A few days ago I began collecting my thoughts about church and church marketing. Some people think the church is a business which should be marketed with techniques from Wall Street and God knows where. Others think the church is from a different mother altogether and what works for business works against the church. Just how much business should there be in church practice and how much church should there be in church business?
Numerous books have been written about marketing the church. Several denominations have adopted statements of faith and styles of worship to stand out from the ordinary. Efforts to unify the church have failed over the centuries due to the various cultural differences embraced by Bible believing Christians. Church growth specialists emphasize the importance of a church’s uniqueness in attracting a certain class or type of adherents. Churches are, in other words, religious brands in the market economy of religious goods and services. But if denominations can be treated as brands, how does this branding contribute to the overriding mission of the universal church of Christ?
In the next few days I would like to interact with you on this subject. Together we will examine the selected literature available on church growth and church marketing and to evaluate the extent to which the ideas presented in this literature affect the overall mission of the universal church of Jesus Christ. We will also examine church branding and how it relates to the Trinitarian nature of a communal God. Together we will draw a conclusive analysis of the effect of branding and marketing on the mission of the church. So why don’t you hang on and together take this thing to the end.
A la prochaine (till next time) and Merry Christmas to you!
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5 comments:
I think the problem is with the understanding of the word 'marketing'. Simply telling people why something/someone is good and why they should believe/take/buy/do it. Now that does sound like preaching?
The key is knowing that whatever we do as 'marketeers' we do not add or substract on the 'Product', He is perfect. While in the business world, yu can get away with 'sugaring up', 'stretching the truth' or telling 'white lies'; in the church our marketing skills are based on telling the truth and understanding who our audience is and connecting the truth to where they are at. Our Boss does not tolerate anything less or more than the truth
Now that's my limited knowledge and I am so open to learning more. Stay blessed, Munyaneza. It's great to 'see you' again. I look forward to follow this topic.
I think that there is a deeper fundamental problem with church marketing that everyone feels, yet no one is able to put their finger on it. Church marketing and branding, by its natures, divides the Church into thousands of different vendors for one to choose from.
It creates an awareness of what has existed for centuries - that the church is a series of competing institutions all reaching for the same things - membership, financial growth, and influence in a region.
We can try to spiritualize that to soften the blow, but it is true. If we subscribe to the thought that we are scripturally obligated to grow these institutions (which is what we all feel awkward about doing deep inside), then marketing CANNOT be something we are afraid of.
But, are we here to increase our memberships, financial health, and influence? Or, are we here to BE the Church and personally show others to BE the Church?
The bottom line is it is rediculous to do everything that institutions do to operate, but then shy away from marketing. Otherwise, the institution fails, and then another model is needed.
The REAL question is more important. Did Jesus initiate a model for His Church that necessitates membership growth, financial growth, and political influence?
Marketing!Marketing!
Truth(which is the Word of God)is the same no matter the culture,time,sex,objective......So what is the main objective of marketing?
We are all aware of the prevailing PROSPERITY gospel but how much of it is disguised marketing?
How far away have we perverted the...."announce and preach the Kingdom of God" scripture?
Is marketing always about numbers?Quality?where is the seperation of the 2? Are we even supposed to care about the numbers?
He is the ROCK(the un changing....scientifically even the rocks erode out....!).Marketing is sensitive to:
Region,times,culture,level of dev't....
Somebody think of another word to deal with the Holy intentions
In the mean time, we need Grace and Revelation to know how to "KEEP THE MAIN THING THE MAIN THING"
GOd bless Us!
Merry Xmas to you all
(Let Him be born in our lives,situations and circumstances....and our intentions)
Douglas
Keep up the French, I miss it. And I love Jesus.. he had the best (salvation) plan of them all.
Alyssa
Anonymous User asked a great question....
The REAL question is more important. Did Jesus initiate a model for His Church that necessitates membership growth, financial growth, and political influence?
Sometimes the only way to perpetuate growth is to die.
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