Do you have what it takes to be an effective church communicator?
Church communication roles require a diverse range of skills and competencies. A “church communicator” may also be considered a social media specialist, graphic designer, video editor, website manager, and more.
Regardless of the exact job responsibilities, there are five critical skills every effective church communicator needs:
Skill 1: Strong written communication
It might seem a little obvious to say that the role of a church communicator requires good communication skills, but that can’t be overstated! Church communicators collaborate and interact daily with multiple people inside and outside the church, so communicating well via email and in person is a necessary job function.
Church communicators may also have a hand in writing web or blog content, social media copy, and promotional materials—where clear, persuasive writing is necessary.
Skill 2: Love for organization and attention to detail
Church communicators often serve as the “project manager” for multiple church initiatives and campaigns. Because of this, simple, repeatable systems and processes should be put in place to ensure all projects are completed on time and attended to in order of importance.
When juggling multiple projects, quick turnaround times, and hard deadlines, organizational skills and strong attention to detail are required to make sure nothing falls through the cracks.
Skill 3: Creativity
Whether writing a blog for the church website or coming up with a catchy name for a new sermon series, church communicators should have a passion for creativity and thinking outside the box.
It’s a common misconception that churches are “old school” or behind the times. From creatively promoting an outreach event on social media to designing promotional materials for a holiday service, communicators can bring new and fresh ideas to the table.
Skill 4: An eye for design
Depending on the size of the church, a church communicator might be responsible for managing the church's website and social media presence. This role may also create promotional assets like flyers, email newsletters, and sermon series graphics.
Whether collaborating with an outside designer, using design software with premade templates, or creating designs from scratch, a certain level of design knowledge is required for most church communications roles.
Skill 5: Adaptability and a willingness to learn
Social media algorithms, design styles, and communications best practices are ever-changing. Does that mean church communicators can stay on top of every new trend and change? Of course not. However, church communication leaders must have a willingness to learn and a high tolerance for adaptability. To continue to be effective in their roles, communicators should be life-long learners and hold loosely to predetermined methods and strategies.
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So, what do you think—do you have what it takes to be an effective church communicator? For more helpful tips, check out The Church Communicator’s Toolkit!
