Proclaiming UCC IdentityProclaiming UCC IdentityThe Stillspeaking InitiativeThe Stillspeaking Initiative

Isn’t it time we let the secret out about the Isn’t it time we let the secret out about the United Church of Christ?United Church of Christ?

Isn’t it time we eliminated confusion with the Isn’t it time we eliminated confusion with the Church of Christ?Church of Christ?

We can accomplish these goals as we . . . We can accomplish these goals as we . . . Use common brandingUse common branding Focus on our “welcome of strangers”Focus on our “welcome of strangers” Reach out via TV, radio, and print adsReach out via TV, radio, and print ads

The movement is growingThe movement is growing

Reaching the alienatedReaching the alienated Focus group testing showed . . . Focus group testing showed . . .

The Bad News:The Bad News: The unchurched are extremely angry The unchurched are extremely angry with “church” based upon personal experienceswith “church” based upon personal experiences Took focus group tests 1 to 1.5 hours to allow people to vent Took focus group tests 1 to 1.5 hours to allow people to vent

their anger and hurttheir anger and hurt Focus group testers say people more alienated with the Focus group testers say people more alienated with the

church than with any other product with which they have church than with any other product with which they have workedworked

The The GoodGood News: News: They want to come back and will They want to come back and will do so if . . .do so if . . . InvitedInvited Made welcomeMade welcome Given good information . . . without judgmentGiven good information . . . without judgment

UCC Desired Brand PersonalityUCC Desired Brand Personality(Developed by Gotham, Inc., our ad agency)(Developed by Gotham, Inc., our ad agency)

My roots go back 2000 years, but I am very much My roots go back 2000 years, but I am very much now and today. now and today.         I embrace modern intelligent thinking: Acceptance.         I embrace modern intelligent thinking: Acceptance. Inclusiveness. Justice. I can even be light-hearted. My Inclusiveness. Justice. I can even be light-hearted. My open-armed approach is appealing to people of all races open-armed approach is appealing to people of all races and lifestyles. Which might explain why my and lifestyles. Which might explain why my congregations are diverse and unique. congregations are diverse and unique.

                Another funny thing happens when you're less Another funny thing happens when you're less judgmental. You allow people to search, discover and judgmental. You allow people to search, discover and flourish. My friends come to me to seek their own flourish. My friends come to me to seek their own answers, look inside themselves and explore their answers, look inside themselves and explore their relationship with God.relationship with God.

                In the end, my personality is reflective of Christ's. In the end, my personality is reflective of Christ's. Open. Embracing. Nurturing. And eternally relevant. Open. Embracing. Nurturing. And eternally relevant.

It’s a match!It’s a match!

The CommercialThe Commercial Designed to . . . Designed to . . .

Speak to the alienated and those seeking a Speak to the alienated and those seeking a spiritual homespiritual home

40% of adults who self – identify with a particular 40% of adults who self – identify with a particular religion religion do notdo not belong to a church or faith institution belong to a church or faith institution

80% of 20 year olds have never been to church80% of 20 year olds have never been to church

The Commercial The Commercial

Designed to . . . Designed to . . . Let the world know there is a church unlike Let the world know there is a church unlike

any they may have knownany they may have known Invite people to come . . .and let them knowInvite people to come . . .and let them know

No matter who you are, no matter where you are No matter who you are, no matter where you are on life’s journey, you’re welcome hereon life’s journey, you’re welcome here

Raise the pride of membersRaise the pride of members Embrace common brand and theme:Embrace common brand and theme:

God is still speaking,God is still speaking,

Will it work? Will it work? How did it work in the test group?How did it work in the test group?

183 churches participated in test market in 183 churches participated in test market in Lent, 2004 Lent, 2004

92% of members said commercial great or 92% of members said commercial great or good.good.

First time visits up in some First time visits up in some Email excerpts . . . Email excerpts . . .

And when we went nationwide…And when we went nationwide…

In December 2004, on stillspeaking.com In December 2004, on stillspeaking.com

Find a Church Find a Church 112,343112,343 About Beliefs About Beliefs 32,92232,922 FirstsFirsts 9,9329,932 Total page viewsTotal page views 1,543,2191,543,219

And that little dust up And that little dust up with NBC and CBSwith NBC and CBS

Unprecedented visibilityUnprecedented visibility

Interviews Interviews

News storiesNews stories

Web site visitsWeb site visits

All over the world! All over the world!

Stillspeaking.com visits (December 2004): Stillspeaking.com visits (December 2004):

North AmericaNorth America 347,515347,515 EuropeEurope 16,84316,843 AsiaAsia 4,5174,517 OceaniaOceania 2,9882,988 South AmericaSouth America 2,0722,072 AfricaAfrica 545545

… … and during March 2005 and during March 2005

Find a Church Find a Church 42,84442,844 FebruaryFebruary 7,3567,356

About BeliefsAbout Beliefs 9,8739,873 FebruaryFebruary 2,1152,115

FirstsFirsts 2,820 2,820 FebruaryFebruary 659 659

Total page viewsTotal page views 461,666 461,666 February February 180,494180,494

Churches are excited!Churches are excited!

More than 2,300 Stillspeaking More than 2,300 Stillspeaking congregations in May 2005congregations in May 2005

38% of churches38% of churches 53% of members53% of members Many, many stories of welcome and Many, many stories of welcome and

renewal renewal

God is still speaking, 101God is still speaking, 101“Ron in a Box”“Ron in a Box”

IntroductionIntroduction UCC HeritageUCC Heritage Culture & ReligionCulture & Religion Come to the PartyCome to the Party Building Identity BrandBuilding Identity Brand Promoting IdentityPromoting Identity Welcoming churchWelcoming church

The Party Continues . . . The Party Continues . . .

The Party Continues!The Party Continues!How can I help?How can I help?

PrayPray Opt in Opt in Attend training in your Conference settingAttend training in your Conference setting Train members of your church Train members of your church Must haveMust have a web page – We’ll give you a web page – We’ll give you

oneone Save the date – throw a party Save the date – throw a party

All Saints Celebrations November 5-6, 2005 All Saints Celebrations November 5-6, 2005

How can I help?How can I help?

Help us raise $3 million by November 2005Help us raise $3 million by November 2005 And another $3 million for Lent 2006 And another $3 million for Lent 2006

Support it financially – Donor FormsSupport it financially – Donor Forms Identify potential major donorsIdentify potential major donors

Use brand, use theme – Continue through 2007Use brand, use theme – Continue through 2007 Get “Ron in the Box” ($20) and “Graphics Kit” Get “Ron in the Box” ($20) and “Graphics Kit”

($50) from United Church Resources($50) from United Church Resources 800-537-3394800-537-3394

What to expect . . . What to expect . . .

God’s continued favorGod’s continued favor New energyNew energy Fast-pace – “Try it, do it, fix it” spiritFast-pace – “Try it, do it, fix it” spirit Risk – Expecting mix of success and failureRisk – Expecting mix of success and failure The commercial will air absolutely The commercial will air absolutely everywhereeverywhere Success!Success!

Many of the alienated find a spiritual homeMany of the alienated find a spiritual home Members “fall in love again” – with their church and Members “fall in love again” – with their church and

the the United Church . . . of ChristUnited Church . . . of Christ

Is it worth the money and the time?Is it worth the money and the time?

In line with other denominationsIn line with other denominations Methodists committing $62 millionMethodists committing $62 million Lutherans $20 millionLutherans $20 million

United Church of ChristUnited Church of Christ Critical times – Easter, Christmas, back to schoolCritical times – Easter, Christmas, back to school Need to raise $21 million through 50Need to raise $21 million through 50thth Anniversary Anniversary

in 2007in 2007

Is it worth the money and the time?Is it worth the money and the time?

What is the value of one person overcoming What is the value of one person overcoming his or her alienation from God or a community his or her alienation from God or a community of faith?of faith?

What is the value of one person finding a What is the value of one person finding a spiritual home?spiritual home?

What if it was you? . . . Or someone you love?What if it was you? . . . Or someone you love?

So . . . What are you So . . . What are you going to do about it?going to do about it?

And . . . And . . .

How far are you How far are you willing to go?willing to go?

View the Close of “Ron in the Box” andView the Close of “Ron in the Box” and

Celebrate!Celebrate!