E-Mail Guidelines - St. John’s Church

March 13, 2009 (revised)

 The mission of St. John’s Church, Western Run Parish, is to be a caring, Christ-centered community committed to encouraging discipleship and service within our congregation and beyond.  We help build community by communicating thoughtfully and respectfully with one another when we are together at Church or remotely by telephone, in writing, and by e-mail throughout the week.

 E-mail serves as a uniquely efficient communications channel:

• Many of us have regular access to send or receive e-mail.

• The same message can be sent to one or to multiple recipients.

• E-mail is efficient and cost-effective.

 The Church Office will use e-mail to speed-up and reduce the cost of distribution regular material such as the Epistle to parishioners.  Committee heads or individual parishioners can also use e-mail effectively in conducting the Church’s activities.  By following a few guidelines, we can ensure e-mail will always promote community building at St. John’s:

1.      Strongly consider utilizing e-mail for the following purposes:

a.       To coordinate a meeting time with a specific group.

b.      To remind a specific group of an upcoming event or meeting.

c.       To distribute meeting minutes to a specific group.

d.      To remind an individual scheduled to serve on Sunday.

e.       To thank or commend an individual for service to a specific group.

f.       To notify Parishioners of a serious illness or a death.

2.      When sending e-mails to a specified list of committee or commission members, it’s preferable for the members to see each others’ e-mail addresses and to have the ability to respond back to the members.