UMCom adopts plan to lead church into digital age
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A UMNS photo by Harry Leake Bishop Thomas Bickerton, Cranberry Township, Pa., addresses the governing directors of United Methodist Communications.
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Bishop
Thomas Bickerton, Cranberry Township, Pa., addresses the governing
directors of United Methodist Communications during their Feb. 22-26
meeting and focuses on the agency�s building a technological
infrastructure for meeting the growing expectations of a multimedia
world. As president of the Commission on Communication, he said, �We
realize there has to be a convergence of the Internet and cell phone
technology and emerging media across the globe if we�re going to
continue to be relevant in communicating our message.� A UMNS photo by
Harry Leake. Photo #05-189. Accompanies UMNS story #123, 2/28/05 |
Feb. 28, 2005By Ginny Underwood* MARLBORO,
Mass. (UMNS)—Using the latest technology, United Methodist
Communications is embarking on a new course to better serve the church
around the world. The
agency’s governing directors, meeting Feb. 23-26, voted to enter into a
$1.2 million partnership with Kintera Inc., a San Diego-based provider
of technology services to nonprofit organizations. The move will allow
UMCom to build a technology infrastructure for meeting the growing
expectations of a multimedia world. "We’re
not willing to just be satisfied with a good media campaign," said
Bishop Thomas Bickerton, president of the Commission on Communication,
referring to the denomination’s welcoming and advertising program. "We
realize there has to be a convergence of the Internet and cell phone
technology and emerging media across the globe if we’re going to
continue to be relevant in communicating our message."
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A UMNS photo by Harry Leake Bishop
Joao Somane Machado, a member of the Commission on Communication,
comments on the changes planned for United Methodist Communications.
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Bishop
Joao Somane Machado, leader of the church�s Mozambique Area and a
member of the governing board of United Methodist Communications,
remarks on the new course the agency has set to better serve the church
around the world. �Communication is the key for our work of making
disciples in the world,� he said. A UMNS photo by Harry Leake. Photo
#05-190. Accompanies UMNS story #123. 2/28/05
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"The commission has
affirmed the reality that the world has changed—that digital media have
changed how we perceive the world, how we relate to each other and how
we act out our faith in the world," said the Rev. Larry Hollon, top
staff executive of United Methodist Communications. "In doing that, this
becomes a priority for us to lead the church toward that new reality." Kintera
provides nonprofit organizations with Web-based resources for building
communities, improving communications, creating and managing content,
and sharing information in real time, according to its Web site. Clients
include UNICEF, the American Cancer Society and the International Fund
for Animal Welfare. Other
general church agencies are considering entering into relationships
with Kintera—a development that would improve collaboration among the
agencies and the distribution of resources to local churches. UMCom’s
new Kintera partnership, funded through the agency’s budget, will
support the work of the Central Conference Communications Initiative,
mandated by the denomination’s top legislative assembly in 2004. Through
the initiative, the agency is working to improve communication systems
and resources for church members in Europe, Africa and Asia.
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A UMNS photo by Harry Leake The Rev. Larry Hollon
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The
Rev. Larry Hollon, chief executive of United Methodist Communications,
outlines strategy in the agency�s new course to better serve the church
around the world in a multimedia way. A UMNS photo by Harry Leake. Photo
#05-191. Accompanies UMNS story #123, 2/28/05 |
"The function that
this agency has, as a global communications agency on behalf of the
whole church, is that we step outside of a particular culture and
recognize that we are a part of a global community," Hollon said."This
is a new page for our United Methodist Church," said Bishop Joao Somane
Machado, a commission member and leader of the church’s Mozambique
Area. "Communication is the key for our work of making disciples in the
world. To be in this agency, to be at this changing … is exciting." Between
now and 2008, the Central Conference Initiative will assess the
communications needs of each non-U.S. conference. United Methodist
Communications staff will work with central conference bishops to
develop strategies for each area based on specific needs. UMCom will
also help build relationships between those conferences and their U.S.
counterparts, and general boards and agencies. Possibilities
include buying radio transmitters for community-based radio ministries;
deploying HAM radios in areas ravaged or isolated by war; providing
training in computer software, journalism writing, public relations,
Internet usage, and radio and television ministry; improving Internet
access and services; and creating partnerships with U.S. annual
conferences to sponsor training for central conference communicators.
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A UMNS photo by Harry Leake Bishop Thomas Bickerton outlines strategy for United Methodist Communications.
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Bishop
Thomas Bickerton, Cranberry Township, Pa. and president of the
Commission on Communication, outlines United Methodist Communications�
new course that will allow the agency to build a technology
infrastructure for meeting the growing expectations of a multimedia
world. A UMNS photo by Harry Leake. Photo #05-192. Accompanies UMNS
story #123. 2/28/05 |
"We are very
supportive of the UMCom staff in taking bold steps to get the message of
the church in a timely fashion out to the people who need to know the
story of the good news of Christ, as it is exemplified in the various
ministries that are happening across the church," Bickerton said."I
think the general church needs to know that this is a commission that
is not afraid to step out and do what it needs to do to communicate the
good news of Jesus Christ." A
recent example is the production of "God, Why?", a CD and DVD resource
focusing on how God is present amid natural disasters such as the Dec.
26 tsunami in Asia and Africa. Commission members watched the resource’s
video, in which pastors, bishops and others discussed how God is at
work in the aftermath of the tsunami. "God, Why" is available for sale
to individuals and study groups. Details are available at www.umc.org. *Underwood
is director of United Methodist News Service, the official news agency
of the United Methodist Church. UMNS is a unit of United Methodist
Communications. News media contact: Ginny Underwood, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
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