Comments on: Designers vs. Pastors

By: Inquiring Artist

Inquiring Artist — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 08:41:00 +0000

I am looking for hours on what website can give me advice about what I am facing as an artist/writer/designer in dealing with the churches, and finally, I found your website.

It has been my experience many times of some churches and church leaders about their “always-free” mentality. What I meant is that they will ask a design, or a lesson or an artwork, but they will not pay it because they thought it is free in the name of the ministry. Or if they pay, they will always ask for a big discount since they explained, anyway it is for the Lord. For example, I am writing lessons and designs posters for churches, some uses them but some don’t pay.
What will I do to avoid this or how will I deal with this as an artist/writer? I really need advice about this. Thank you very much.

By: Shawn

Shawn — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 03:50:23 +0000

Fantastic article. This is a great tool to bring perspective. Succinct and poweful. Well done!

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 17:35:10 +0000

Hmm, if funerals come in 3′s then maybe the 2nd and 3rd shouldn’t be unexpected. :)

By: Sheila

Sheila — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 14:04:09 +0000

Regarding cheap or free, perhaps that’s partly due to lack of finances. For more on these creative issues, check out Bruce & Stan’s book entitled “I’m fine with God, It’s Christians I can’t stand.” Some interesting thoughts on why the church often sucks at being creative…

By: Bill Graybill

Bill Graybill — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 07:39:00 +0000

Good discussion. As a pastor and a coach I see another side of Ron’s comment. I think the church values the work but gets into a mindset of cheap or free because that is the world we live in. Everything we do is free for anyone who shows up. And if not free then as cheap as possible so as many as possible can take part. When you give it all away you struggle with sticker shock in the real world.
I have learned this moving from pastoring to coaching. It is the same issues that we all face like Marshall points out.

By: sean salter

sean salter — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 23:39:17 +0000

When designers that work for churches realize that they are in the business of making money they won’t take rejection so personally.

By: bondChristian

bondChristian — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 13:46:13 +0000

I think you might be leaving out a few people… maybe everyone. :>)
I think everyone deals with these issues. The problem is that none of us recognize that others deal with it too. Thanks for reminding us.
-Marshall Jones Jr.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 06:48:53 +0000

I disagree with the designer. I think their sentiments continue to forward the perception of the “creative” as an overly-sensitive type.
Instead of the worst thing being people who don’t like your work, I think it’s people who won’t let you work. Most pastors I’ve worked with just want you to execute their poorly conceived ideas.
Let me do the creating, thanks; that’s my gifting, not yours. If you don’t like it, I’m secure enough to deal with that. But, I find that you usually do.

By: Mary

Mary — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 20:33:28 +0000

“God’s supposed will was used as a weapon for art. When that happens there is recourse.”
I meant when God’s will is used as a final authority on graphic design there is NO recourse. That is the silver bullet that we designers have to submit to regardless, or be labeled rebellious.
Pastors don’t tell architects where to place the load bearing wall or number of trusses when building the church, nor tell the plumbers what size pipes to use or the electricians which wires to use. But they all have seem to have direction, if not outright control, of the newest ad or slide with direct insight from God.
This of course may come from the churches decision to hire cheap inexperienced designers who they have to lead along when they should be hiring experienced professionals that want to serve the Lord in their chosen field of design.
We can give you a successful tool to reach people
OR
We can do just exactly what you want.

By: ocube

ocube — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 03:53:12 +0000

As a Designer I constantly battle these creative issues with both Churches and Charities and for sanities sake, I mostly designer for corporate bodies as they not only pay better, they treat me better as well. For me its not about taking feedback badly as I will tell you now, coporate bodies are more brutally honest, for me its about respect. I am treated as a professional and my opinions are taken seriously as it affets sales. In the church I get the impression some of the leaders dont se the imapct my work has on the overall success of their ministry and mostly treat me as a neccesary evil they have to endure.
In balance I will say some Churches have treated me with an understandng of what my skill bring to the table but they are really few and far between.