Ministries

Publication Policy

Publications are the information aspect of Assimilation Ministry. They serve as an integral part of connecting people to The Chapel and its programs by keeping them informed of upcoming events and opportunities to serve. They are directed toward The Chapel’s regular attendees, Sunday guests and seekers who access our information through the website. Pastors, staff and lay volunteers are encouraged to maximize their ministry through the use of publication resources.  In order to utilize these resources wisely, applicable guidance is listed below.

  1. Although we desire to include as many pertinent announcements on Sunday as possible, due to limited space, events or items to be publicized are prioritized accordingly:
    a. Chapel-wide events open to the greatest number of members and attendees, i.e. a church picnic or concert.
    b. Chapel ministry sponsored events or announcements. This includes those generated by the staff and lay leaders of Chapel ministries, i.e. Missions Committee and Young Singles.
    c. Non-Chapel Christian ministries, i.e. Wycliffe Banquet and Young Life Golf Tournament
  2. Publicity is most effective when it employs a variety of publication means simultaneously. Not only does this reinforce the message, but it also helps reach people with a variety of learning styles. Publications must be coordinated to be effective.
  3. The bulletin is the one printed publication that each Sunday guest and member carries from the service. It will often be left on a counter or bedside table as a visible reminder of Chapel ministries and mission. The bulletin is our most visible means of communication.
  4. Any printed publication is potentially an advertisement for The Chapel and all of its ministries, and should, therefore, be accurate, attractive and well thought out. As The Chapel attracts new people, the role of clear, concise and informative publications will be vital to continued growth.

Publication Procedures

Submit information on events to be publicized by email to bettejean.cramer@thechapelnet.com. Include all pertinent information about the event—name of the event, purpose, date, time, place, who should attend and why and the date for publicity to begin. You may also fill out the form on the web under Assimilation/Publication Policy and Procedure. From this submission, the event will be placed in the bulletin, on the PowerPoint announcement loop and on the web site. Depending on the nature of the item or event, it may also be included as a verbal announcement or promoted on a bulletin board. Additional means of publicity that may be used are listed below. Information to be publicized should be submitted as soon as possible, but must be received no later than 4:30 p.m. on the Tuesday preceding the Sunday when publicity begins.

Publication Media

Bulletin
  • The bulletin is published weekly and distributed to people who attend Sunday services. It contains the title of the sermon, mission and prayer emphasis for the week, current and upcoming events, calendar for the upcoming week and contact information for staff and Elders.
  • Items for the bulletin must be received by 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday. (We have the bulletin printed by a local printer and need several days for turn-around.)
PowerPoint Announcement Loop
  • The announcement loop runs prior to the beginning of each service and includes promotion of upcoming events.
  • Only a minimum amount of information may be included on each slide. Generally only the name of event, date, time and location will be included. If you have logos, graphics or pictures that would enhance the slide, please forward those by email.
  • Generally the Power Point slides are created by the Assimilation Administrative Assistant from the information provided. If you have the desire and ability to create your own Power Point announcement, you may send us a completed slide.
Verbal Announcements
  • Verbal Announcements are made at the conclusion of the service by a pastor, staff member or lay announcer. Their purpose is to give worship attendees opportunities to connect or to serve. They are intended to highlight no more than three items in the bulletin.
  • Verbal announcements are limited to three per Sunday.
  • Please do not ask the announcer to add last minute announcements on Sunday morning. The verbal announcement is most effective when the audience can refer to the bulletin for details.
Bulletin Inserts
  • Bulletin inserts are flyers included as separate sheets in the bulletin. Most often these are used when a ministry needs a response that may be turned in with the offering or at guest information.
  • Optimally we include no more than one per Sunday in addition to the sermon notes, connection card and forward by faith envelope.
  • Please email the information to us formatted as you would like it to appear.  We may make editorial or formatting changes.
  • Inserts should be scheduled several weeks in advance to allow coordination with other ministries requesting inserts.
Guest Information Table
  • The Guest Information Table is geared to guests who are seeking more information about The Chapel. It also serves regular attendees who are looking for specific information. Information on this table must be attractively formatted and visitor friendly.
  • Please give pamphlets and flyers for the Guest Information Table at either location to Bettejean or Karon. 
  • Three-fold brochures or 5½ by 8½ flyers on cardstock are preferred. We are trying to keep this area uncluttered. Material that can stand upright in a rack helps.
Sign-up Table
  • A special sign-up table is encouraged when a ministry is beginning a new focus that includes receiving feedback or forms or when people will have additional questions about the ministry being promoted. 
  • These special sign-up events may not use the Guest Information table.
  • Arrange with Bettejean in advance for tables and placement.
  • Ministries are responsible for making the table attractive—tablecloths, signs and information.
  • Sign up tables must be manned by volunteers whose names are submitted in advance to Bettejean.
Social Media
  • Our facebook page is www.facebook.com/TheChapelBR. This is a great way to get the most updated information out in a moment's notice. Anyone is welcome to post information or photos on our wall. If you want information about an event to be announced from The Chapel page you must talk to Bettejean.Cramer@thechapelnet.com. The information must be correct, informative, and allow our followers to act immediately
  • Our Twitter account is www.twitter.com/TheChapelBR. This is a great way to interact with others who are involved at The Chapel. Information goes out immediately to hundreds of our followers. The information also has the ability to be retweeted by our followers which consistently "re-advertises" the event as often as is is retweeted. If you have a twitter account you can follow The Chapel for updated news as well as retweet our information to all your followers. If you would like us to make an announcement through twitter the information must be correct, informative, and our followers must be able to act immediately. Send your information to Bettejean.Cramer@thechapelnet.com.
  • Our Flickr account is www.flickr.com/TheChapelBR. If you want to publicize an event through photographs, here is the place to do it! This is also a great archive to store photos for the future. We have different albumns set up. So, when you want to know what is going on in a particular ministry you can SEE what the dynamics of each ministry look like. Send your photos to Bettejean.Cramer@thechapelnet.com so we can store them on our site.
  • Our YouTube account is www.youtube.com/TheChapelBR. This is an opportunity to have interactive videos of people involved in your ministry or to share with others what is going on at your special events. People who see these videos have a feel of the people and activities that are involved in your ministry. Take videos on your iphone, flip cameras, ect and send them to Bettejean.Cramer@thechapelnet.com.
Bathroom Posters
  • Poster holders are included in the downstairs bathrooms of the LSU sanctuary and new education buildings. They are a great place to remind adults of major upcoming events.
  • The information on the posters is geared toward adults, often by gender.
  • Information to be included is coordinated through Bettejean. Communications assistant formats the actual poster.
Web Site
  • The Chapel website is the display window for the church and its ministries. It serves as an introduction and invitation to potential attendees and as a source of timely information for current attendees. Accessed from peoples’ homes or offices, it puts Chapel information at peoples’ finger-tips, making it a great place to promote upcoming events or inform people of last minute changes.
  • Information sent for publicity in the bulletin is automatically forwarded to the web master to be included on the web site. Information for the web site may also be submitted directly to Gwynn (gwynn.naylor@thechapelnet.com). Information submitted directly to Gwynn is not automatically included in other Chapel publications.
  • Information on the web site must be consistent with the information published in the bulletin.
  • Information published on the web site must be timely and accurate. It must align with the theological views of The Chapel.
  • Incomplete or inaccurate information posted on the web will be removed.
Banners
  • Banners are large full color displays that announce significant Chapel events. These can be hung inside or outside depending on the event being publicized.
  • Coordinate requests for banners through Bettejean. Lori provides the graphic design.
Door Handouts
  • Occasionally a ministry will want to distribute information by putting it directly in the hands of people as they enter the worship service. This should be used on a limited basis and will be most effective when supported by other forms of publicity.
  • To keep guests from being overwhelmed by a line of people distributing handouts, we prefer to limit handouts (in addition to the bulletin) to one ministry per week.
  • Although there is no scheduling process, it is helpful to check with Bettejean for the purpose of coordinating with other ministries.
Special Note on Body LIfe

Some ministries are promoted during Body Life (before prayer in the service). To request time during Body Life, contact the administrative assistant in the Pastor’s office. The administrative assistant only schedules the time during Body Life. Any supporting publications, such as bulletin inserts or sign-up tables must be requested through Bettejean.