I will die on the hill of clear communication. All churches desperately need to improve their communication. I have never worked at a church with a staff that thinks its communication is done well, and I have never experienced a congregation that believes it is! Everyone recognizes that it is an issue that needs to be addressed. 

So here are the 5 ways to solve the communication problem in church…

Yeah, right! If I solved that problem, I’d be a millionaire author with books on the New York Times bestseller list. I might not have five simple ways to fix your issue, but I believe I have a habit that can help ease some of the confusion. 

It’s easy—spend more time discussing communication strategies and best practices during staff meetings. 

Communication is tricky due to several factors: it is always a two-way street, everyone communicates differently, the tone is not easily conveyed through digital platforms, and over-communicating can be just as frustrating as under-communicating. There’s more to that list, but those are just the few immediately coming to mind. So, what do we do as church staff?

We develop the weekly or monthly habit of discussing communication issues and setting communication best practices in staff meetings. Believe it or not, some things can be solved with simple solutions. For example, all staff should have an email signature formatted to a common standard, only one person or department should have access to the church’s social platforms, informative emails should only go out on certain days depending on the department, and leadership should regularly check on what is crucial for the church to know and what is irrelevant. All this can happen in your weekly or monthly staff meetings in a relatively short time if you can cultivate the habit of discussing strategy and best practices. 

So there it is…a general principle based on the necessity for clear communication in the church. But does that genuinely address the larger question of “Why?”

Let’s momentarily set aside our executive hats and instead don our theological ones. What are the main components that constitute a church? What is our essence? What distinguishes a church from any other organization or group? One fundamental component is the church’s mandate to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world (Matt. 28:18-20 & Acts 1:8). Jesus also teaches that we are to be salt and light (Matt. 5:13-16) to the entire world. Our lives as Christians serve to purify and illuminate the dark world around us. Let’s connect both of these truths to the practice of communication within the church. 

We proclaim the Gospel, purify the world, and illuminate the truth of salvation when we communicate via print, email, text messages, phone calls, and stage announcements. 

Let me reassure you that we will never achieve perfection. The church is unique because we need to convey a broad spectrum of information to diverse demographics. The goal of this approach isn’t perfection; it’s improvement. 

I hope I haven’t added too much pressure for you the next time you email your facilities team about the clogged toilets in the bathroom. I hope you start to filter all communication through the lens of biblical truth. Cultivate a habit of discussing communication strategies and best practices every time your staff meets. Remind them of their biblical mandate to proclaim the Gospel, purify the world, and illuminate the truth in every aspect of their lives. Remember, the Holy Spirit empowers all followers of Jesus to fulfill the Missio Dei mission of God. We can humbly and (ironically) boldly approach the throne of God and request help in all our communication as a church body. We have access to the throne and power through the Spirit. 

As pastors, church leaders, and followers of Jesus, we possess all the tools necessary to convey the life-changing reality of Jesus in every aspect of our communication. We must continue working hard to improve our standards, strategies, and best practices in this field, but ultimately, we believe God will accomplish His good and perfect plan through those who obey.