I think the danger with church marketing is when the focus of this “marketing” changes from focusing on Jesus to focusing on an organization called a church. One praises Jesus; the other praises us.

In fact, I wrote a bit of rant on church marketing here if you or anyone else commenting is interested.

1) Church marketing makes a church seem like an exclusive club.
2) Church marketing really puts the focus on ourselves with Jesus as subtext.
3) Church marketing make churches seem disingenuous and patronizing.

I’ve just come across your blog – nice work. I’ve just launched a new site to help churches and Christian ministries use technology and the internet better. Check out http://www.communicatejesus.com.

Until a few months ago I was a pastor for 19 years and heard every possible argument against every possible innovation in the church.

My take on this issue is that the word “marketing” sounds secular or unspiritual, and so many church people are living with the dualistic worldview that causes them to see anything that isn’t expliclty biblical (ie: there is a chapter and verse proof text) or anchored in years of tradition, as wrong for the church.

Examples I have dealt with firsthand include a resistance to: drums, goal setting, and using nails or power tools in a church construction project (something about Solomon’s temple being built in silence…)

All dictionary definitions aside, marketing and PR are inseparable. So when a congregant is a jerk in the checkout line at the grocery store, or helps their neighbor in a crisis, or raises their children in a certain way, and it is known they are connected to a church or simply consider themselves “Christian”, they are marketing.

So, as alluded to by some comments, the issue isn’t whether we market or not, the issue is whether we market well or poorly. And, the most powerful form of marketing for the church, for good or for ill, is the conduct of those who are seen to belong to it.

A cheesy add for a church full of people with a good reputation will be more effective than a professional marketing campaign for an assembly of nasties!

Post Script: Paul’s decision to minister in major hub cities of the Roman Empire was a marketing decision, as was his “all things to all men to save some.”

I think marketing get’s so much defined as selling. No one wants to sell and the idea of selling something in church to make a profit is unacceptable in the minds of most. But to me marketing is not selling as much as good communicating.

If the announcement of the churches activities this end of the week is not actually thought out as to if it is communicating effectively then people will not come.

If the message on Sunday is not prepared effectively then people will sleep during the message.

If we look at it as the process of better communicating our ministries God given vision it can be a tool that helps us do our best.

Of course Jesus is involved in every step of the way.

Also agree with your comment on chessy church marketing. The majority of it needs a lot of prayer just to say the least.