Creating a Compelling Parish Profile For the rector search process.
-
Upload
makayla-bloomfield -
Category
Documents
-
view
221 -
download
0
Transcript of Creating a Compelling Parish Profile For the rector search process.
Creating a Compelling Parish Profile
For the rector search process
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
This session•What is a Parish Profile?
•Getting started
•Your content strategy
•Putting it all together
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
This session•What is a Parish Profile?
•Getting started
•Your content strategy
•Putting it all together
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
What is a Parish Profile?•A reflection of your parish
personality
•A sales pitch for your parish
•An executive search tool
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
What is a Parish Profile?
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
What is a Parish Profile?
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
What is a Parish Profile?
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
What is a Parish Profile?
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
What is a Parish Profile?
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
What is a Parish Profile?
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
What is a Parish Profile?
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
This session•What is a Parish Profile?
•Getting started
•Your content strategy
•Putting it all together
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Getting started•Confirm expectations
•Assemble the team
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Getting started
Confirming expectations•What is the time frame?
•Is there a budget?
•What is your final product? Electronic document Printed piece
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Getting started
Assembling your team•Sponsor (search committee chair)
•Administrator (project manager)
•Editor
•Copy editors / proofreaders
•Photographer
•Production people (design, layout)
•Experts*
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Getting started
Assembling your team•Experts
Parishioners Catechists Ministry leaders Commission chairs Staff Vestry Clergy
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
This session•What is a Parish Profile?
•Getting started
•Your content strategy
•Putting it all together
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Content strategy
High-level plan•Develop a basic outline*
•Gather information
•Lay it all out on the table (literally!)
•Agree how you’ll weave the parish narrative
•Work toward a “design plan”
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Content strategy
Develop a basic content outline
This is available online.
This is available online.
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Content strategy
Gather fresh information •Cottage meetings
•Parish surveys
•Vestry input
•Questionnaire for ministry leaders
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Content strategy
Gather fresh information•Ask for specifics
Vision Accomplishments Aspirations
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Content strategy
Gather historical information •Annual reports
•Parochial reports
Parochial Reports are a great source of
historical trend information about
your parish
Parochial Reports are a great source of
historical trend information about
your parish
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Content strategy
Weave the parish narrative •A profile should answer basic
questions Who are we today? What do we value? How do we worship together? What is a typical Sunday? Where do we want to go as a parish? What kind of a leader will get us there?
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Content strategy
Weave the parish narrative •What is our pitch?
•How do we tell our story?
•How will we draw readers in?
That content outline is just
a starting point.
Your story might be different.
That content outline is just
a starting point.
Your story might be different.
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Content strategy
Key content•Identify any clergy (with photos)
•Describe church staff and property
•Include photos of church, rectory
•Include information about diocese from the parish’s perspective
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Content strategy
Key content•Use charts and graphs for financial
and congregational statistics
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Average weekly attendance by year
This would be good task for one of your
experts!
This would be good task for one of your
experts!
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Content strategy
Key content•A brief history of the parish
•A few paragraphs on every active ministry or commission
•More detail on vital areas like Christian formation, and parish life
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Content strategy
Include some local flavor•Describe the community
•Nearby schools and universities
•Area attractions
Maybe a map of the
region…
Maybe a map of the
region…
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Content strategy
Remember to . . . Play up the positives
•Present challenges in a positive way
•Include a letter to the future rector
•Use one editorial voice
•Be truthful•Finish strong!
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
This session•What is a Parish Profile?
•Getting started
•Your content strategy
•Putting it all together
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Putting it all together
Work towards a design plan•Think about your visual identity
•Let pictures help tell your story
•Layout/design tips
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Putting it all together
Your visual identity•You have one: it’s already in your
leaflets, your sign, your website
•It’s influenced through Colors Fonts Logos
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Your visual identity
Putting it all together
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Putting it all together
Your visual identity•If cost is a concern . . .
A website can be an
inexpensive and flexible place to initiate a visual
identity program
A website can be an
inexpensive and flexible place to initiate a visual
identity program
and it’s the first place
many newcomers will see you.
and it’s the first place
many newcomers will see you.
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Putting it all together
Your visual identity decision1.Blend with your existing
visual identity 2.Create a new look that’s
consistent with “where you want to go”
It’s a good idea to discuss option #2
with your team sponsor or search
committee!
It’s a good idea to discuss option #2
with your team sponsor or search
committee!
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Putting it all together
Pictures help tell your story•Digital cameras and digital delivery
make this much more affordable!
•Photograph all your parish events
•Include pictures of the church and rectory
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Putting it all together
Pictures help tell your story•Use a mix of close-up, detail, group,
and mid-range photos in a page layout or in a series of pages
•Print group photos big enough so that you can see faces
•Run any out-of-focus photos a little smaller
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Putting it all together
Pictures help tell your story
Photos of people engage readers more than the
bricks and mortar.
Photos of people engage readers more than the
bricks and mortar. (Sorry
buildings…)
(Sorry buildings
…)
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Putting it all together
Layout/design tips•Group photos together (they like
company)
•Use lots of ‘em!
•Bigger is better
•Anchor pictures to corresponding text
•Use photo collage to humanize parish
Check out Picasa for organizing
your photos.
Check out Picasa for organizing
your photos.
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Putting it all together
Layout/design tips
Consistency in style puts the
emphasis on the message, not the design.
Consistency in style puts the
emphasis on the message, not the design.
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Putting it all together
Running the project•I got the job. Now what?!
•Writing
•Content approval
•Technology/presentation
•Final review
•Implementing it
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Putting it all together
Administering•Have a kickoff meeting•Agree on
Roles Responsibilities Expectations
•Agree on reasonable timelines•Consider dependencies
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Putting it all together
Administering•Distribute a schedule to everyone
and update as necessary
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Putting it all together
Administering•Schedule regular, brief meetings
•Send routine communication to the team and the sponsor Progress / accomplishments Upcoming dates Gentle reminders
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Putting it all together
Writing•Work to your content outline
•Use strategies to gather accurate, concise information the first time
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Putting it all together
Writing•Use placeholders for missing images
and move on
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Putting it all together
Writing•Too much information? Boil it down
•One individual stitching it together gives the profile one “editorial voice”
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Putting it all together
Writing•Ask experts to review their sections
•Get a copy to your photographer/photo editor so they can begin gathering up the images
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Putting it all together
Writing•Circulate draft copies to your
proofreadersIt may be old
fashioned, but proofing on paper
has benefits. If you proof electronically,
use “Track Changes”.
It may be old fashioned, but
proofing on paper has benefits. If you proof electronically,
use “Track Changes”.
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Putting it all together
Writing•Incorporate final changes from team
Ready?Ready?
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Putting it all together
Content approval: Round 1 •These will be fresh eye—
expect suggestions
•Encourage any sweeping changes NOW
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Putting it all together
Content approval: Round 1
Resist the temptation to fine-tune the size
and placement of images until after all content approvals.
Resist the temptation to fine-tune the size
and placement of images until after all content approvals.
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Putting it all together
Content approval: Round 1 •Share the doc with search
committee, wardens•Ask them to look critically
Does this look like us? Are there gaps? Are we being honest? Are we missing any ministries Are we representing our demographics? Does it answer the key questions?
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Putting it all together
Round 1 feedback•Make any final changes
•Circle back with experts if necessary
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Putting it all together
Content approval: Round 2 •Send to vestry and bishop for
their pre-approval
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Putting it all together
Technology/presentation•We used Microsoft Word
•Style sheets are a lifesaver Consistency of formatting Reformat the whole document in
minutes Automatic “Table of Contents”
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Putting it all together
Style sheets
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Putting it all together
Table of contents
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Putting it all together
Image anchors
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Putting it all together
Images
Shrink images down before
placing them (this might be 200 x 150 px).
Shrink images down before
placing them (this might be 200 x 150 px).
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Putting it all together
Final layout•Text is approved, so you can start
fine-tuning the layout Image size is a great “flex point” to
control where the pages break
Getting it to work just right can be challenging
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Putting it all together
Final layout•Text is approved, so you can start
fine-tuning the layout
Oh, yeah. Start from the front and work your
way back!
Oh, yeah. Start from the front and work your
way back!
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Putting it all together
Final review•Print out hard copy for final review;
it’s easier to see errors
•Avoid text editing or content analysis at this phase!!!
•Changes can accidentally insert other errors
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Putting it all together
Output / Delivery•Use Adobe Acrobat PDF format
Locks everything in No squiggly lines under unknown words
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Putting it all together
Output / delivery•Use Adobe Acrobat PDF format
Portable; frees reader Can be printed or read in its entirety Websites are not ideal for documents
intended to be read top to bottom
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Putting it all together
Output / delivery•Use Adobe Acrobat PDF format
Smaller file size
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Putting it all together
Output / delivery•Send to diocese, post to the CDO
database, etc.
•Post to parish website
•Make it easy to find (prominent link on home page)
•Promote to the parish
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
This session•What is a Parish Profile?
•Getting started
•Your content strategy
•Putting it all together
•Bask in the satisfaction of a job well-done!
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Questions?
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
Questions?
•How should we talk about our “challenges”?
•Where can we get advice about websites?
•Should we have the profile printed?
•What resources are there?
http://www.stmaryspr.org/
The Team
Sponsor
Administrator
Editors Photographers Layout/Technical
Expert Expert Expert