tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167534478296465146.comments2012-06-09T04:55:57.914-07:00CalledMasasahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00783902610798734846noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167534478296465146.post-24213128032491284972012-06-08T23:26:23.175-07:002012-06-08T23:26:23.175-07:00We are the Churches of The Detroit Metropolitan As...We are the Churches of The Detroit Metropolitan Association of The United Church of Christ.<br /> Our Association is 31 churches strong and growing!<br /> We are united in our faith and diverse in how we express that faith.<br /><a href="http://dmaucc.org//" rel="nofollow">Best Church Websites</a>mrhery125https://www.blogger.com/profile/07442968151330891331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167534478296465146.post-25809685808081864602011-02-17T07:36:36.687-08:002011-02-17T07:36:36.687-08:00What you describe reminds me of a similar process ...What you describe reminds me of a similar process I used when I was discerning whether to go to seminary (which I did). I based in on the Quaker clearness committee model, which Parker Palmer has articulated. I completely agree that our UU process is too individualistic and not focused enough of ministerial formation, which of necessity happens in communion with others.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167534478296465146.post-90903091069176650002011-02-02T14:03:46.481-08:002011-02-02T14:03:46.481-08:00Oh, Phil, good point regarding the application to ...Oh, Phil, good point regarding the application to mission and missional activities. Thank you so much for that!Masasahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00783902610798734846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167534478296465146.post-44648875624331474332011-02-01T16:33:54.096-08:002011-02-01T16:33:54.096-08:00Communal discernment is a difficult process, indee...Communal discernment is a difficult process, indeed. I think it's absolutely necessary that our congregations begin doing it, no matter how difficult, especially around mission and missional activities. It's just not a model that UUs are used to, unfortunately.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167534478296465146.post-84514711931689135272010-12-01T16:15:34.237-08:002010-12-01T16:15:34.237-08:00Masasa, this is indeed a wonderful video! Thanks ...Masasa, this is indeed a wonderful video! Thanks for posting it. I'm going to put it on my facebook page.Lilylouhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02328027965155428624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167534478296465146.post-31757292554640407452010-11-24T19:07:10.021-08:002010-11-24T19:07:10.021-08:00Yes, I personally think sermons aren't written...Yes, I personally think sermons aren't written to be read, they are written to be spoken, and thus they really come to life in video format.<br /><br />(The preference for videos will become even greater the younger and younger folks are.)Masasahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00783902610798734846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167534478296465146.post-20225412390171068092010-11-24T15:34:48.860-08:002010-11-24T15:34:48.860-08:00I would rather watch a video of a sermon than read...I would rather watch a video of a sermon than read one - and I'm a reader!sfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17915065012000448790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167534478296465146.post-3680525076867996822010-11-15T09:18:17.728-08:002010-11-15T09:18:17.728-08:00Fabulous!Fabulous!Masasahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00783902610798734846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167534478296465146.post-78924363943448410602010-11-15T08:33:13.970-08:002010-11-15T08:33:13.970-08:00In regards to #4 - we are going through a website ...In regards to #4 - we are going through a website redesign and putting things into a CMS. Anyone will be able to create a logon account for the site, but until a webmaster is notified that the account belongs to a member the account will not have permissions/access to the protected member content. We may even have more specific groups (committees) beyond that. The important thing is that the protected content will not appear in the menu navigation unless you have permissions to it. So the anonymous seeker, and others, will not even knows it exists, and so they will not feel excluded from it. For the members they will not need to remember a dozen different online locations for congregational info. So the 2 positions are not mutually exclusive.<br /><br />Google docs and other online utilities are fine. Just make sure to have a church domain alias ([something]@[congregation].org) associated as an owner. Members change and if the content is important to the congregation you need to be able to retain access after people leave.UUpdaterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11760554842376249263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167534478296465146.post-27340304549393896932010-11-15T07:25:22.042-08:002010-11-15T07:25:22.042-08:00P.S. technomom, I am so glad you found the Spirit ...P.S. technomom, I am so glad you found the Spirit Play website something good to pass on!Masasahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00783902610798734846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167534478296465146.post-78369264850712795682010-11-15T07:23:52.821-08:002010-11-15T07:23:52.821-08:00technomom, thanks for sharing what you are looking...technomom, thanks for sharing what you are looking for in a website! That story about the children's choir is horrifying! <br /><br />I think that while seekers may have varying needs and interests in a website, there are some general trends that can be tracked. I'd argue that congregations that want to remain vibrant should consider tracking those trends particularly as they relate to "upcoming generations..." not so much because they are the market group (though it is great if they are), but because in terms of technological stuff, it seems like the trend setters tend to be younger, and that older generations eventually fall in (think Facebook).<br /><br />Based on this discussion, if I was going to summarize suggestions for someone looking to design or redesign their website, I would say (I will post this as a blog entry too):<br /><br />1. Photos are absolutely key. Especially of ministers and staff but also "candid ones" from church activities or worship. We all agree on that.<br /><br />2. Sermons are important. Posting just a few of the best ones is useful. Posts should include text. Additional audio (or video) is helpful for those who like what they read and want to follow it with audio or share it in audio. I still argue that more and more with people my age and younger, the audio and video will be important.<br /><br />3. Go ahead and include your calendar if you would like, but be sure on your homepage to highlight what is happening with "happening this month" type lists that include the highlights. <br /><br />Prioritize keeping calendars and lists updated so that newcomers don't ask about that book group, etc. only to find out it is defunct. People want to know what you are really doing.<br /><br />4. Folks say they really like to have congregational business online. I will not sway from my position that this stuff is more appropriately placed online somewhere other than your billboard for the world (website). However, as evidenced in this conversation, people do feel it is important to have this stuff online, so by all means, put it there...again I recommend blogs, google docs, Constant Contact, etc. A single "congregational business" link should suffice if you want to link it from your website. Link to directories, password protected, if you need to, but consider alternatives.<br /><br />5. Know yourself well enough to keep your "headlines" clear in that "about us" link.Masasahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00783902610798734846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167534478296465146.post-77297952512709410492010-11-14T19:29:41.291-08:002010-11-14T19:29:41.291-08:00While I, too, look at web sites while seeking a co...While I, too, look at web sites while seeking a congregation, I look for different things than you do. I have a background in web design and testing myself, so I'm very much aware of how a site represents an organization and what it takes to maintain a site, as well.<br /><br />Photos are good. There's no reason not to have photos of the minister, staff, and congregational leaders alongside their names and brief biographical sketches. Some good, candid shots of people worshiping and otherwise going about the life of the church are reasonable, too, as long as the people in those shots don't mind having them put on the web site (always get signed photo releases first). I'd stay away from shots containing children, unless their parents agree to the photos and their intended purpose ahead of time.<br /><br />I like seeing a few sample sermons available, because I want to know if there's any meat there, or if there's just going to be fluff. For instance, does the pastor or other speaker make political or other claims without providing references to back them up? I want to know that she's done her homework.<br /><br />I'm not likely to listen to a recording or watch a video - and there are people who aren't able to do so, so the text wins on accessibility, too. However, if I'm impressed enough by the content I read, I might download a recording for my partner, who prefers audio - and if it's only available streaming, that's fairly useless, because he wants to take it with him on his iPod. Generally speaking, though, video seems to be more attractive to younger visitors.<br /><br />There's a lot to be said for a list of typical activities so that visitors can see what generally goes on at a glance. Is this place interesting? Are these my kind of people? But I want to see a few months sample calendars, too. I don't insist that they be the real, live calendars of actual activities for that congregation, due to security issues, IF they have one of those members-only sections (see below) - but if they don't, I want to see the real thing.<br /><br />Our family has visited some congregations that claimed to have, for instance, regular book discussions or youth groups or what have you, but when we checked to be sure that they were meeting at the time stated on the calendar on the web site, we were told, "Oh, no, we don't do that any more," or "Well, nobody was really interested." An acquaintance related visiting a church where she asked about the children's choir and was told that "(blank) used to lead that before he got arrested." (Not a UU congregation, happily.)<br /><br />I'm quite happy to see a password-protected section for members, because it indicates that there is some awareness of the need for informational security. That's quite a relief to me. I don't want my family's information and photographs splashed around with indications that they'll be at a particular place and time on a predictable basis. In fact, I don't want to see that done with any child's information, especially.<br /><br />If there's a link to Bylaws and meeting minutes such, I'm not offended at all. I'm happy that there's so much transparency. If you had ever been part of a congregation that fell apart or had a crisis due to the lack of it, you probably would, too.<br /><br />It is so very simple to set up community sites using something like Drupal these days that there's really no excuse for not sharing information electronically, and it's honestly much cheaper and environmentally friendly than mailing out a bunch of newsletters. <br /><br />Spirit Play looks wonderful. I wish it were around when our kids were of the appropriate ages (they're all in college now). I appreciate the link and plan to pass it on to someone who will appreciate it.<br /><br />I hope you find your tribe. Our family is unlikely to move any time soon, so I'm not feeling terribly optimistic about our chances these days.technomomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05074836811544852517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167534478296465146.post-3801459305618818222010-11-11T13:28:55.041-08:002010-11-11T13:28:55.041-08:00P.S. Just noticed that Andover Newton has a calend...P.S. Just noticed that Andover Newton has a calendar too. I like how they keep the whole thing in one window.Masasahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00783902610798734846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167534478296465146.post-53122691963625375992010-11-11T13:03:41.285-08:002010-11-11T13:03:41.285-08:00Part two of my response:
Part of what I like abou...Part two of my response:<br /><br />Part of what I like about the Andover Newton website, in terms of calendaring, is that it fulfills both my need and yours. Yes, there is the transitioning banner that drives you nuts (and I can understand why...I sometimes wish they had an arrow below so one could click back or forward as desired, like the MSN main page news and interest items). But they also have the list of events and activities in chronological order with links to more info (on the right). <br /><br />I maintain that the calendars are just awful for the majority of seekers. I just tried really hard to open my mind and scanned through about a half dozen websites with calendars (I recommend this, as it is very interesting and informative), and I just can't see them as inviting.<br /><br />The rest of what you post, Paul, is really a matter of accepting the research that websites are for seekers, not for members. <br /><br />1) Churches that need sermons found online can get these in multiple ways. Again, mixing text and audio on church websites is fine with me. All I am saying is that the seeker is invited in, in a really much more engaging manner, when there is audio or visual in the invitation.<br /><br />Alternatives to posting sermon text on the church website include but are not limited to: (A) a sermon blog or facebook note page and (B) posting the sermons with a sermon aggregate site or on a listserv that serves the needs of congregations like yours.<br /><br />2) Yes, a "Congregational Business" link is preferable to a "Members" link if it must be on the site. But again, if we want to share ourselves with seekers, then we have to realize that the website isn't really for us. <br /><br />I've been in the church setting my whole life, as a leader from my early teen years, and vocationally for the last ten years. I've known intimately a share of the churches that post minutes online, and I have never seen more than a rare few take advantage of that.<br /><br />It actually may not be that important to have these online. But if you think it is, if you think that is the best way to archive things and keep leadership in the know, then fine...start a leadership blog (which can be password protected if desired) and create a tab for each of the committees. Use Google Docs. Doesn't Constant Contact have something for this? Anything but the main church website, your "billboard" to the whole world.<br /><br />Directories are different. I'd love to know if anyone has researched this. Does anyone know if you have to host the directory on your own site or if you can have it hosted by, say, the directory company you work with (if any)? I'm more forgiving of a link for directories than anything else password protected. <br /><br />I am totally with you on the worship service times and the photos.<br /><br />Well, service projects are tricky for me, but that's a post for another day...Masasahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00783902610798734846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167534478296465146.post-28544275426895440752010-11-11T13:03:15.938-08:002010-11-11T13:03:15.938-08:00DSD and Paul, thanks so much for your comments! I...DSD and Paul, thanks so much for your comments! I love getting some conversation on my blog, which is my goal. Here's my two part response:<br /><br />My sensibilities and needs in regard to church websites right now come very specifically from the place of the seeker, which is why I think they are important to talk about.<br /><br />I have been following and commenting on trends in church website design for years, but being in the position of moving, I have refreshed my "seeker lenses" and am able to see things from a different angle right now. <br /><br />According to some statistics I've recently heard bantered about, 80% of folks go online to figure out what church they want to attend. Experts have provided ample argument that the website isn't for the current members, it is for the seekers. That is, if a church wants to have their arms open to the seeker.<br /><br />I think I would have hesitated more in writing what I wrote if it wasn't part of a well-documented growing trend of needs (I speak partly from the sensibilities of the "under 40" folks who will spend the next 20 to 50 years shaping churches that speak to us).<br /><br />Don't get me wrong, I love to read sermons. I hope people continue circulating their sermon texts. But when I am seeking a church, there is nothing more powerful than audio or visual sermons that give me some of the sensory experience of being with the people of the church in worship. <br /><br />I agree with both of you that I don't want to see *every* worship service or every moment of every worship service. I also agree with DSD that I don't have time to sit with long videos. What I like in particular is 2-3 part videos or recordings of the sermon only. They need to be cut and edited, and the ones that stay on the website ought to be the best of the best.<br /><br />Actually, if there is a benefit to keeping the text, the former "Speaking of Faith," now "On Being" radio show has nice examples of combining audio availability with written text: http://blog.onbeing.org/post/121923825/whistleblowers-resistors-and-defectors-nancy for example.<br /><br />I understand that as you look ahead to your own ministry, you have a hesitation about posting your sermons online. I can totally relate to that, but given the research that is out there about how people navigate and use the web these days, I feel pretty confident in my guess that the churches that grow the most easily in the future will be churches that are not gun shy about this kind of thing.Masasahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00783902610798734846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167534478296465146.post-55134586603416317462010-11-11T11:37:16.401-08:002010-11-11T11:37:16.401-08:00I understand that you have particular things you a...I understand that you have particular things you are looking for in your web visit of church sites. But others of us have other sensibilities and needs. E.g.:<br /><br />Calendars. I much prefer an actual calendar with links for more information. An alternative is a list of all events and activities in chronological order with links to more info. But the changing banner announcement that works for you drives me nuts.<br /><br />Sermons. I get where you're going with this, but I also agree with DSD that I want text in hand because I am more likely to get something out of it that way. But I am truly torn about posting sermons. For lots of reasons. <br /><br />1) My home congregation is very small and lay-led. So most service leaders depend on (properly attributed) sermons found online. Given the absence of a budget for projection equipment, that only works if there is a printable text the lay leader can read from the pulpit.<br /><br />2) As a minister-in-training, I'm not sure I want to make my own sermons available online. I may change my mind. But it takes a huge amount of preparation to produce a sermon. Do I necessarily want to give the entire "product" away?<br /><br />3) Yes, I realize that #1 and #2 essentially contradict each other.<br /><br />4) Even if a minister decides to share hir sermons online, does it really make sense to keep an online archive? I prefer the notion of the minister's carefully selecting a handful of sermons that worked especially well. Then make those available (in multiple media: text, audio, and video, if that is what people want). But don't just offer streaming media in place of text.<br /><br />You don't want a link to a members-only space, yet that is exactly what is needed for some of the other items you don't want to see but that members ought to have ready access to, like bylaws, minutes, reports, directories, and so forth. Would you be less turned off if the link said something like "Congregational Business" without telling people that when they click a password is needed to proceed?<br /><br />I agree that I want to see pictures of ministers especially and also probably other staff and volunteer leaders of particular key projects (probably not every committee chair, though). And, yes, a concise statement of who they are and what is important to them in that position, without having to read a book.<br /><br />I also want to see pictures of the congregation at worship. In whatever architectural space they inhabit. Doing whatever it is they do together. And pictures of the church in its service projects. Not every project can meaningfully be photographed, but many can.<br /><br />And I want the Sunday service times to be clearly visible on the homepage without having to hunt them down.Paul Oakleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17426789386840488470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167534478296465146.post-70416649115638264762010-11-11T09:34:14.326-08:002010-11-11T09:34:14.326-08:00This is such perfect timing. Thanks for all the l...This is such perfect timing. Thanks for all the links.Strange Attractorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16164412906076335124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167534478296465146.post-8892799210145111852010-11-11T05:58:01.436-08:002010-11-11T05:58:01.436-08:00Here's my $0.02.
On the one hand, I agree w/ ...Here's my $0.02.<br /><br />On the one hand, I agree w/ you in your exasperation w/ the number of bad church web sites (heck, bad web sites of any kind) out there. And I agree w/ most of your points.<br /><br />On the other hand, I feel for people who are in charge of designing them. <br /><br />You see, I have somewhat different needs (admittedly, this is an academic exercise for me; I'm not seeking a church now, as I have two that I like very much :-) ) I'm just going to zero in on one: sermons. I understand the appeal of video sermons, and sometimes I like them. But I'm much more of a reader than a listener. I feel so pressed for time so much of the time that I much prefer to read a sermon -- OK, skim it -- and probably be able to get through it in 1/2 or even 1/3 of the time that it would take to watch it on YouTube. That doesn't mean I don't appreciate a good delivery, and perhaps at some point in my hypothetical church shopping example I might, as you do, need to listen and watch, not just read. But my point is really that web designers need to think about people with varying ways of wanting information and, if they want to draw in a variety of different people, need to be prepared to do different things to attract them. And all with a lot less clutter than too many sites have today.<br /><br />Really good post, by the way.DairyStateDadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09100373589936758473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167534478296465146.post-10962987236142418072010-10-29T06:36:04.704-07:002010-10-29T06:36:04.704-07:00In the video clip there is one part of the explana...In the video clip there is one part of the explanation which is technically incorrect. An RSS feed does not "reverse the arrow" in that the RSS feed does not initiate the conversation with the RSS readers. Rather the RSS feed just holds the information in a particular format for the readers to fetch. The key thing being that it still requires a reader or aggregator to actually perform the fetch. The difference in practical terms for the user is that the reader checks all your websites automatically so you do not have to. So there will always be some delay in the amount of time it takes from when a new item is posted to when it appears in the reader.<br /><br />Thanks for spreading the word about UUpdate.net.UUpdaterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11760554842376249263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167534478296465146.post-27775125815098338982010-08-12T08:00:59.872-07:002010-08-12T08:00:59.872-07:00Yes! I do want to be helpful and contribute to the...Yes! I do want to be helpful and contribute to the church community. I just want that contribution to be more of the sort of examples you have given, rather than in an organizational capacity. As a sheep in the flock I want to give wool as well as graze, but I do not need to direct the herd.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167534478296465146.post-18898882244000041782010-08-06T19:38:16.954-07:002010-08-06T19:38:16.954-07:00I haven't read it yet. Thanks for the recomme...I haven't read it yet. Thanks for the recommendation!Masasahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00783902610798734846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167534478296465146.post-69627560466015375722010-08-06T19:24:52.677-07:002010-08-06T19:24:52.677-07:00Have you read "Generations of Faith"? I...Have you read "Generations of Faith"? I just got it, and was so fascinated I read it in one week! (which is very fast for me with a professional development book).Sarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07884797351411470248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167534478296465146.post-83580775855307471722010-08-04T19:17:30.245-07:002010-08-04T19:17:30.245-07:00I am glad to hear my thoughts resonate with someon...I am glad to hear my thoughts resonate with someone. That's helpful.<br /><br />The trick with congregational communities, in my experience, is that they are indeed communities, which means we need to each actively contribute to their well being...and I think doing the right job does help us grow in equal measure to the way we give of ourselves (I like the way you put that). <br /><br />One of the things that I appreciated about the movie "Into Great Silence" last night is that it clearly demonstrated that every monk had a role, that every monk made a contribution for which he was apparently well suited. They definitely weren't consumers of community, but active caretakers. But must the jobs always require some form of leadership? Certainly among the monks, they weren't asked to be Father Abott. Only Father Abott had a desk with stacks of paper everywhere and a laptop and a phone, and a fundraising letter to write.<br /><br />Hmmm. Is this a "Mary and Martha" kind of conversation? What I mean is, would you find it fulfilling to make coffee or pass out orders of service or move around chairs when it is time to set up for a class? Or to give a ride to an elderly or ill member of the church who can't otherwise make it on Sundays, or to make such a member a meal every now and then? Something that affirms your belonging and expresses your positive contribution *when you are present* while not requiring you to step out as a leader or even make a longterm commitment?<br /><br />I am interested in whether that resonates or if that is another difficult road?Masasahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00783902610798734846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167534478296465146.post-57746981622127274822010-08-04T11:12:32.446-07:002010-08-04T11:12:32.446-07:00You are talking about me! I have not considered it...You are talking about me! I have not considered it in these terms before, but the distinction you make resonates with my personal experience. I am in search of a religious life, but I have no desire, time, or energy for religious leadership. It is one of the things that makes church attendance a challenge for me. I have a hard time saying "no" to requests, partially because of an unspoken assumption that the truly dedicated and the truly spiritual will be actively involved...but when I do accept a leadership role, church becomes a dreaded chore and I begin to feel resentment. This has a draining rather than an uplifting effect on my spirit and my view of life. I need to be lifted up, to be inspired by true and natural leaders, to be challenged in my thinking, to feel love (rather than resentment) toward my fellow worshipers. By taking on formal leadership roles, I give of myself without growing in equal measure. And what kind of deflated leader does that make? I would much rather practice a quieter form of leadership - leading by example, in how I take care of myself, take care of others, and take care of the physical space we inhabit.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6167534478296465146.post-74412745050855741002010-05-07T19:00:47.965-07:002010-05-07T19:00:47.965-07:00When folks feel it is critical that they be reacha...When folks feel it is critical that they be reachable, I suggest keeping the phone on the vibrate setting and against the body. For women, a bra is actually a good place to keep it (underarm area has great sound-muffling potential, but if you are well enough endowed, between the sisters could be another option). The reason I recommend the bra is:<br /><br />1. These are good places for sound muffling.<br />2. You won't be inclined to take the phone out until you are truly out of the room and somewhere private. <br /><br />Other options include using a clip and keeping it clipped to your pants, but on the inside of your pants, against your body, or worse case scenario, in a pocket (muffles sound some, but depending on the pants, not as much as against your body).<br /><br />Note that a purse does not muffle sound well, and on vibrate setting will give the phone plenty of things to vibrate against, potentially increasing noise. Also, it takes time to find the phone in your purse, and you may be so mortified by the noise that you go hunting rather than making a quick exit. Wearing a phone clipped on the outside of your pants is probably the second worst option.<br /><br />It *is* still really distracting to have someone leave the room to get a phone call if you can hear it loudly vibrating or if the person answers it before they leave the room, before the door is shut behind them, and depending on how thick the door is, before they are in a private area. <br /><br />Ideally, no one will hear the vibration at all, and no one will ever know that you left the room for a phone call unless there is an emergency and you need to go back in the room to excuse yourself from the meeting entirely.<br /><br />Again, I'd say, don't plan to answer the phone before it stops ringing. Leave a message on your voicemail that you will call folks right back in cases of immediate need. <br /><br />When you are out of the room and in a private area, remove the phone and check who called. Do not call back just because you are out of the room and might as well. If it is not important, I suggest returning to your meeting. <br /><br />If it is important, you can call right back. Not answering the phone delays you by no more than a minute, and if you communicate with the important people in your life that you don't make it a habit to answer the phone but will call them back if needed, it shouldn't be a problem except in perhaps *extremely* rare conditions.<br /><br />By the way, for those in vocational ministry positions, during one-on-one meetings, particularly of a pastoral nature, moms or not, we need to keep our phones off. Our spouses, if we have them and if it is possible, or another person designated for this purpose should be prepared to be the ones to field the calls when we are unavailable (remember before cell phones how we used to call our grandmothers or aunts or mom’s best friends when our mothers weren’t home and we needed something? It is good and healthy and really something positive for kids to know there are others in the world besides us who they can rely on). Our kids and their caregivers should know that we will have periods during which we are totally unavailable but that we will turn our phone on as soon as possible.<br /><br />By the way, I love that you commented and I appreciate "contrarian" comments. It adds to the richness of the blog, which is what I am going for. As for the ipod touch issue, I am going to make a separate post for that. It’s a good topic.Masasahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00783902610798734846noreply@blogger.com