and motels. Arrange for church representation at exhibits and fairs, in parades, and at other community events. Build and nurture relationships with community leaders, clubs, and organizations, and encourage increased church involvement and support in the community when and where appropriate.

Media Relations

Your objective is to raise public awareness of our church—its members, its mission, and its message; work to get church activities and events noted in the media; and help to get the church’s views included in the news adequately and accurately.

To do this effectively: Report church activities to local radio, television, and newspapers by submitting news releases and public service announcements, arranging for interviews, writing letters to the editor on matters of concern to the church, writing or assigning feature stories or columns, arranging for photo coverage of congregational activities or events, and serving as a source of information for public media representatives. Look for opportunities, story ideas, and current issues that concern your church and community. Seek to become personally acquainted with newspaper editors, broadcast assignment editors, religion reporters, and community relations personnel. Develop initial contacts with press kits, nurture contacts with phone calls, and follow up contacts with hand-written note cards.

News and Information

It’s vital to keep church members informed about upcoming activities, and equally important to share church news with conference communication directors and the larger Adventist family.

To do this effectively: Publish a regular newsletter with photos, articles, and input from members and/or submit articles and photos to conference communication directors for conference newsletters or sections in union papers. Maintain an attractive bulletin board in the church lobby highlighting church activities, news, photos, and developments.

Advertising and Promotion

One of your most important responsibilities is to strategically promote all church programs and evangelism campaigns to attract attendance.

To do this effectively: Regularly consult with the pastor and departmental leaders about events and activities they are planning. Assist them with the creation and placement of brochures, flyers, direct mail, broadcast and print ads, and other promotional ideas. Professionally prepared advertising materials are available for many programs, as are public relations and advertising agencies for consultation.