09505
June 17, 2009

Tell me about it

Communicators urged to view storytelling as gift from God

by Tavia Harrison
Special to Presbyterian News Service

ATLANTA — Communication is vital to the growth of the church, the spiritual growth of people, and ultimately the survival of Christianity, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) General Assembly Council’s (GAC) communications head told the Presbyterian Communicators Network National Conference here today.

Karen L. Schmidt, GAC deputy executive director for communications and funds development reinforced her message by concluding her talk at the inaugural Big Tent event with the group singing “I Love to Tell the Story.”

Schmidt was joined briefly on the stage by GAC Executive Director Linda Valentine, who told the gathering that in these uncertain times “… the church is still doing great things. We would forget that if you didn’t tell those stories.”

Schmidt said her hope is that church communicators will have a personal transformation when it comes to how they view their job. “Reframe how you might think of what you do in terms of communications. Instead of seeing yourself as a communicator, see yourself as a child of God with specific gifts to be able to tell His story in the world.” 

Effective storytelling can lead others to engagement and participation in mission, she continued, inspiring others and changing lives. “The storytelling that we do … ripples out.” 

 The church’s communications formula is “Mission interpretation equals mission involvement equals mission funding,” she said. “We play a vital role in being able to grow the church, from that standpoint.”

Schmidt challenged communicators to turn the “routine into riveting.”  Amid much laughter, participants shared ideas about how to turn routine announcements into riveting headlines and stories. 

But it’s a crucial task, Schmidt said. “We as communicators are one of the most vital resources in growing Christ’s church deep and wide,” she added, referring to an evangelism emphasis adopted by last summer’s 218th General Assembly.

Communicators are also called to act as “choir directors,” she said. “We have folks who are sitting in the pews who would like to contribute their talents, but they don’t have the time to contribute every day.” 

Those folk have stories to tell, she said, and it’s the responsibility of communicators to encourage them to tell those stories, even if only occasionally, so the good news can be shared more widely.

Tavia Harrison is office administrator for Savannah Presbytery.