Stillspeaking 2.0 Exploring New Directions Embracing New Audiences Engaging New Technologies Illinois & Illinois South Conferences, UCC Peoria, IL May 24, 2011

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

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

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

Stillspeaking The UCC has a long history rooted in radical hospitality and justice commitments 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 has a unique and important message to share with the world – open, non-dogmatic, non-judgmental, inclusive The UCC aims to reach the spiritually alienated and treat the stranger the same way that we would welcome Christ The UCC aims to reach the spiritually alienated and 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 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 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

Stillspeaking Messaging & Marketing A 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 Campaigns Bouncer Bouncer Ejector Ejector Steeples Steeples Language of God Language of God Uniquely UCC Uniquely UCC UCC Values UCC Values

UCC Values

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

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

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

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

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.

A Stillspeaking Voice goes forth to: Be attentive to God’s voice in the world and in others. Be attentive to God’s voice in the world and in 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 Stillspeaking word. Listen for an appropriate moment to share a 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 Stillspeaking Voice for the United Church of Christ. Give thanks for the opportunity to be a Stillspeaking Voice for the United Church of Christ.

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

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

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

Who are they, and where do they come from? –MissionInsite Demographics  – –flexible web based information system – –comprehensive socioeconomic and lifestyle data – –interactive mapping platform – –strategic information resource for ministry

Getting MissionInsite Info UCC has national contract with MissionInsite 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). Participants in Workshop (thanks to OCWM). –Go to How-to-Register-UCC-National-8-09.pdf How-to-Register-UCC-National-8-09.pdf How-to-Register-UCC-National-8-09.pdf

New Generations and Audiences

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 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. 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 See Millenials report Pew Research

Stillspeaking Outreach Gives Opportunity to Embrace New Audiences

Embracing New Audiences With New Technology

Embracing 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 Starters

Stillspeaking Style!

God is still speaking, Through you and me!