Resources from the Council Officers gathering are below. PowerPoint Slides: council officers gathering-2 Handout: Synod Council Officers Gathering-2
February 25, 2025
Resources from Council Officers Gathering
Resources from the Council Officers gathering are below. PowerPoint Slides: council officers gathering-2 Handout: Synod Council Officers Gathering-2
July 6, 2016
Convert Church Facebook Profiles to Pages
Updated July 9 with link to convert profile to page. If your congregation has a Facebook presence set up as a profile (person with “friends”) rather than a page (with “likes”) or a group (with “members”), take note: We have recently heard from a couple of congregations whose accounts have been locked and asked to provide a...
April 8, 2016
Synod Video Receives National Honor
Promo for Living Gospel Ministries wins DeRose-Hinkhouse Award for Communications Excellence. Bob Fisher, assistant to the bishop for mission interpretation and communications, has been recognized by the Religion Communicators Council (RCC) for his work producing an informational video about Living Gospel Ministries. The DeRose-Hinkhouse Award reception was held in New York City on March 31, 2016,...
February 9, 2016
Using Images In Your Church’s Communications
Images are worth at least 1,000 words in today’s digital communications. Photos and videos give viewers of your web and social media presence a sense of who you are as a congregation. But because of concern for the safety of children and the privacy of members, use of images can pose challenges. In this article we’ll...
August 27, 2015
Emergency Contact Systems For Your Church
By Bob Fisher Assistant to the Bishop for Mission Interpretation/Communication The school/program year is fast approaching – which means that winter isn’t far behind. Remember last year’s sudden Sunday morning icing event? Does your church have a plan for notifying members in case of foul weather schedule changes or other emergencies? The tried-and-true phone...
July 13, 2015
Tell Your Story Through Images
We live in a visual culture, so you’re missing a big opportunity if you don’t use images to tell your church’s story. People respond to images. Facebook posts, web pages, e-mails and even print pieces draw more attention and shares when there is a compelling image. Recent research shows that the average person has an attention...
May 9, 2015
Forward Together in Faith: Communicating
So many communications channels are available today, and they all can be used to share the Gospel. And therein lies the challenge for the church, says the Rev. Keith Anderson of Upper Dublin Lutheran Church, author of The Digital Cathedral. Introducing the Communicating component of Forward Together in Faith, Anderson noted that fewer people know...
February 3, 2015
Ministry Partner: Communicators’ Network
Together as SEPA Synod we confidently declare it’s “God’s Work – Our Hands”. Those of us who work in SEPA’s Communicator Network declare further that it’s “God’s Message – Our Channels” Who is a “communicator”? It’s anyone in our congregations who is working in: Print communications Email Web and social media Video Multimedia for worship...
April 21, 2014
Communicating Effectively in a Digital Age
Amplify your message at this FREE communicators workshop! The SEPAComm Network gathering on Saturday, May 17 will be a time of learning, conversation and networking. Michael Moore of AugsburgFortress will offer an informative presentation on copyrights: an important issue for anyone working with newsletters, websites, social media, and video. Marsha Pearson, a local representative of ConstantContact,...
April 2, 2014
Share Your Mission Story
Share Your Congregation’s Story in Video! God’s work. Our hands. SEPA congregations live into this vision of the ELCA week after week, year after year. “God’s work. Our hands.” is the theme of this year’s Synod Assembly. We’d like to feature some of your stories of bringing this vision to life through community service, faith formation,...
January 17, 2014
Share the Right Address
With all the digital tools available to help us navigate, it’s important that you identify your church in ways that allow people to use GPS or web mapping services to find you, while respecting local knowledge and traditions. Always use a full address in your publicity, including zip code, to make it easy for people...
October 16, 2013
How Is Your Congregation Website?
Are you satisfied with your congregation website? At last Sunday’s Communicators’ Network Gathering, Bob Fisher shared tips for congregations looking to evaluate their existing website or develop a new site. Websites are a key portal that visitors use to find and evaluate congregations, Fisher says. Many adults use web searches instead of telephone books or...
April 15, 2009
Build a web of relationships
Today relationships happen as much using technology as in person. That’s the theme of A Renewal Enterprise’s next “4th Tuesday webinar” on April 28. Special guest will be Bob Fisher, SEPA's assistant to the bishop for mission interpretation and communications, who will share insight into the importance of using these tools to connect with people today.
