Richview needs a website makeover, and like many churches, we don't have a lot of money budgeted. I've been looking at various content management systems. Some are free but a little frustrating and others look great but are more expensive. I don't want to sink a lot of my time into this.
I guess I'm asking for a lot: an inexpensive and powerful system that doesn't require a lot of initial set-up time.
I think I may have found what I'm looking for at Web Empowered Church. You could invest a lot of time here, but they also have a turnkey host and a 30-minute set-up. They have a book coming out later this year and it looks like it's powerful enough. Take a look if you're interested.
Why does it need a makeover? Don't overestimate the web for church.
Kim:
The main reason is to open up the website to other ministry leaders to they can update it easily. Right now it all has to go through me. So, in effect, I want less work. ;)
Of course you're right - a website is only a tool. Tools aren't all-important but they still come in handy sometimes.
I'll be taking a look into this.
As someone whose comfortable with the computer, and intensely interested in spiritual life and growth, I find the web an invaluable resource and connector. And yes -- I often drop by your church site, too! (Even though were not Richview-ites. Smile)
I've been doing a lot of web-site research this summer myself, as I'll soon be launching a ministry website, and, like you I need it to be Super Easy to use. I need to have my 'fuss time' for pereparing the content, and not learning, or running the programs!
My best find, so far, is a 30 minute (or less also) WYSIWYG combined template/host service, run by citymax.com
I've looked into a number of the christian based services, and couldn't find anything near as well set-up and inclusive as this service.
Final cost(so they say) will be 20$ US/month. (You have to host with them; no charge for templates.)
There's a 10 day free trial on the product too.
All the best in your final choice, and mine. May they serve us well, time-savingly, and --inexpensively too!
Blessings -- Nj
I know Ekklesia 360 isn't cheap but it's been designed to allow non-technical people to use it, there is no software to download/install, its built on web standards, separates design/code/function and its built around the churches needs. All things that make it well worth the price.
Drew:
I've heard great things about your system, and it's actually cheap for what you deliver. I wish that our budget was big enough because I would definitely go with it.
Drupal is - in my experience - better than Joomla. It depends on what you want your site to do. You might be surprised at what something like Wordpress can do these days.
Darryl, do you know this site:
http://www.healyourchurchwebsite.com/
I think it's more hands-on for someone actually coding, but it might be worth a look. It's a good resource.