Read this real comment, by a real church creative, at a real church communication conference earlier this year, and tell me if you can relate.
“So far, we agree heartily with everything presented here – but what do we do when our bosses don’t agree and don’t value the creative process? How do we communicate this value to our pastors?”
We are right there with you. You know the creative process and the reasons for having one. But do our pastors?
Isn’t it ironic that the word chosen in the quote was “communicate”? As in, “how do we communicate this value to our pastors?”
So, how to get your pastor on the same page?
As church communicators we understand communication, personas, channels, branding and the importance of consistency in identity, plus all the latest trends.
Yet, we struggle with communicating to pastors.
Let’s entertain the idea of having our pastors as the audience. What are they like? What’s a normal day in their lives like? What objections do they have to church communication or creative process? What are their pain points? What keeps them up at night?
And the main question I have for you is this:
What does your pastor’s life look like BEFORE having a consistent communication process in place compared to AFTER?
Think about sharing the Gospel for example.
How many people have tried the “why-don?t-you-just-trust-in-Jesus-approach” without a context, only to find the audience staring at them or dismissing them?
What happens when you show the BEFORE (“we are all broken”) and the AFTER (“we all need a savior”)? By the time you present Jesus as the Savior, this truth will come with a context that makes more sense to the listener.
Now, try applying this to your pastor. What benefits can you show your pastor that will make his life easier or better? What will life look like for your pastor if your church has a creative process in place?
Get started with 7 reasons why a creative process in church communication is important:
(Hint: The ?you? in these statements is your pastor.)
1. With a creative process in place you would only have to fill out a brief questionnaire, and the creative team takes care of the rest.
BENEFIT: You get more time for other tasks or for your family.
2. With a creative process in place we will be able to get systems in place that will allow us to grow beyond ourselves and nurture committed volunteers easily.
BENEFIT:?Organization is a good thing. It keeps things running smoothly and we can follow our church’s natural growth.
3. With a creative process in place, if I (the creative team leader) get sick, someone else will know what to do so they won’t have to bother you unnecessarily.
BENEFIT:?Less last minute and frantic emails in your inbox or interruptions.?
4. With a creative process in place we will be able to automate some tasks and save money and time in future sermon series as tasks will be more predictable and easily duplicable.
BENEFIT: It?s about using your resources wisely. Automating tasks saves time, and time is a very valuable resource. Plus, who doesn?t want to be a good steward of their money?
5. With a creative process in place, as the church grows we will be able to grow the creative team accordingly as everything would be documented.
BENEFIT: New hires and new volunteers will be able to see first hand the steps needed for each task. No starting from scratch.
6. With a creative process in place we would reduce redundancies between ministries and unnecessary work by other leaders.
BENEFIT: Who loves reinventing the wheel?
7. With a creative process in place, everything we do would have an exponential impact instead of being a set of isolated activities.
BENEFIT: It?s about retaining connectivity, elevating communication, and working together as a body.
