Communicator materials
Resources now available for Internet Evangelism Day
Most of us know that the Internet has literally changed the world and for many of us it has changed how we reach out to people within the church. Internet Evangelism Day is an annual reminder and resource center to help churches, seminaries, Bible colleges, groups and individuals use the Internet for outreach. Ready-to-use resources are available to help you and your church or ther organization create an Internet Evangelism Focus Day.
Articles from these sources can be freely reproduced in newsletters and magazines:
- News items (from less than 400 to more than 4,000 words)
- Blog or newsletter items
- Speakers available for conferences, seminars and colleges, addressing a range of digital evangelism issues
Challenged by church newsletters? Help is available
Tavia Harrison has written a great “how-to” article for church newsletter editors who struggle with content, design and production. Harrison is a member of the Presbyterian Communicators Network and the office administrator for Savannah Presbytery. Her article is part of a series of articles on church communications. The series also includes articles on audience analysis, church bulletins and much more. Be sure to check it out!
And for newsletter or web editors struggling to find content, remember that you can republish articles from the Presbyterian Communicators Network e-newsletter. PCN members receive the newsletter monthly. If you are not a member, join now.
Tips for using the images in the email
You are free to use any of the images in the Presbyterian Communicators Network e-newsletter. To do so, right-click (or click and hold for Macintosh) and select copy, then paste the image into the program you are using to create your materials. You may do the same with the text.
Media Ministry
PMM (Presbyterian Media Mission)
Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, PMM is a faith-based nonprofit media organization of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). PMM is supported by nine presbyteries, two synods and the PC(USA) Office of Communication. It is an electronic digital mission that seeks “in a world of confusing and competing messages, to communicate a creative and compelling witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ through media.”
Presbyterian Writers Guild
We are a voluntary, nonprofit association of writers who are affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The group provides support and encouragement to its members through workshops and an awards program.
Religion Communicators Council
The Religion Communicators Council is an interfaith association of more than 600 religion communicators working in print and electronic communication, marketing and public relations. The RCC provides for professional development and networking through local chapters and an annual meeting. The RCC Web site links you to a diversity of faith groups.
Interfaith/Ecumenical Resources and Organizations
National Council of Churches of Christ USA
The National Council of Churches of Christ USA is comprised of 36 Protestant, Anglican, Orthodox, historic African American and Living Peace member faith groups that include 45 million people in more than 100,000 local congregations in communities across the nation.
World Alliance of Reformed Churches
The World Alliance of Reformed Churches is a fellowship of more than 200 churches with roots in the 16th century Reformation that links more than 75 million Christians in more than 100 countries.
World Council of Churches
The World Council of Churches brings together more than 340 churches, denominations and church fellowships in more than 100 countries and territories, representing some 400 million Christians.
News services
Associated Church Press
The Associated Church Press is an international community of communication professionals brought together by faithfulness to their craft and by a common task of reflecting, describing and supporting the life of faith and the Christian community. Read their news releases online.
Ecumenical News International
Ecumenical News International (ENI) is an ecumenical news agency sponsored by World Alliance of Reformed Churches in partnership with the Conference of European Churches, the Lutheran World Federation and the World Council of Churches.
Latin American and Carribbean Communication Agency (ALC)
Latin American and Carribbean Communication Agency (ALC) is an ecumenical agency that offers information and analysis to religious and secular communication media about the socio-ecclesial reality in Latin American and other regions of the world. Web site available in English and Spanish.
Religion Newswriters Association
Religion Newswriters Association is a nonprofit trade association that works to promote excellence in religion reporting in the news media. The RNA Web site offers links and information helpful in understanding coverage of religion in the public media.
Religion News Service
Religion News Service (RNS) online offers one of the few secular news and photo services devoted to unbiased coverage of religion and ethics
Services
Free Translation
A no-charge website that offers translations from English to 10 different languages, including Spanish. The free offer is good for several sentences or a short paragraph. Careful though. It doesn’t take into consideration regional influence, such as the difference between Spanish spoken in Los Angeles and that spoken in Miami. Good assistance for getting a message out to non-English speaking members of your congregation or community.
Model Consent Releases
The appropriate release should be used whenever you are taking a picture or making a recording (audio/video) of a person that could be recognized in the reproduction of the picture or recording. We recommend that the person taking the picture or recording (or someone at the same event) act as the “witness.” Please make sure to read the release for further details.
Adult model release form
Minor model release form (under 18 years old)
Purchasing Partnership
An online list of vendors from software to office furniture to phone service that offers substantial discounts to PC(USA) member churches and governing bodies.
The Bible Gateway
The Bible Gateway is a tool for reading and researching scripture online — all in the language or translation of your choice! It provides advanced searching capabilities, which allow readers to find and compare particular passages in scripture based on keywords, phrases or scripture reference. The Bible Gateway was first started in 1993 by Nick Hengeveld while attending Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich.
Speaking Faith: The Essential Handbook for Religion Communicators
This 155-page, softbound resource covers issues ranging from establishing a strategic communications plan to crisis communication. It includes a CD that provides various worksheets, forms and guidelines. Order a copy.