Managing public relations within churches

Phil Cooke is the son of a preacher but says he never felt the call to the pulpit. Yet his upbringing gave him a fundamental understanding of the pressures that come with leading a church. He went on to become founder of Cooke Media Group – a consulting company that works with religious and nonprofit organizations to improve their branding and storytelling. He’s helped clients like The Salvation Army, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, and Joel Osteen Ministries, among many others. His latest book Church on Trial: How to Protect Your Congregation, Mission, and Reputation During a Crisis, gives churches a much needed toolkit on how to manage public relation issues that can do more damage than people think.