Category: Church administration

Visit “Cucumber Sandwiches” for church help, ideas

One of my favorite sites these days is CucumberSandwiches.org, a site by and for clergy husbands. But the draw is that it is a creative community of relatively few men focused on making their spouses’ and families’ lives richer, in spite of administrative traditionalism and genteel penury. How does this help us? They have clever,… Continue reading Visit “Cucumber Sandwiches” for church help, ideas

That Windsor Report

Well, it seems that the folks in Canterbury didn’t quite anticipate the demand for the report that is the attention of the world’s Anglicans (and ecumencially minded Christians) because their server is swamped. Wire stories don’t have any details yet (the report was released about a half hour ago) so many of us will have… Continue reading That Windsor Report

Thinking through automating the small church office

As I say in the title, I want to pay some attention to automating as many of the mechanical functions of the church office using open-source software. It looks like all the pieces are out there, but that they need to be integrated. I’m want to help small churches first, since they’re the ones (usually)… Continue reading Thinking through automating the small church office

Better, easier church websites

I’ve been building websites since 1995, and have learned a lot in that time. Some standards have improved, and changed. Often, ugly and bloated commercial uses have crept into not-for-profits sites: end-users be damned. Also, Unitarian Universalists, who were at the forefront of congregational websites seem to be resting on their laurels. Pioneering sites grow… Continue reading Better, easier church websites

The next big thing is . . .

Google Local In Beta development. This thing is better than an online telephone directory (bye-bye, Yahoo!) because it includes entities that aren’t even listed in the telephone directory. Not only is it already simplifying my life (found a place to donate clothes closer to home) but will help out churches that don’t have designated phone,… Continue reading The next big thing is . . .

A plug for one of my favorite stores

A quick plug if you need anything pertaining to Eastern Christianity – books, icons, incense, equipment, what have you including hard to get items from overseas – and good, honest, and helpful customer service. I love this place, and they ship. Give them your custom. I do (and was there today.) Icon and Book Service

The next three years . . .

Following the same thread of advice, I will eventually plot a three year plan for my new church start. To that end, I’ve made up four annual calendars – through 2007 – in the Excel spreadsheet format. I’ve already included the dates for Ash Wednesday, Easter, Ascension, and Pentecost. If you want copies, “continue reading”… Continue reading The next three years . . .

A good guide for church newsletters

While reviewing UUA independent affiliate organization websites, I found this little gem buried deep at UUA.org. Hope it helps. Creating A Dynamic Newsletter (Jean Griffiths, then-president, Association of Unitarian Universalist Administrators) 2008 April 25. Link revised.