WordPress

Blogging software which can be set up for church web site. Requires web server and backend MySQL database for installation. Some hosting providers provide one-click installation.

• WordPress.org
  • Alternatively, hosted sites are available at WordPress.com
  • WordPressChurch.org
  • Sample WELS church site -Bethelin York, NE
  • Another sample -St. Paul's in Washington, DC

PROS

• Easy install (compared to other do-it-yourself CMS systems)
• Lots of themes and plug-ins for customization that are easy to turn on/off
• WPMU the multi-user version allows you to build separate blogs with a single install
• WPMU supports multiple blog authors
• User friendly site administration tools
• Tagging and categorization options are integrated

CONS

• Posts are organized by date - may not be the desired organization scheme for a church site
• Wordpress focuses on blogging therefore limiting you to add only blog posts or a pages.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS/CONTACTS

• Create a free blog on the WordPress.com site to experiment with the possiblities before installing your own
• WordPress plugins - wordpress.org/extend/plugins
• WordPress themes - wordpress.org/extend/themes
• WordPress documentation - codex.wordpress.org/Main_Page