• 10 ways to make church websites better

     

    1  Include what time the services are and how to get there. If you are making big plans for a festival then make big plans to put it online. Some churches appear to have given up celebrating Christmas if you read their websites. (And remember, people do read websites and most read little else).

    2  Have things that are up to date. And only things that are up to date. That means today’s date.

    3  Say what the worship is like. Remember in your writing for the web that feelings matter.

    4  Use a design which reflects and promotes the ethos of the church. (Pay for it if you must, but really, you needn’t).

    5  Think about how to describe what it is like to worship there for the first time.

    6  Include some details about the stuff you do that isn’t worship but remember to work out which is icing and which is cake.

    7  Have details right there on the front page about which church denominations around the world that you are in communion with and which you are not in communion with, if you think such information is going to make other people come to your church. (Hint: I don’t.)

    8  Collect good pics of people doing things and ask around to see whether people think they might be a better introduction to your church than a tired “Welcome From the Rector” message that never changes.

    9  Video is good but needs to be refreshed. Every week, if not more often. (Yes, really).

    10  Try praying this prayer in your intercessions for a couple of weeks in church and see if God answers your prayer: “Help us O Lord, to build a website that reflects how wonderful we think you are”.

     

9 responses to “More on the election”

  1. fr dougal Avatar
    fr dougal

    What arrant rot these people peddle. Can we excommunicate their adherents on grounds of un-Christian stupidity? Would “You are too stupid to be an Episcopalian” be acceptable in Canon Law?

  2. ryan Avatar

    A timely and usefully corrective post, kelvin. I’ve had run ins with CI fans who merely think that *asserting* that the ‘Christian’ Institute is honest and displays integrity is some sort of compelling argument. If you search their site for “Scottish Episcopal Church” you’ll find an equally (and characteristically) dishonest story on +David and the SEC’s purported ‘split’ on gay clergy

    At the risk of running afoul of Godwin’s law, the ‘Christian’ Institute pretending like their ugly ideological team didn’t *lose* the Section 28 debate reminds me, not in a good way, of Neo-Nazis petitioning the UN to refight the Battle of Stalingrad.

  3. Tim Avatar

    That’ll be the SEC *two* steps ahead of the CoE and assorted story-fabricating journalists, then: “not only CAN we have women bishops, we don’t actually HAVE to!”, which is at least a balanced attitude.

  4. David | Dah•veed Avatar
    David | Dah•veed

    Perhaps Father D, that would be insulting to stupid folks!

  5. MurielD Avatar
    MurielD

    The national press and television channels should be ashamed of themselves. They preferred to “headline” the fact that a woman priest failed to become the UK’s first woman bishop rather than straightaway honour the man who was duly elected.
    It was only on reading further down the news item that we learned that the Very Rev. Dr. Gregor Duncan had been duly elected.
    That was not fair to either of them.

  6. Jackie Avatar

    The Radio 4 news headline on the day was similar, and the first 3 linked articles on your link (from the Telegraph, Reuters and the Scotsman) are also similar. I must confess to having words with the radio at the time.

  7. Martin Ritchie Avatar
    Martin Ritchie

    Something I find irritating about press coverage is the way that it has portrayed Alison Peden as “bidding” or campaigning to become bishop of Glasgow. That seems to misrepresent the process and what leadership in the church is all about. I guess it’s probably impossible to convey the subtleties of episcopal leadership in a wider culture dominated by careerist politics? Any thoughts?

  8. Roddy Avatar
    Roddy

    The Christian (sic) Institute are a bunch of tw*ts. Treat them with the indifference and disdain they deserve.

  9. David | Dah•veed Avatar
    David | Dah•veed

    It is very disconcerting to come here and see an ad for Sarah Palin running down the lefthand side of the page!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Previous Posts

  • Times of Services

    Maundy Thursday 1200 – Mass of the Chrism 1930 – Eucharist of the Last Supper – Footwashing, Stripping the Church and Watch until Midnight. Good Friday 0930 – Good Friday Liturgy 1200 – 1500 – Three hour devotions 1930 – Stainer – The Crucifixion Easter Day 0700 – Easter Fire Liturgy with Bishop Idris 0830…

  • Doris Day Day

    You will be delighted to hear, gentle reader, that at lunchtime today, the Cathedral Office came to a glorious standstill for a chorus of Que Sera, Sera. This event was of course, to mark Doris Day’s birthday, a feast which is unmoveable, even in Lent. Sing along now. Kudos to Fr Kirstin for alerting us.

  • Conversation

    You know Elton John? Yes What’s the point? What?!? Well, what is the attraction? It can’t be his music can it? Part of your soul is missing. [The question is, who was speaking to whom?]

  • Here or there?

    Here or there, that is the liturgical question. High altar or altar amongst us? Do you dress the altar you are using, or the altar you used to use? Do you light candles up there or down here? These are not trivial questions and decisions have to be made. Nothing more precisely states the problem…