Guidance
This section links to guidance to support local congregations to set up, administer and develop an online presence. Whether you are looking to build a new website, use social media to communicate with your community, or use media platforms to offer online services – the links below are a good place to start.
The Methodist Church in Britain website has a useful section of Digital Communication Guidance for Churches.
Many of the links below come from the Yorkshire North and East District – and we acknowledge and thank their Digital Communications Enabler, Elliot Crippen, for his valued work.
Livestreaming your service – a beginner’s guide
Tips for creating video at home and filming for online church
You can also search the Digital Resources Hub of the Yorkshire North and East District for the following guidance:
- Zoom for churches
- ‘How to’ guides and help to use social media, including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
- Websites for churches
- Online and digital giving
Safeguarding duties also extend to church using digital media. Please see the links below for guidance:
Social Media – keeping everyone safe
Using Zoom safely and with integrity
Creating safe virtual spaces for children and young people and Children, Young People, Social Media and Communications Guidance
Making online church accessible
By making a few small changes to how we present online church, we can be more accessible to those in our church family. Guidance is available from the links below.
The Church of England has also produced some top tips for an accessible online service.
Video and audio material that can be re-used by local churches
The Methodist Church in Great Britain has developed resources that local churches can reuse. Click here for more details.
Hymns and Songs for Online Worship
Several organisations or artists have given permission for their versions of hymns and worship songs to be used in online worship during the coronavirus pandemic. Some are free, and some may charge a small fee.
Please note that you should include any copyright information alongside the video or recordings. You may require a streaming licence to use the material. (For more explanation around online services and copyright – please see Copyright FAQs).
- Matt Beckingham YouTube Channel
- Resound Worship and Jubilate Worship
- Evangelical Movement of Wales
- The Rend Collective
- Reawaken Hymns
- Worship Lyric Videos
- Sovereign Grace Media
Do you still have a question?
If you have not been able to find an answer to your question around using digital media, please email the Circuit office with your question. This will be taken to the Circuit Digital Media, Mission and Ministry Forum where we will seek to identify suitable guidance and then link to it above.
