UMC.org adds services for local churches
3/25/2003 News media contact: Kathy Gilbert · (615) 742-5470 · Nashville, Tenn. NOTE: A photograph is available. NASHVILLE,
Tenn. (UMNS) - UMC.org, the official online ministry of the United
Methodist Church, is providing local churches with free resources for
their print and Web publications.
The newest offerings include
reviews of current films; an audio-feature titled "UMC.org Profiles,"
highlighting noteworthy United Methodists; and Spanish-language portions
of The Book of Discipline, the book of United Methodist law. Once
a month, UMC.org reviews a current film in wide release. The featured
movie for March is "The Quiet American," starring Michael Caine, Brendan
Frasier and Hai Yen Do.
"Films are viewed through a spiritual
lens, as opposed to focusing on the art form itself; they are assessed
for their spiritual and social elements," said Matt Carlisle, executive
producer of UMC.org, a unit of United Methodist Communications in
Nashville. "The intent of 'Movie Reviews' is not simply to
promote the film, but to encourage small-group interaction and
discussion," he said. "Along with each review comes a list of study
questions, providing a basis for further examination." Lynne
DeMichele, a professional writer and former director of communications
for the United Methodist Church's Indiana Area, and her husband, Mardon
DeMichele, a filmmaker, professor and on-air critic, write the reviews.
To
subscribe to the print syndication of "Movie Reviews," visit
http://www.umc.org/movie_reviews/print_syndication.asp and follow the
instructions. Subscribers will receive the latest review and appropriate
artwork by e-mail during the second week of each month. UMC.org
is also offering "Movie Reviews" for Web site syndication. Web
developers are able to cut and paste the provided HTML code, which will
display a "Movie Review" graphic or text image, promoting the month's
review on their site.
"This step is only done once.UMC.org will replace the graphic each month in a timely manner," Carlisle said.
UMC.org
will provide the service in two display options, a graphic image or a
text-only image. The HTML code can be retrieved by going to the Web site
given above.
"UMC.org Profiles" are monthly, audio faith stories
about United Methodists. The service is free to United
Methodist-related Web sites and is accessible to anyone with a 56K
Internet connection or faster. Adding the HTML code to one's site
provides a preview of each month's profile and links visitors to the
10-minute feature. "UMC.org Profiles" also provides downloadable PDF
transcripts of the program, as well as available resources from agencies
and ministries of the church.
Past profiles have included: ·
The Rev. John Eades, a pastor who specializes in counseling people with
gambling problems - and is a recovering gambling addict himself. · Janette Carter, the daughter of country music legends A.P. and Sara Carter. ·
Lina McCord, former executive director of the United Methodist Church's
Black College Fund and one of the first black employees hired at the
Board of Higher Education and Ministry. · The Rev. Janna Tull Steed, author of the recent book Duke Ellington, a Spiritual Biography. ·
The Rev. James Lawson, a pastor who worked with the Rev. Martin Luther
King Jr. in the civil rights movement and continues to be an advocate
for justice issues today.
In light of its global audience - and
the United Methodist Church's growing Hispanic membership - UMC.org has
recently started making portions of the Book of Discipline available in
Spanish. For more information on Libro de la Disciplina en Español,
visit http://www.umc.org/esp/churchlibrary/discipline/default.htm.
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