Streamlining Communications at CtK

“How do you get your news?” A generation or two ago, there were only a few options for getting news. A newspaper or two, the “big three” TV networks, plus Public Radio and a few AM news stations. Nearly everyone in the country not only knew Walter Cronkite, but he earned the unofficial title of the “most trusted man in America,” with a majority of the country tuning in nightly for his news show. Today, of course, there are so many new and different ways to get your news—from cable TV to news websites to social media to talk radio. The sheer number of different outlets available often results in an inconsistent and uneven flow of information even within one community. A similar thing could be said about the various ways we distribute news and information at Christ the King.

Last year’s listening sessions revealed continuing concerns about communication at CtK, including the strong sense that we need to have a regular, clear, and open flow of information from the staff, council, and other ministry leaders. More than that, folks at CtK are looking for ways to discover more about our shared ministries, in order to become better connected to one another. Our core value of "Building Community" relies on us all becoming increasingly in touch with the ways CtK-ers live out their lives of faith, and we have found that neither a quarterly nor a monthly newsletter actually achieved that goal.

With an eye toward such clarity, transparency, and consistency, we will be streamlining both the way we share announcements and tell the story of Christ the King. Specifically, ministry announcements will now be shared though the weekly CtK Herald, available via email on Wednesday and on Sundays in print form (reimagining our current “What’s Happening” flyer as a weekly newsletter). In addition, a more detailed story of ministry at CtK will be shared weekly by pastors, program staff, council members and other lay leaders in a Blog entitled “Life@CtK,” available via email and online on Mondays. 

As has often been noted, communication is a two-way street, and we rely on folks in the CtK family to do their part as well. Here are some suggestions of what you can do to keep communication efficient and helpful among us:

• Stay informed: actively look for the emails on Monday and Wednesday, pick up the flyer on Sunday morning;
•  Pass it on: bring an copy of the Herald to someone who wasn’t in worship, share our social media posts with your online friends;
• Share your story: offer to write a blog post about something you’re involved with at CtK or passionate about in the community. Life@CtK includes a diversity of viewpoints and experiences, and we’d love to hear more of them.

And while we certainly will still have other ways to tell our stories and share our announcements, we hope that this change will result in information getting to more people in a timely, helpful, and inspiring manner. As we continue to Become Christ’s Beloved Community, we appreciate your input and feedback regarding these streamlining changes to our communication flow.

Yours in Christ,
Pastor Peter