Churches, maximize your emails!

Many churches have at least email accounts, though sometimes it's a pastor's personal email account. But is your church making maximum use of email? Below are some ways for churches to use email. If you're not using these, consider how you might adopt one or more. Got more ideas? -- Add a comment to this posting.

• Alert church members of a change in an event.
• Remind members of an important upcoming event.
• Meet. Committee chairpeople: Hold "meetings" by emailing everyone in a committee or work group. Let members respond to all and share ideas. This can be a great way to set the stage for a regular in-person meeting. It's also a superb way to get members involved even when work schedules make it hard for everyone to attend a "normal" meeting.
• Pitch a project or campaign. Did you email everyone about subscribing to the Wesleyan Christian Advocate in February (complete with links to the Advocate subscription page)?
• Survey members about some issue.
• Send Sunday School teasers: Early in the week, email all in your Sunday School class about the upcoming lesson. Perhaps give a couple pieces of background information, add a couple of thought-provoking questions to be discussed Sunday, and (if you have time) maybe a link or two to a web page related to the lesson.
• Distribute the church Sunday Worship bulletin to staff that need it (Assistant Pastors, Accompanist, Lay Readers, etc.)
• Distribute the church newsletter to those who request it (Opt-in).
• Alert members to religion-related information on the web.
• Alert members to religion-related items coming up on TV or on the radio.