We have a communications policy on emails. Only certain types of emails can go to the entire congregation. It is to avoid the daily/ weekly barrage that can easily happen.

You can sign up for others, like the weekly announcements, the monthly newsletter.....

Groups deal with emailing their own members and most I am in just email for meetings.

Our UCW unit does a bit of both. The leader emails' but there are six or so women who each call six members to remind them.

Personal information can not be shared with out permission. It is why our minister will often pray for "a friend with cancer" rather than Joe Blow with cancer. a minister would be in error to announce the medical condition of anyone without specific permission. I would actually think that could be a reprimand able issue with M&P

.

I've never been involved in a phone tree.  Is it just a few people who call certain people, or is it more of a 'telephone line' where 1 person calls 5 people giving them the info and list for each of those 5 to call?  If it's the latter, I could see some issues with that.

Overall, email, FB, etc. sound like a better way to reach out to a large group of people, although in some cases I could see where a phone call might be the preferred contact.

We do not have a phoning tree.

Our minister does send out emails (not everyone has a computer or emails though) of the announcements.  He sometimes posts events on Facebook.

I think everyone in the church has to be careful about sharing information . . . and to make sure they have the person's permission to do so.  We have a prayer book where people put names for prayer.  I personally don't add people's names without asking them first if it is alright, but I know of others who just put down the names.

We do not have a phoning tree.

Our minister does send out emails (not everyone has a computer or emails though) of the announcements.  He sometimes posts events on Facebook.

I think everyone in the church has to be careful about sharing information . . . and to make sure they have the person's permission to do so.  We have a prayer book where people put names for prayer.  I personally don't add people's names without asking them first if it is alright, but I know of others who just put down the names.

We do use a phone tree for major events, but it is fairly rare. Most announcements go out in a weekly announcements email compiled by the office from the announcements received for that weeks bulletin.

Mendalla

I belong to some clubs and contact is made via email (everyone has a computer).  

When I was attending church upcoming meetings, activities  etc were announced on Sunday morning. I was told that people were phoned if their help was needed for something specific.  In several years I received only one phone call - for a cancellation due to weather. 

Most people probably shared information when they had coffee or lunch together.

I have heard Beloved that prayer requests in the UC have to have permission of person being prayed for if they are mentioned by name.

We don't have a phone tree, that I know of. 

Lastpointe - I was just speaking with someone this morning re e-mail & other communication policy - we are about to embark on development - could you please wondermail me the info about who I could contact to see if your policy could be shared with us?  Thanks!

We don't have a phoning tree.

our phone tree was resurrected recently for a snowed-out Sunday, but it had not been used in ages.  

We use email mostly, though I'm not sure for a last-minute announcement that it is sufficient.  Many people only log on once a day or so to read emails.

We don't share medical issues or concerns that way except with a select group of people in our Prayer support group, and permission is always asked.