Stillspeaking 2.0 Exploring New Directions Embracing New Audiences Engaging New Technologies

1. Illinois & Illinois South Conferences, UCC Peoria, IL May 24, 2011 Stillspeaking 2.0Exploring New DirectionsEmbracing New Audiences Engaging New Technologies

2. Stillspeaking 2.0Exploring, Embracing, Engaging • The unique theological and cultural identity and message of the UCC • The distinctive capabilities and challenges of the UCC & our congregations • The nature of our covenant & collaboration as One church • The religious and spiritual changes & challenges of our day • The new technologies and methods of communication

3. A Biblical FoundationLuke: 24:31&33And their eyes were opened and they recognized him…And they rose that same hour.

4. Stillspeaking InitiativeA Theological Journey • Stillspeaking Reached Back to Recover the Whole Story – Luke 24:25-27 • Stillspeaking Reached In to Recover the Full Identity – Luke 24:28-32 • Stillspeaking Reached Forward to Recover the Wider Witness – Luke 24:33-35

5. Stillspeaking • The UCC has a long history rooted in radical hospitality and justice commitments • The UCC has a unique and important message to share with the world – open, non-dogmatic, non-judgmental, inclusive • The UCC aims to reach the spiritually alienatedand treat the stranger the same way that we would welcome Christ • The UCC seeks to renew its distinctive voice as a people of welcome, justice and passion for the gospel • The UCC seeks to creatively and imaginatively raise its profile and provide a fertile field where its members can do the evangelism work of invitation and extravagant welcome

6. 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.

7. 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.

9. Stillspeaking Ad Campaigns2004-2010 • Bouncer • Ejector • Steeples • Language of God • Uniquely UCC • UCC Values

10. UCC Values

11. The Values of the UCC: Continuing Testament Our faith is 2000 years old. Our thinking is not.

12. The Values of the UCC: Extravagant Welcome “No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.”

13. The Values of the UCC: Changing Lives “Never place a period where God has placed a comma.”

14. Stillspeaking: The New Directions • A Digital Engagement – Internet Ads/Messages, Shared Virally through Websites, Social Media Networking • An Every Member Engagement – Every member Energized & Equipped & Engaged • A One Church Engagement – Every Setting Integrating and Immersing in the Campaign • An Invitational (Word-of-Mouth) Engagement – Ministry People to People • A Real Time Engagement – Every Moment an Opportunity

16. Who is a Stillspeaking Voice? Stillspeaking Voices is an opportunity for individuals in the UCC to renew our distinctive voices as people of welcome, justice and passion for the Gospel.

17. A Stillspeaking Voice goes forth to: • Be attentive to God’s voice in the world and in others. • Watch for each person God will send my way. • Listen for an appropriate moment to share a Stillspeaking word. • Share the good news of extravagant welcome. • Invite others to join me at church this week. • Give thanks for the opportunity to be a Stillspeaking Voice for the United Church of Christ.

18. www.ucc.org/voices

19. The 10 Commitments • I believe and tell others about an all-loving, inclusive God because I want to spread the extravagant welcome of the gospel • I tell others about the UCC because the world needs to hear about religion that is relevant • I embrace the Stillspeaking proclamation because it changes lives and transforms our world

20. 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

21. 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

25. Friend–Raising Weekend • 315 Congregations • 4,200 visiting guests • 6.2% increase in worship • St. Stephen’s UCC • 35 guests from 79 invitations • Journey UCC • 33 members - 36 guests • New Vision UCC • Guest still coming

26. Practice, Practice, PracticeStillspeaking • Make a commitment to be a Stillspeaking Voice • Use the Naming Your Personal Faith Identity sharing sheet in small groups at church • Include Stillspeaking Witnesses in worship • Pray for those folks you want to reach • Listen for the stillspeaking God in others • Keep a stillspeaking journal • Create a stillspeaking voices group at church

27. Who are they, and where do they come from? • MissionInsiteDemographics • http://missioninsite.com/ • flexible web based information system • comprehensive socioeconomic and lifestyle data • interactive mapping platform • strategic information resource for ministry

28. Getting MissionInsite Info • UCC has national contract with MissionInsite • Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Penn Southeast, Ohio, Michigan, Southeast, Wisconsin, Southwest and Southern California Nevada Conf’s • Participants in Workshop (thanks to OCWM). • Go to http://www.ucc.org/newchurch/gallup/MI-How-to-Register-UCC-National-8-09.pdf

29. New Generations and Audiences

31. Embracing New Audiences • The urgency of our times should not be driven by our decline in the United Church of Christ. • The urgency of our times should be a new generation and population attuned to the values of our message and witness. • See Millenials report Pew Research

32. Stillspeaking Outreach Gives Opportunity to Embrace New Audiences

33. Embracing New AudiencesWith New Technology

35. Embracing New Audiences • What does this information tell us? • Who are your neighbors? • Who is your new audience? • How will you use this information?

36. Conversation Starters

37. Stillspeaking Style!

38. God is still speaking, Through you and me!