MinistryCOM 2009 Breakout Session
Presenters:
Bill Koch, CEO, Bill Koch PR
Kevin August, Pastor, New Hope Church
Cynthia Lamb, Director of Communications, Holy Spirit Catholic Community
Session Description:
Our congregations — for better or worse — are microcosms of society. Security lapses, moral failings and unprotected environments for children are all too common crisis situations in churches nationwide.
Crisis Communications: A View from the Pulpit, the Pew and the Press will offer a three tier approach – from an “in the trenches” church director of communications, a pastor who is a former, accredited PR professional, and a crisis communications veteran with extensive, first-hand experience. This session will highlight post-event healing and restoration of trust along with the impact of new media and social communications.
What Attendees Will Learn:
Through review of actual crises in ministry, learn the importance of the crisis preparedness and response, how to bring your decision-making hierarchy on board, and practical and tested strategies from three seasoned communications professionals.
About the Presenters:
Bill Koch, APR, Fellow PRSA
Bill Koch is president and CEO of Bill Koch PR, a strategic public relations counseling firm headquartered in the western suburbs of Chicago. The firm’s services include communications counsel; relationship building; reputation management; crisis communications planning, management and support; and executive communications skills development focused on presentation delivery and media spokesperson activities. An expert in crisis communications, Bill was formerly vice president of communications for Laidlaw Education Services, where he coordinated communications for six major acquisitions that doubled the size of the company and managed communications to isolate the company from the parent’s bankruptcy. Bill is co-author of the book No Surprises: The Crisis Communications Management System. He was accredited by the Public Relations Society of America in 1988 and was elected to their College of Fellows in 1992.
Kevin August
Kevin is currently the pastor of New Hope Church in Decatur, Indiana. He as served both small and large congregations ranging in size from 120 to 1100 in weekly attendance during the past five years. Prior to stepping into ministry fulltime, Kevin invested more than 15 years in the communications field. He began his career in the radio broadcasting industry in northeast Ohio and western Pennsylvania. Later he became an accredited public relations professional handling crisis communications, media and community relations for a large people transportation company serving North America. Kevin and his wife Laura have been married for 21 years and have been blessed with two children.
Cynthia Lamb, APR
With a focus on non-profit marketing communications, Cynthia Lamb is the Director of Communications of Holy Spirit Catholic Community in Naperville, Illinois, with over 3,200 registered families. Previously, she had worked as the Marketing Communications Manager for an accredited museum village. She taught public relations and speech for a local university, and has worked in telecommunications marketing and consulting. Ms. Lamb has a master’s degree in Marketing Communications and is an accredited member of PRSA.
