Should Churches Print Bulletins?

We print a few bulletins - some are snail mailed to our shut ins, which they all appreciate. Some we have on Sunday for people who are visitors  - we can't assume they'll check us out on social media, our website or give us their email right away to be added to our list. We leave the extras out during the week for people to pick-up who are in our building for groups, etc. We have several groups who use our space, with attendees who are not members, so we use the bulletin, filled with news as well as the order of worship, as a huge communication tool. The bulletin goes up on our website each week with the link emailed out to our email list as well; not everyone has a printer so the ones that don't also appreciate picking up a printed one on Sunday. I don't think we can ever over-communicate or over-accommodate as we work to evangelize and grow the family of God.

  I don't understand why a church would not print some bulletins. Nowadays we make our churches as accessible as possible with wheelchair ramps, handicap washrooms, hearing devices, brail signage and more. Why not be welcoming of those who do not have technology or even those who choose not to embrace technology. A printed bulletin is a simple and easy way to be inclusive. Kids tend to like reading the bulletin too.

I'm not a senior, and I do have access to a computer and email.  However, I'm inundated with social media messages and emails, and so I'd say I stop to read our electronic church bulletin roughly 25 percent of the time -- and even then it's just to scan it.  When it was printed, I read it word for word, usually as I was waiting for the service to start.  Not sure if that justifies printing, but I have to believe there are a lot of people of ALL ages who are on electronic overload and therefore are missing out on a lot of important updates.   

Keeping in touch with its members should be of utmost importance to all churches. That being said, no church is like the one down the street and what works for others may not work for them when it comes to church bulletins.

The Bridge App has proven to be a solid solution to churches in Canada and the US that have signed up to use it. When the church administrator creates a church bulletin it can easily be uploaded to The Bridge App for all members in the church to see. And, this is just the tip of the iceberg! Any other communications from the church to its members can flow through the app. Based on input from churches, features like Prayers, Announcements, Bible, Church Directory, Watching of Sermons, Events Calendar, Devotions and processing of Donations can all be achieved. Most churches do not need to pay for the use of the app as the cost is covered by their classis. 

The mission of The Bridge App is simple - to create a bridge between ministry resources and local churches and their disciples, with an aim to strengthen individuals within the local church context.

For more information, contact us at: [email protected].