From Ogden Bass – Pastor of Production and Technical Services at Faithful Central Church:
If I were looking to build a media or communications team at a small church, the first three people I would hire would be:
1) The Communications and/or Media Director – I would always start with the head; this person will set the tone and direction for the department. This person should have a deep working knowledge of each position that needs to be filled within their department and should also be able to do at least some basic operations in each area to move the vision of the pastor/church forward.
2) The second person I would hire would be a person who is a doer and can flawlessly execute the needs of the communications/media director. Preferably a person with an advanced and specialized technical aspects understanding required to get the job done correctly (maybe an engineer type.) But also multifaceted with the ability to work on the creative aspects of the ministry.
3) The third person I would hire is an admin or assistant. A person who wants to work in the area of communication or media but needs a little more experience. This person can ensure that while the Director and engineer are getting things done, nothing falls through the cracks, and they will be excited to help share ideas and work on creative tasks.
Finally, I would find, use, and empower dedicated volunteers who have skill sets to fill in any holes that may be outstanding. Finding and keeping great volunteers will save the church from unnecessarily spending financial resources and give its members a chance to be involved.
From Nils Smith – Chief Strategist Social Media + Innovation at Dunham + Company:
When building out a communications team, I would hire the following 3 people in this order. First, a Communications Director who is a strategic thinker, highly detailed, and ideally a copywriter. Other than the lead pastor, they will be the primary voice of the church internally and externally. Second, I would hire a videographer/video editor. Having the ability to capture and distribute great videos is key today for ministry engagement, promotion and communication within the life of every church. The third position I would hire is a graphic designer ideally with the ability to manage your website. From print design, social media, service slides, sermon series graphics, etc., graphic design needs are everywhere in the life of the church. While many of these needs can be managed by volunteers and contractors as you build, this is the order that I would prioritize when building your Communications media team.
From Dawn Nicole Baldwin – Lead Strategist for Cooke Media Group:
First, I recommend starting with a strategy-minded Communications Director with a heart to invest in others. The team will only go as far as whoever is leading it, so starting with someone who can see the bigger picture will go a long way in communicating the pastor’s vision and building the team.
The second and third hires depend on the first’s gifting, but bringing on a photographer/videographer and a social media person will help. A picture is worth a thousand words, and a video is even more compelling. So it’s important to capture the heartbeat of the church on an ongoing basis. Social media is the lifeblood for connecting and keeping people, so having someone who can create a strategy and keep up with content is essential.
This article on hiring and building a communications and media team originally appeared here, and is used by permission.
