Web-Site Development
Many churches would like to create a web site, but lack individuals with the time and/or talent to be able to create an effective web site. This is where template providers can come to the rescue.
A template provider will provide all of the nitty-gritty technical details for you. All you have to do is manage your site's content via a password-protected web interface. So you can update your site from anywhere with an Internet connection (your living room, the public library, Starbucks, etc.). If you can type, you can create a good-looking, effective web site for your church. You don't need to know the first thing about web programming, HTML, or anything else!
Most template providers will layer their services so that you can start out simple and add features as you go. What you pay depends upon what services you need. Most plans start out between $10-$15 per month for basic web sites (usually one email address and between 10-25 pages of content). Most basic plans will be sufficient for small churches. This price includes all of your hosting fees - the only other cost you might incur is a domain name registration fee, which is usually nominal. And since you can update the site from anywhere with an Internet connection, you don't necessarily need to acquire Internet access for your church building (which is a hang-up for many small rural churches).
One such template provider, e-Zekiel , has an agreement with The United Methodist Church to provide their services at a 10% discount to local UM Churches. Check out their UMC program at www.umc.e-zekiel.com . Many UM churches have already started using their services.
References to web sites and products on this site ARE NOT ENDORSEMENTS.
They are provided as information to help you determine what is best for your church.