Every couple weeks I get an email from someone asking me to check out their new church website. Most of the time they only want to show it off and receive a pat on the back for their hard work, but sometimes they ask for feedback, too. I’m certainly no church web-design expert, but I put together a list of what I think should encompass a good church website, not that a site should overwhelm visitors with everything on this list, but that this be a reference point for new ideas. If you’d like to evaluate your church’s website, here’s a tool to help you do so (found via churchrelevance.com)

What the website should do:

• Welcome and attract new visitors
• Be a tool for members to invite others
• Communication vehicle for current members
• Get people involved in ministry
• Be a 24/7 info resource about our church
• Be a center of spiritual resources for members throughout the week
• Interact with members throughout the week about spiritual and life issues
• Share the gospel with seekers
• Be graphically and visually stimulating (good design = perceived credibility)

Audience:

• Potential visitors between 18-45 years old (primary)
• Regular attenders between 18-45 years old (secondary)

Possible information:

• Service times
• Driving directions/map
• Building floor-plan
• Nursery/childcare info
• Staff directory
• Info about the church
• What we believe
• Gospel presentation
• What to expect (visitors)
• Current ministry opportunities
• Current news
• FAQs
• Calendar
• Newsletters (email and print)
• Weekly bulletins
• Contact form
• Denominational news
• Missionary updates

Media

• Sermon podcasts (video/audio)
• Sermon archives
• Sermon transcripts
• File and document sharing/downloads
• Event promotional tools (e-invites, postcards, flyers)
• Photo galleries

Interaction

• Pastor, director and missionary blogs (sermon teasers, additional sermon thoughts, family discussion questions, etc.)
• Small group discussions
• Scripture reading lists
• “Ask the pastor”
• Share prayer requests
• Testimonies
• Sermon Q&A
• Polls/surveys

Miscellaneous

• Online giving
• Online registration for events/classes
• Volunteer screening process

• Get a ministry website for your youth group or church
• Church staff: close friends or co-workers?
• Why do we have church membership?
• Rethinking the typical church environment
• My new youth group website is live!