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The Future of Clergy eNews

On February 25 the office of communication & media held a meeting about the future of a clergy newsletter. Two people attended, Salin Low and Kate Heichler. Whitney Alltop attempted to join us via video conference, but we encountered some technical difficulties. Here’s a rundown of what was discussed, including ways for you to be involved going forward.

Karin began with an overview of the survey results from last spring, in which clergy overwhelmingly said they would like to see the clergy newsletter return and offered feedback on aspects of the newsletter and features.  She then reviewed the history of the clergy enewsletter. It used to come out of the Canon to the Ordinary’s office and was edited by Linda Walley, but due to restructuring and shifting responsibilities, the communications office will now facilitate the clergy newsletter.

Based on the responses from the survey, and answers to specific questions by the two in attendance, a new clergy newsletter will be debuted in May and here’s a breakdown of what it would be / look like:

Frequency? Monthly, preferably mid-month

How to add names? Subscription link in regular enews, possibly adding names from clergy database

Lead article

· Frequency: Every issue
· Writers: Clergy from across the diocese. A group of approx. 12 clergy will be asked to start the process, with ongoing contributions. One goal is to alternate male and female clergy as writers
· Length: 300-500 words. The newsletter will include the first paragraph from the longer article, then it will link to the rest of it on a blog site or webpage.
· Editing: Kate Heichler volunteered to edit; the communications team will also edit
· Content: Clergy will be asked to write on one of the following : joy in your ministry, mission, what’s happening in your ministry, innovations or another similar topic

Transition info (and link to page/s if available)

· New hires, ordinations, changes of position, retirements
· Note: No transitions are listed until their Letter of Agreement (LOA) is signed and filed, even if months later.
· “Saying goodbye..” section including retirements, clergy moving away, deaths

New clergy profiles:

· Salin Low volunteered to start this up and come up with a template
· Might be able to do this as a form clergy new to the diocese can fill out & archive it on the web.

Reminders of related events (note: New website will have clergy event page) These events will include:

· Clericus meetings
· Annual Convention
· Clergy conference
· Clergy Days
· Clergy Safe Church recertification
· All retreats geared towards clergy both priests and deacons) – for example, the fall clergy retreat, women clergy retreat, deacons’ retreat
· Other events that include most/all the clergy
· Confirmations
· Visitation schedule
· Annual ECW meeting in May

Reminders of deadlines & links to registration

Quick Links

· Transitions page
· Diocesan calendar
· Visitation schedules
· Diocesan blogs 

A big thank you to Karin Hamilton for overseeing this process, to Salin Low & Kate Heichler for coming out to the meeting and for those who expressed their regrets but were not able to attend. If you’d like to be involved in the clergy newsletter, please email Kori Pacyniak at kpacyniak@ctdiocese.org

We look forward to sending out the first issue by mid-May.