Stillspeaking 2.0Stillspeaking 2.0Exploring New DirectionsExploring New Directions

Embracing New Audiences Embracing New Audiences Engaging New TechnologiesEngaging New Technologies

Illinois & Illinois South Illinois & Illinois South Conferences, UCCConferences, UCC

Peoria, ILPeoria, ILMay 24, 2011May 24, 2011

Stillspeaking 2.0Stillspeaking 2.0Exploring, Embracing, Engaging Exploring, Embracing, Engaging

The unique theological and cultural identity The unique theological and cultural identity and message of the UCCand message of the UCC

The distinctive capabilities and challenges The distinctive capabilities and challenges of the UCC & our congregationsof the UCC & our congregations

The nature of our covenant & collaboration The nature of our covenant & collaboration as One churchas One church

The religious and spiritual changes & The religious and spiritual changes & challenges of our daychallenges of our day

The new technologies and methods of The new technologies and methods of communicationcommunication

A Biblical FoundationA Biblical Foundation

Luke: 24:31&33Luke: 24:31&33

And their eyes were opened and they And their eyes were opened and they recognized him…And they rose that recognized him…And they rose that

same hour.same hour.

Stillspeaking InitiativeStillspeaking InitiativeA Theological JourneyA Theological Journey

Stillspeaking Reached Back to Recover Stillspeaking Reached Back to Recover the Whole Story – Luke 24:25-27the Whole Story – Luke 24:25-27

Stillspeaking Reached In to Recover the Stillspeaking Reached In to Recover the Full Identity – Luke 24:28-32Full Identity – Luke 24:28-32

Stillspeaking Reached Forward to Stillspeaking Reached Forward to Recover the Wider Witness – Luke 24:33-Recover the Wider Witness – Luke 24:33-3535

StillspeakingStillspeaking

The UCC has a long history rooted in radical hospitality and The UCC has a long history rooted in radical hospitality and justice commitmentsjustice commitments

The UCC has a unique and important message to share with The UCC has a unique and important message to share with the world – open, non-dogmatic, non-judgmental, inclusive the world – open, non-dogmatic, non-judgmental, inclusive

The UCC aims to reach the spiritually alienated and treat The UCC aims to reach the spiritually alienated and treat the stranger the same way that we would welcome Christthe stranger the same way that we would welcome Christ

The UCC seeks to renew its distinctive voice as a people of The UCC seeks to renew its distinctive voice as a people of welcome, justice and passion for the gospelwelcome, justice and passion for the gospel

The UCC seeks to creatively and imaginatively raise its The UCC seeks to creatively and imaginatively raise its profile and provide a fertile field where its members can do profile and provide a fertile field where its members can do the evangelism work of invitation and extravagant welcomethe evangelism work of invitation and extravagant welcome

Stillspeaking Messaging & MarketingA Compelling Case

We can no longer expect that a local church presence will be enough to draw media coverage and garner public attention. Experience has taught us that we must be proactive to ensure that our exposure is maximized through engagement with purchased and earned media. Effective messaging and media exposure will strengthen the church nationally. Members across the UCC have a vested interest in supporting efforts to ensure the visibility and viability of the UCC in all its expressions beginning with the local church setting.

This is our moment. Never before have the UCC’s core beliefs — continuing testament, extravagant welcome and changing lives — resonated more clearly with the issues that many un-churched persons care about in our nation.

The United Church of Christ, despite being a relatively small denomination, has demonstrated the ability to help shape and add a distinctive voice to conversations about religion in the public sphere. By way of marketing strategies the UCC introduces itself to a new pool of religion writers, editors, bloggers and news producers.

Effective messaging and media exposure will strengthen the church nationally. Members across the UCC have a vested interest in supporting efforts to ensure that the denomination gains national exposure which in the end supports the efforts of our local churches.

Stillspeaking Ad CampaignsStillspeaking Ad Campaigns2004-20102004-2010

BouncerBouncer EjectorEjector SteeplesSteeples Language of GodLanguage of God Uniquely UCCUniquely UCC UCC ValuesUCC Values

UCC Values

The Values of the The Values of the UCC: Continuing UCC: Continuing

TestamentTestament

Our faith is 2000 years old.Our faith is 2000 years old.

Our thinking is not.Our thinking is not.

““No matter who you are or No matter who you are or where you are on life’s where you are on life’s

journey, you are welcome journey, you are welcome here.”here.”

The Values of the The Values of the UCC: Extravagant UCC: Extravagant

WelcomeWelcome

““Never place a period Never place a period where God has placed a where God has placed a

comma.”comma.”

The Values of the The Values of the UCC: Changing LivesUCC: Changing Lives

Stillspeaking: The New DirectionsStillspeaking: The New Directions

A Digital Engagement – Internet Ads/Messages, A Digital Engagement – Internet Ads/Messages, Shared Virally through Websites, Social Media Shared Virally through Websites, Social Media NetworkingNetworking

An Every Member Engagement – Every member An Every Member Engagement – Every member Energized & Equipped & EngagedEnergized & Equipped & Engaged

A One Church Engagement – Every Setting A One Church Engagement – Every Setting Integrating and Immersing in the CampaignIntegrating and Immersing in the Campaign

An Invitational (Word-of-Mouth) Engagement – An Invitational (Word-of-Mouth) Engagement – Ministry People to PeopleMinistry People to People

A Real Time Engagement – Every Moment an A Real Time Engagement – Every Moment an OpportunityOpportunity

Who is a Stillspeaking Who is a Stillspeaking Voice?Voice?

Stillspeaking Voices is an opportunity Stillspeaking Voices is an opportunity for for

individuals in the UCC to renew our individuals in the UCC to renew our

distinctive voices as people of distinctive voices as people of welcome, welcome,

justice and passion for the Gospel.justice and passion for the Gospel.

A Stillspeaking Voice goes forth A Stillspeaking Voice goes forth to:to:

Be attentive to God’s voice in the world and in Be attentive to God’s voice in the world and in others.others.

Watch for each person God will send my way.Watch for each person God will send my way. Listen for an appropriate moment to share a Listen for an appropriate moment to share a

Stillspeaking word.Stillspeaking word. Share the good news of extravagant welcome.Share the good news of extravagant welcome. Invite others to join me at church this week.Invite others to join me at church this week. Give thanks for the opportunity to be a Give thanks for the opportunity to be a

Stillspeaking Voice for the United Church of Stillspeaking Voice for the United Church of Christ.Christ.

www.ucc.org/voiceswww.ucc.org/voices

The 10 CommitmentsThe 10 Commitments

I believe and tell others about an all-I believe and tell others about an all-loving, inclusive God because I want to loving, inclusive God because I want to spread the extravagant welcome of the spread the extravagant welcome of the gospelgospel

I tell others about the UCC because the I tell others about the UCC because the world needs to hear about religion that is world needs to hear about religion that is relevantrelevant

I embrace the Stillspeaking proclamation I embrace the Stillspeaking proclamation because it changes lives and transforms because it changes lives and transforms our worldour world

The 10 Commitments, cont.The 10 Commitments, cont.

I invite and extravagantly welcome others to the United Church of Christ because it opens wide the doors of the church of Jesus Christ

I wear the Stillspeaking comma pin, tell others what it means and invite others to do the same

I contribute yearly to the Stillspeaking Campaign to raise the profile and understanding of the United Church of Christ

I promote the use and purchase of Stillspeaking branded items to pique curiosity in the United Church of Christ

The 10 Commitments, cont.The 10 Commitments, cont.

I encourage the use of the Stillspeaking brand in my church so that we will multiply the visibility of the United Church of Christ

I will strive to enlist 10% in my church to become Stillspeaking Voices to grow our collective witness.

I will seek to grow in my understanding of what it means to be a Stillspeaking Voice to deepen the practice of my faith

Friend–Raising WeekendFriend–Raising Weekend 315 Congregations315 Congregations 4,200 visiting guests4,200 visiting guests 6.2% increase in worship6.2% increase in worship St. Stephen’s UCC St. Stephen’s UCC

– 35 guests from 79 35 guests from 79 invitations invitations

Journey UCC Journey UCC – 33 members - 36 33 members - 36

guestsguests New Vision UCCNew Vision UCC

– Guest still comingGuest still coming

Practice, Practice, PracticePractice, Practice, PracticeStillspeakingStillspeaking

Make a commitment to be a Stillspeaking Make a commitment to be a Stillspeaking VoiceVoice

Use the Naming Your Personal Faith Identity Use the Naming Your Personal Faith Identity sharing sheet in small groups at churchsharing sheet in small groups at church

Include Stillspeaking Witnesses in worshipInclude Stillspeaking Witnesses in worship Pray for those folks you want to reachPray for those folks you want to reach Listen for the stillspeaking God in othersListen for the stillspeaking God in others Keep a stillspeaking journalKeep a stillspeaking journal Create a stillspeaking voices group at churchCreate a stillspeaking voices group at church

Who are they, Who are they, and where do they come and where do they come

from?from?

– MissionInsite MissionInsite DemographicsDemographics http://missioninsite.com/

– flexible web based information system– comprehensive socioeconomic and lifestyle

data– interactive mapping platform– strategic information resource for ministry

Getting MissionInsite InfoGetting MissionInsite Info UCC has national contract with MissionInsiteUCC has national contract with MissionInsite

– Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Penn Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Penn Southeast, Ohio, Michigan, Southeast, Southeast, Ohio, Michigan, Southeast, Wisconsin, Southwest and Southern California Wisconsin, Southwest and Southern California Nevada Conf’sNevada Conf’s

Participants in Workshop (thanks to OCWM).Participants in Workshop (thanks to OCWM).

– Go to Go to http://www.ucc.org/newchurch/gallup/MI-How-to-Register-UCC-National-8-09.pdf

New Generations and New Generations and AudiencesAudiences

Embracing New AudiencesEmbracing New Audiences

The urgency of our times should not be The urgency of our times should not be driven by our decline in the United Church driven by our decline in the United Church of Christ.of Christ.

The urgency of our times should be a new The urgency of our times should be a new generation and population generation and population attuned to the values of our attuned to the values of our message and witness.message and witness.

See Millenials reportSee Millenials reportPew ResearchPew Research

Stillspeaking Outreach Gives Stillspeaking Outreach Gives Opportunity to Embrace New Opportunity to Embrace New

Audiences Audiences

Embracing New AudiencesEmbracing New AudiencesWith New TechnologyWith New Technology

Embracing New AudiencesEmbracing New Audiences

What does this information tell us?What does this information tell us?Who are your neighbors?Who are your neighbors?Who is your new audience?Who is your new audience?How will you use this information?How will you use this information?

Conversation StartersConversation Starters

Stillspeaking Style!Stillspeaking Style!

God is still speaking,God is still speaking,

Through you and Through you and me!me!