Watermark's Church Leadership Podcast Crisis Communication for Churches
Oct 15, 2025
Caitlin Van Wagoner, Executive Director of Communications at Watermark, specializes in crisis communication and media relations for churches. She explains how effective communication can build trust during crises and discusses the importance of preparedness. Key topics include distinguishing between smoke and fire situations, crafting clear messages, and the necessity of sincere apologies. Caitlin also emphasizes the roles of crisis teams and the need for transparency, urging leaders to balance speed with thoughtful responses in high-pressure scenarios.
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Support Front-Line Staff
- Inform and empower front-line staff like greeters and receptionists to handle questions.
- Give them scripts or referral paths so they don't feel isolated when members ask.
Define Audience And North Star
- Define your primary audience and set a North Star win before communicating.
- Let organizational values guide wording and desired outcomes.
Craft One Clear Message
- Root every message in facts and a single guiding idea tied to organizational values.
- Choose channels that reach your priority audience first, then make communications publicly available.