Here are some frequently asked questions regarding our products. If your particular question is not answered here, please email or phone us.
Who are you and why do you make lecterns?
Procson Pulpits is mostly a family affair. The owner and head designer is Stephen Procter. Stephen started out as product designer for a design consultancy in Sydney. He was then approached to design some church furniture for some local churches, among them Hillsong Church. He was asked to design a church lectern by one church, and then another and then another. He worked long hours researching and developing the shape, style, ergonomics, geometry and methods of manufacture for what is now his best selling Arc lectern. In fact, the Arc2 is now the best it has ever been. Slowly the business grew to the point we are now. We are Australia’s best selling lectern and sell our products all over the world. Stephens wife, Elizabeth is head of sales and marketing and Elizabeth’s parents in the UK are handle European sales.
Do we need anti reflective film?
If you have a projector screen behind the preacher you will probably need this to prevent light reflecting off the lectern top onto the screen. In this case, lights from above the stage reflect off the lectern top and onto the projector screen. You can test for this by turning on your stage lights and holding an old style (shiny) CD case where the pulpit top would be (or use a piece of shiny plastic or a mirror) . If you get unsightly reflections, you need the film. If you need it on the lectern, you will almost certainly need it on the table as well (unless the pastor is buying it for his office).
Click here to understand more about anti reflective film.
Do I need covers?
Almost all churches order these as they help prolong the life of the tops. They are a fabric cover which help to keep the lectern and/or table top scratch and dust free when not in use. They are essential if the pulpit and/or table are to be moved around. The table and lectern covers are made from elastic edged cotton drill. A replacement top costs AUD 160 (more with anti reflective film) so you could say a cover is a good investment.
Click to purchase a cover.
How do I clean and carry your pulpits?
Please click here for the 'Pulpit Cleaner' page for instructions on cleaning and carrying the pulpits.
OR
Click here to download church lectern lifting and care brochure.
Do you have showrooms? Can I come and see your pulpits and tables?
Sorry! We only show our pulpits at exhibitions. We do however, have a money back guarantee; 'love it or send it back'. We have about 1 return per 2 years (we send out hundreds of pulpits- so thats very rare). If you were to order, receive it, and for some reason not like your new pulpit, you can rturn it. Our customers say the pulpits always look better 'in person' than in the photographs. They say the photos don't do it justice.
We do exhibit at the Sydney Hillsong Conference every year, if you would like to see us and our lecterns then. You can also purchase lecterns and tables from us there. Or if you live in Sydney or passing through, you are welcome to come to our design studio/factory and look at our products, just please call first – 02 9718 0804 or 0413 693 232.
Are the pulpits guaranteed?
Yes, for 12 months. However, if you break a top within the first 12 months, a new top will be half price. This is because it is often very difficult to tell how a top has been broken. It might have had small knocks over time (for example while going through doorways) and then it breaks all of a sudden.
We expect the base and stem to last for a very long time. The top is less strong. You will need to be careful of it. Beware of doorways- small knocks add up to a top that eventually cracks. If it becomes scratched or broken over time, you can of course purchase a replacement top.
Are the pulpits stable?
Yes - you need to push it 15-20 degrees before it will start to fall (the most stringent international standard for lighting is 15 degrees.) We have put a lot of effort into getting the centre of gravity low and in the correct place. You can place a laptop on the far corner, place a heavy book on top of that (a big bible) and it will not topple. On the other hand, it has some flexibility. This flexibility is essential if the top is given a shock.
You talk a lot about churches, do other organizations purchase them?
Certainly. Law firms, schools, city councils, universities, hotels, restaurants, conference centers, theatres, even the United Nations in New York City has purchased two. Chicago airport has one and the Sydney Opera House has several.
Do the pulpits and tables come made up or do I need to assemble them?
We transport the Arc and Arc water table flat in special boxes. This saves money on freight and prevents them from being damaged during transit.
Are they easy to assemble?
Very. Instructions are included. We have had a Korean customer say it took 9 minutes to assemble even without being able to read the English part of the instructions (it includes pictures). We have never heard of a church having trouble assembling the Arc pulpits.
Did you make the pulpit at Hillsong Church?
Yes. Hillsong Church, Sydney and all of the Hillsong campuses all over the world have several of our Arc pulpits, which they use in a range of meetings, including weekend services and conferences. You may have also seen one of our pulpits being used by C3 church oxfprd falls, Jentzen Franklin in the USA (he has 5) , many C3 churches world wide, St Andrews Cathedral Sydney and the Sydney Opera House.
What is anti reflective film?
We make Arc2 pulpits with and without anti reflective film applied to the top. WIthout film, the top is clear (like a window). With anti reflective film it is slightly frosted. The Arc2 pulpits come with and without film. The Arc0 and Arc1 tops come as clear only. The Arc3 comes with film as standard. All black pulpits come with an anti reflective finish (it's factory emossed into the surface when the acrylic is manufactured).
Most churches purchase with the film. Well known churches like Hillsong Church, Sydney have the film on all of their Arc pulpits and tables and use them on international television. It looks great on TV/camera (you can hardly tell).
Click here to understand more about anti reflective film.
Film is mainly needed if you have a projector screen behind the preacher. It doesn’t matter if the projector screen is high or low- in most cases you will need the film. In contrast, if you have projector screens off to the side, you probably don’t need the film. Likewise, if you have an TV screens or an LED screen (expensive), you probably don’t need the film. In any case, you can test for this by turning on your stage lights and holding an old style (shiny) CD case where the lectern top would be. If you get unsightly reflections, you need the film.
I purchased a lectern without anti reflective film- now I have reflection problems- what can I do?
If you purchase your pulpit and afterwards decide you need anti reflective film, you have 2 options:
1. Buy a new top with the film on it. If you have only just purchased your pulpit we will give you a discount on the replacement top.
2. Get it applied by a local sign writer. Please email us for the specification of the film. A firm that does good work is essential- the quality can vary. The price can vary too. Sometimes this can be more expensive than just ordering a new top from us.
How high is the pulpit?
The height to the bottom of the lip (where the lower edge of the bible rests) 101cm/ 40". This suits 95% of the population.
Do you have a pulpit with adjustable height?
Yes we do. You have probably heard of ergonomics which is the study of human interaction with furniture and objects. Our pulpits are designed using anthropometric ergonomic data (the same ergonomic data the designers at Boeing use to design airplane interiors). We found that by using a height of approximately 101cm (40 '') to the bottom of the lip and an angle of approximately 20 degrees for the top, that a pulpit will suit 95% of adult male and females. Having said that we do make an adjustable version of the Arc2 if you need it.
Click here to see it.
Can I change the height of Arc church lecterns?
The regular height lectern is good for 95% of the population.
Obviously the adjustable Arc2 lectern can have the height changed whenever you like (see the Arc2 page).
Another option is to get a fixed height Arc lectern with a stem that is permanently taller or shorter than normal.
There are some options:
1. TALL Arc2 that is 10cm/ 4” taller than normal- see the Arc2 page
2. Black TALL Arc2 that is 10cm/4” taller than normal- see the Black Arc2 page
3. Arc3 custom version- 10cm/4” taller than normal. This is more expensive than the Arc2- please email us for a price.
4. A custom height Arc2 lectern. This is more expensive because it is custom. This can be a maximum height of about 15cm/ 6” taller than normal.
We don't change the height of Arc0 or Arc1 lecterns.
Here is a good way to check heights:
Set up a music stand to simulate the lectern. Remember, a podium top is relatively flat (not a steep angle like a music stand). The reason for this? A speaker normally looks down on their notes In contrast, a musician normally reads their music in front of them.
Can I have my podium in any colour?
Yes. We have made red, blue, yellow, bronze coloured pulpits and tables. We do this with a powdercoat paint finish. There is a set up cost and minimum run, so it is expensive.
Regular colours are more successful than mettalic colours. So for example if you were to choose gold, it won't be like gold jewellery- it will be more yellowish. In contrast, the red pulpit and table we made looked fantastic.
How do I order and pay?
Use the shopping cart feature on this website and pay by credit card, direct bank transfer or cheque. If you would prefer to not buy online, please email your order to steve@procson.com or call us on +61 2 9718 0804.
I am ordering from overseas. Will I therefore have to pay customs and duties?
We send almost anywhere. Almost very week we send a pulpit to Nigeria for example. Because of this we are good at getting your pulpit to you. Unfortunately, duties and customs charges in your country are out of our control. You may need to pay charges if your government imposes them. You will therefore need to pay any of these. (On the upside, unlike our Australian customers, you do not have to pay 10% Australian GST). You may be required to pay such duties or customs taxes before the goods can be cleared at customs in your country. Our experience with sending products to the USA is that because of the free trade agreement between Australia and the USA, there are no taxes, and the delviery process is smooth and quick. In fact it's faster for us to send a pulpit to California than to Western Australia.
If you need to pay duties, generally the process goes like this:
1. We send your order
2. It arrives at customs in your country
3. TNT/ Fedex contact you to pay the duty
4. You pay the duty
5. Your order is delivered to you
Do you exhibit in the USA or UK?
Yes; we exhibit every 2 years at the AG assembly (for Assembly of God churches) in the USA (it only happens every 2 years, otherwise we would be there every year!). We have exhibited at the City Bible Church conference in Portland Oregon also and at Hillsong Conference NYC.
In the UK, we exhibit every year at the Christian Resources Exhibition at the Excel Area, London. It is to meet our pulpit customers face to face. We also meet a surprising number of American pastors at the Hillsong conference in Sydney Australia (some of them appear again at the AG assembly in the US!)
Why does your podium only have one stem?
Some early models had 3 stems. They were more rigid, but we found they were a lot less popular with churches. Some church leaders say that the Arc podium is less distracting than some other lecterns, and helps the church congregation to concentrate fully on the message. We tried many, many podium designs. We show them privately and at conferences like Hillsong here in Australia. It becomes quickly obvious which podiums are preferred. Then we work on them, testing them in the local market. By the time we get around to exporting, it is a great product.
We prefer to take one popular pulpit design and improve it so it is the best church podium in the world, rather than be making a wide range of podiums that are all second rate. We used to make several podium designs that were cheaper, but Australian churches didn't like them as much, and voted with their purchases. In the beginning, we would have preferred that they purchased the cheaper ones, since the Arc is so difficult to make. However the upside is that the churches realized that long after the price is forgotten, they still have the pleasure of a great podium.
Surely it is only a bit of round metal with a tube and a bit of acrylic for the top- it can’t be that complicated?- but to do it well is complicated. It is easy to do a bad job of making a podium, but difficult to do it very, very well. Our podiums have no visible welds, no visible screws and are lighter than almost all other lecterns on the market that we know.
Where are your pulpits made?
We make all of our lecterns and tables here in Australia because we are obsessed with quality. We insist on using premium materials and owner and designer Stephen Procter oversees the production of every lectern. We care about our customers getting the very best product for their money and constantly make changes to improve our products. We constantly check the quality of the materials used and our methods of manufacture to make sure you get a stunning product, as a great price, which will last you many years. We have custom-made most of the machinery involved in making our products and we employ a fantastic team of dedicated specialists. This has meant that we are Pulpit Specialists! We have a small design studio and factory in Sydney, Australia.
How do I attach a microphone?
Good question. We have a special version of the Arc with mic inputs. You can normally see this on our Arc2 page. If you can't see it on there, it is possibly out of stock -so please email us.
Why should I buy a lectern from you and not get a cheaper copy?
There are many advantages in buying from us.
- We are pulpit specialists. We have been making these for many years, so any problems have been solved. You are not part of a ‘ first run’ test. We anticipate that problems with the copy lecterns will start to show after 12 months use.
- It is from the designers hand, so small differences like the radius where the stem joins the flared cones, makes the stem look more fluid. The designer’s proportions and exact finishes have been maintained, so you get a more pleasing look to the eye.
- The finish is brushed all over so that you don’t get nasty reflections from stage lighting.
- It is made from stainless steel 304. This is excellent quality.
- If the unthinkable happens and you were to break a top, you can buy a replacement from us.
- There are no visible screws.
- The stem is welded. A cheap copy (we have inspected it) has screws to join the end-flared parts. This will loosen over time.
- Each stem is ‘balanced’ by us using special jigs and techniques. This means that the top will sit straight. Our stems costs a lot more to make than the copy stems, but there is no way we would make them like that. They are not reliable and we don’t want to deal with unhappy churches calling us in a years time.
- Our lecterns are more lightweight – easy to lift with one hand.
- ALL of our lecterns are made in Australia. This means that we can keep a close eye on the manufacture and production of each lectern. Don't be fooled by cheap imitations!
Why are Arc pulpits so popular?
1. They are slimline. It encourages the congregation to engage with the speaker- there is no barrier.
2. They are lightweight- you can lift it with one hand. Its fairly common for a stage manager to carry the pulpit on with one hand, and the water table on with the other.
3. They use neutral materials (stainless steel and clear/ anti reflective acrylic). These neutral materials mean that it fits into a wide variety of interiors- from a traditional cathedral (like St Andrews cathedral Sydney, or Glasgow cathedral Scotland), through to modern black auditorium style churches like Hillsong church. The brushed stainless steel gently reflects some of the interior colours- so in a wooden church it reflects the warmth of the wood. In a modern black painted auditorium, it reflects the black interior of the building.
4. They are well engineered. So it feels solid and stable to use, yet you can lift it with one hand. Stainless steel is great because it is durable, but it is also heavy. We have developed a method to make our stems hollow. This keeps the strength, but removes the weight.
5. They are durable- this will possibly be the last pulpit you ever buy. We use 304 stainless steel (the same type of stainless used in high end kitchen sinks). We use acrylic from German manufacturer Plexiglass. In the unlikely event that you damage or break a top- you can buy a replacement.
Yes- it would be much cheaper to make our pulpits from steel and chrome plate them (steel is much cheaper than stainless steel). It would also be easier to make them from steel instead of stainless steel (much harder to work). So the materials would be cheaper and our pulpits would be easier to make. But we don’t. We make them from stainless steel because its more durable. There is also no chrome plating to scratch, or bubble/ flake off. So if you scratch the pulpit, underneath its stainless steel too. It will look better for longer. We use acrylic for the tops. Acrylic is the most scratch resistant clear plastic available. (Interestingly in contrast Polycarbonate plastic is strong, but scratches very easily). We use Plexiglass- the German brand of Acrylic. This has a consistent thickness, less defects and is relatively durable. You still have to be careful with the tops- you can certainly break them, but starting with the best material helps.
6. They are made in Australia- a first world economy. In an expensive labour country like Australia, manufacturing efficiently means using more expensive materials, because the best materials have less defects, and are more durable, so we don’t have to spend time solving problems to get the quality we want. So it’s a big time saver and cheaper overall to use the best materials. Also, we work hard at making custom machines, and working out techniques, training, and organising it all efficiently. Then we hope churches will recognise the quality and buy it. We are a small family business. We don’t have shareholders or owners to answer to. We know pastors who use our pulpits. We want them to have the best. We see our pulpit in use every Sunday at Hillsong church. If we want to make it in a more expensive way, because we know it will be a better pulpit, then we do it.
7. We sell direct to churches. We could sell to distributors and retailers, but each of them would put a mark up on it, so a pulpit that leaves our factory for $1000, could easily be $2500 by the time it is sold. This is the traditional method for selling. However selling on the internet changes this. Its also helped by Australia’s free trade agreement with the USA, and agreements with NZ and other countries. In addition, there are freight planes leaving Sydney half empty every day. This means we get a very good airfreight price. So we can sell directly, and you get more value because you are paying only for the pulpit and not for the distributor or retailer mark up. This means we can continue to make them in Australia. Because we sell direct, we also don’t try to cut corners. Some companies ask their suppliers to make things a bit cheaper every year. We have owned a bookcase from a company like this, and experienced the frustration of shelves that start off straight, but sag after a few months.
8. They are relatively expensive for a church pulpit, but relatively cheap when you compare them to high end Italian furniture. Stephen Procter spent several years traveling back and forward to Italy, designing for Italian furniture brands. This taught him about their methods and quality, and how to achieve it. So we aim for the quality of high end Italian furniture at a reasonable price.
How do I transport my pulpit?
A good way to transport this pulpit is across the back seat of a car (even a small car is fine). A good tip is to put the centre seat belt over the stem of the pulpit, then it will be held in place if you need to stop suddenly. We find the centre seat belt works better than either of the window seat belts. The 60cm/24" wide Arc2 is ideal for carrying around by car. The 70cm/ 28" wide version will also fit across the back seat of a car, but it is not as easy to get through the car door.
It is also easy to disassemble. Many churches dismantle the pulpit completely every weekend. The parts are stainless steel- so the screw threads will endure a lot of screwing and unscrewing. Over time, you may wear out the screws. We can supply new screws to you for free, but you will need to pay the freight.
Some churches just remove the top. If you remove the top- the base and stem are a lot smaller to fit into a store room or a truck. The top is also the fragile part- so by doing this your are protecting the top.
Can the communion trays go in a dishwasher?
We recommend hand washing (they will survive a dishwasher for a while but all plastic eventually begins to degrade in the dishwasher which might cause them to eventually split when you push in the lid.)
In reality washing them by hand means just rinsing them, so it almost ends up being the same time as loading them in a dishwasher, unloading etc.
What kind of cups are used in the communion trays?
Small plastic cups which are available from most church supply shops are suitable (normally around $20-$30 per 1000). They are approximately 2-3 cm in diameter and 3 cm high. Glasses can similarly be used.
Can you use bread in the communion trays?
In the area in centre of the tray is where you place bread (cut into small pieces) or wafers or water crackers that have been broken up.
How many cups does each communion tray carry?
32 cups (previously it was 28 cups)
How high can you stack the communion trays?
We recommend up to 6 high, but we have seen a stack of fully laden communion trays up to 20 high carried with ease. A pip on each foot of the tray fits into the tray below helping to keep them to stack safely.
