More Than a Template
Why Church Design Deserves Thoughtfulness, Not Just Tools
By Libby Clarke, Designer, Educator, and Creative Partner to Mission-Driven Teams
Tools like Canva offer speed, affordability, and a sense of control—especially for small teams juggling bulletins, events, e-blasts, social media, and Sunday sermons. It’s easy to fall back on premade layouts and searchable images when you’re overworked and under-resourced. These tools promise a way to “look professional” without hiring a professional. And sometimes, that’s the only option available.
But here’s the thing: our visual identity is more than how we look. It’s how we show up. And when we rely too heavily on one-size-fits-all design tools without reflection, we risk flattening the very message we’re trying to amplify.
This isn’t about calling anyone out. This is a call in—toward better questions, deeper intention, and the kind of design that supports real ministry.
Let’s dig into what thoughtful church design can be—and how we can get there, even without a full creative department or budget line.
The Rise of the Templated Church
(and Why It Makes Sense)
Churches today face intense pressure to produce constant content. One flyer a week has turned into ten Instagram posts, three e-blasts, a monthly newsletter, a sermon graphic, and maybe even a TikTok (bless your heart if you're trying that).
So Canva steps in—and it delivers. It gives non-designers a leg up. It offers accessible visuals to communities who’ve never had a designer on staff. In many ways, it’s been a gift.
But templates aren’t strategy. And looking polished isn’t the same as being clear.
When every church starts using the same premade layouts, with the same generic stock photos and the same handful of trendy fonts, we lose what makes us distinct. We start to sound—and look—like one another. And for churches rooted in story, place, and call? That’s a real loss (01).
The Gospel Deserves More Than Gradient Bubbles
Every congregation has a unique witness: a particular theology, a distinct voice, a way of showing up in the world. Our design choices should reflect that. Not because we want to be trendy, but because we want to be true.
Design isn’t just about making things “look nice.” It’s about making meaning visible (02). It’s how we invite, welcome, and guide people—visually, emotionally, and spiritually.
When churches default to generic visuals, we risk unintentionally sending the message that our ministries are generic too (03).
That doesn’t mean throwing out Canva or spending big on a brand overhaul. It means taking the time to make intentional choices. To ask, “Does this look and sound like us? Does it reflect the care we put into everything else we do?”
Visual Integrity Builds Trust
If your church’s social feed or bulletin looks like a mix of every template Canva has to offer, you’re not alone. That visual inconsistency is incredibly common—and totally understandable when multiple people are creating content on the fly.
But it’s worth noting: people notice. Even if they can’t name what’s off, they feel it. Inconsistent design—mismatched fonts, jarring color combos, clashing styles—can quietly undermine the message you're working so hard to share (04).
Consistency, by contrast, builds trust. It helps people recognize you across platforms. It creates a sense of reliability and welcome (05). And yes, it makes it more likely they’ll actually read the thing you’re posting.
This Isn’t About Hating Canva
Let’s be clear: Canva is a great tool. I use it. I recommend it. I build systems around it when teams need flexibility. When used with intention, it can support thoughtful, sustainable communication.
But the moment Canva replaces thoughtful communication with templated shortcuts, churches lose more than design—they lose voice.
When your Good Friday post looks like a wellness retreat ad, or your Pentecost flyer could double as a frozen yogurt coupon, something gets lost in translation.
The issue isn’t Canva itself—it’s how we use it. Canva doesn’t know your congregation. It doesn’t know your story, your theology, your values. You do. And your design choices should reflect that (06).
How to Reinfuse Design Integrity (Without a Full-Time Designer)
You don’t need a creative department to build a more cohesive, meaningful visual presence. Here’s where to start:
1. Choose (and Stick to) a Visual Identity
Pick 2–3 fonts and 2–3 colors that reflect your space, stained glass, or neighborhood. Use these consistently across platforms. Think of it as your design liturgy: structure that holds the story. This would be a great time to bring in a designer as a consultant so you have a solid base!
2. Define Your Voice
Are you contemplative and traditional? Outspoken and justice-driven? Family-focused? Let that personality shape your design tone, not just your copy.
3. Create a One-Page Brand Guide
It doesn’t have to be fancy. Just a clear, simple page outlining fonts, colors, logo usage, tone of voice, and basic dos and don’ts. Share it with anyone who posts, prints, or publishes. You can also create brand guides in Canva and other tools so there is constant support.
4. Design for Your Community
Don’t design to impress Pinterest. Design to speak to the people who show up every Sunday, volunteer at your pantry, or wander in looking for belonging.
5. Give Extra Love to Big Moments
Use templates when needed—but elevate your design during high seasons: Advent, Holy Week, your anniversary. These are moments when visuals can reflect deep meaning (7).
6. Make Space for Artists, Designers, and Creatives
You may not have a designer on staff, but chances are, someone in your community has creative skills. Offer a small stipend or start a visual ministry team. Artistic gifts are pastoral gifts, too (08). And dedicated practitioners deserve to be paid fairly for their work.
7. Audit Your Feed Quarterly
Step back once a season and look at your communications with fresh eyes. Ask: Does this feel like us? Are we clear and consistent?
8. Remember: Consistency Isn’t Boring
It’s comforting. When everything looks like it came from the same place, it creates a sense of order and trust—even in chaos (09).
Design Is a Spiritual Practice
The Church has always communicated visually—from illuminated manuscripts to stained glass windows. Design has long been a way we tell sacred stories. Today, the same holds true.
In a digital-first world, our visuals matter more than ever. Not because appearance is everything—but because clarity, trust, and presence are communicated before anyone reads a word.
Thoughtful design isn’t about polish for polish’s sake. It’s about hospitality. It’s about welcome. It’s about aligning what we believe with what we present.
And you don’t have to do it all at once. Start where you are. Use what you have. Build slowly, with care.
A Final Word for Church Teams
If you’re reading this, you already care. And that’s more than half the battle.
Many church communicators are holding down five roles with half a budget and no backup. If Canva helps you breathe easier some weeks? Use it. No shame.
This isn’t about perfection. It’s about presence. It’s about finding ways to communicate with care, clarity, and character. When we treat design as an extension of our mission—not just a task to check off—we open new doors for connection.
And if you want help? There are creatives out here who love the Church and want to support your work. We see what you're doing. We believe in it. And we’re here to help it shine.
Because the Gospel deserves more than a template.
And so do you.
- Megan Chan, “Testing Visual Design: A Comprehensive Guide.” Nielsen Norman Group. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://www.nngroup.com/articles/testing-visual-design/
- Design Justice Network, “Read the Principles.” Accessed May 22, 2025. https://designjustice.org/read-the-principles
- The Episcopal Church, “Evangelism Toolkit.” Accessed May 12, 2025. https://www.episcopalchurch.org/ministries/evangelism/toolkit
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Ellen Lupton, Design Is Storytelling. Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, 2017. https://www.cooperhewitt.org/publications/design-is-storytelling/
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Liturgical Arts Journal, “Another Case Study in Colour and Detail: St. Ambrose Cathedral in Des Moines, Iowa.” February 28, 2022. https://www.liturgicalartsjournal.com/2022/02/another-case-study-in-colour-and-detail.html
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David Morgan, Visual Piety: A History and Theory of Popular Religious Images. University of California Press, 1998. https://www.ucpress.edu/book/9780520219328/visual-piety
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Nonprofit Marketing Guide, 2023 Nonprofit Communications Trends Report. Accessed May 12, 2025. https://www.nonprofitmarketingguide.com/2023-nonprofit-communications-trends-highlights-from-our-report/
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Nielsen Norman Group, “The Aesthetic-Usability Effect.” Accessed May 14, 2025. https://www.nngroup.com/articles/aesthetic-usability-effect/
- Brady Shearer, “The New Pro Church Tools Logo (And Brand) Revealed.” Pro Church Tools. Accessed May 20, 2025. https://prochurchtools.com/blog-post/the-new-pro-church-tools-logo-revealed