Creating a Compelling Parish Profile

1. Creating a Compelling Parish Profile For the rector search process

2. This session • What is a Parish Profile? • Getting started • Your content strategy • Putting it all together http://www.stmaryspr.org/

3. This session • What is a Parish Profile? • Getting started • Your content strategy • Putting it all together http://www.stmaryspr.org/

4. 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/

5. What is a Parish Profile? http://www.stmaryspr.org/

6. What is a Parish Profile? http://www.stmaryspr.org/

7. What is a Parish Profile? http://www.stmaryspr.org/

8. What is a Parish Profile? http://www.stmaryspr.org/

9. What is a Parish Profile? http://www.stmaryspr.org/

10. What is a Parish Profile? http://www.stmaryspr.org/

11. What is a Parish Profile? http://www.stmaryspr.org/

12. This session • What is a Parish Profile? • Getting started • Your content strategy • Putting it all together http://www.stmaryspr.org/

13. Getting started • Confirm expectations • Assemble the team http://www.stmaryspr.org/

14. 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/

15. 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/

16. Getting started • Assembling your team • Experts • Parishioners • Catechists • Ministry leaders • Commission chairs • Staff • Vestry • Clergy http://www.stmaryspr.org/

17. This session • What is a Parish Profile? • Getting started • Your content strategy • Putting it all together http://www.stmaryspr.org/

18. 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/

19. Content strategy • Develop a basic content outline This is available online. http://www.stmaryspr.org/

20. Content strategy • Gather fresh information • Cottage meetings • Parish surveys • Vestry input • Questionnaire for ministry leaders http://www.stmaryspr.org/

21. Content strategy • Gather fresh information • Ask for specifics • Vision • Accomplishments • Aspirations http://www.stmaryspr.org/

22. Content strategy • Gather historical information • Annual reports • Parochial reports Parochial Reports are a great source of historical trend information about your parish http://www.stmaryspr.org/

23. 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/

24. 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. http://www.stmaryspr.org/

25. 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/

26. Content strategy • Key content • Use charts and graphs for financial and congregational statistics This would be good task for one of your experts! http://www.stmaryspr.org/

27. 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/

28. Content strategy • Include some local flavor • Describe the community • Nearby schools and universities • Area attractions Maybe a map of the region… http://www.stmaryspr.org/

29. 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/

30. This session • What is a Parish Profile? • Getting started • Your content strategy • Putting it all together http://www.stmaryspr.org/

31. 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/

32. 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/

33. Putting it all together • Your visual identity http://www.stmaryspr.org/

34. Putting it all together • Your visual identity • If cost is a concern . . . and it’s the first place many newcomers will see you. A website can be an inexpensive and flexible place to initiate a visual identity program http://www.stmaryspr.org/

35. Putting it all together • Your visual identity decision • Blend with your existing visual identity • 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! http://www.stmaryspr.org/

36. 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/

37. 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/

38. Putting it all together • Pictures help tell your story Photos of people engage readers more than the bricks and mortar. (Sorry buildings…) http://www.stmaryspr.org/

39. 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. http://www.stmaryspr.org/

40. Putting it all together • Layout/design tips Consistency in style puts the emphasis on the message, not the design. http://www.stmaryspr.org/

41. 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/

42. Putting it all together • Administering • Have a kickoff meeting • Agree on • Roles • Responsibilities • Expectations • Agree on reasonable timelines • Consider dependencies http://www.stmaryspr.org/

43. Putting it all together • Administering • Distribute a schedule to everyone and update as necessary http://www.stmaryspr.org/

44. 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/

45. Putting it all together • Writing • Work to your content outline • Use strategies to gather accurate, concise information the first time http://www.stmaryspr.org/

46. Putting it all together Writing Use placeholders for missing images and move on http://www.stmaryspr.org/

47. 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/

48. 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/

49. Putting it all together Writing Circulate draft copies to your proofreaders It may be old fashioned, but proofing on paper has benefits. If you proof electronically, use “Track Changes”. http://www.stmaryspr.org/

50. Putting it all together Writing Incorporate final changes from team Ready? http://www.stmaryspr.org/