The Parish Website: Online Presence

Earlier this year, I completed a re-design and update of the parish website that I have been working with since 2014.  During the 6-month process, I looked at a number of other parish websites, many randomly selected, and thought about how much work and how many resources are involved in creating and maintaining an engaging and evangelizing website. While this is not the description that most parish leaders would think of, my preference is for a pastorally professional website.

Professional is not the same as commercial.  We are not looking to create a business site to sell goods or a fundraising site to raise money, or an online bulletin board to post fliers—but a parish site whose constituency is the faith community it represents and the people they want to serve. The parish website is or can be a pastoral resource for members and a missionary presence to those outside the church’s doors (visitors, newcomers, people seeking the sacraments, returning Catholics).

Ideally, a fully evangelizing and engaging pastorally professional website that is infused with a spirit of welcome requires:

• A pastor who believes or can be convinced that online outreach is a worthwhile ministry for this parish
• A pastorally astute, knowledgeable and skilled manager of the process who either has or can recruit/hire people with a variety of skills including
  • Research, writing and editing
  • Photograpy
  • Design
  • Website development
  • Staff/parishioners who know the ebb and flow of parish activities throughout the year and can speak to those especially during the planning process. This is not a one-person job.
• The financial resources to create, launch and maintain the finished site.

Ideal vs Real

Over the many years of conversing with people about the circumstances surrounding their parish websites, I understand that there are parishes that do not have all or any of the ideal conditions listed above.  The pastor is not interested in a “fancy” website and cannot be moved, there is no qualified person to lead the project and/or the pastor is interested and there are people to do it, there just isn’t any money.

Ideally is a key word to keep in mind. it is important to point out that no parish has unlimited resources. And even if they do, that is no guarantee that the end results of their efforts will be a professional looking evangelizing and engaging parish website. Truth be told, the right team can create, launch and sustain a beautiful, fully functional website with the right combination of resources that fit their budget.

Limited Resources Are Not An Excuse

Where does that leave us? Regardless of limited resources, every parish needs a website or they don’t exist in the online world where most people engage including people who are seeking a parish or a faith community, sacraments for themselves or their children, or considering a return to the practice of their faith. Out of respect for their parishioners, their members and respect for the website visitor, every parish website must be put together with love and care.  Just because you cannot have the Rolls Royce version of a website, doesn’t mean you can’t get where you want to go. A basic, no frills website needs to have

• Content that is current and accurate
• A welcoming design that makes the content easy to access
• The basic information that visitors seek:
  • Name and complete address of the parish
  • Parish Office hours
  • Email address
  • Phone number
  • Link to the parish bulletin
  • Links to other helpful information i.e. parish calendar, parish ministries such as the Catholic School and/or Parish School of Religion
  • Links to registration, access to sacramental programs and other services at the parish.

A website, whether sophisticated, simple or something in between, can either be very attractive or just as easily look amateurish. That depends on the plan, the purpose and the people who make it happen and keep it going.

More on this next week.

Your comments are welcome!