Communication agency starts move into digital age

United Methodist News Service
MARLBORO, Mass.—The General Commission on Communication plans to use the latest technology 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 the communication agency 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, commission president, referring to the denomination’s Igniting Ministry hospitality and image 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.”
The Rev. Larry Hollon, the denomination’s top communication executive, said, “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.
“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, managing content and sharing information in real time. 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, Hollon said.
UMCom’s new Kintera partnership, funded through the agency’s budget, is to support the work of the Central Conference Communications Initiative. That’s a mandate from the 2004 General Conference, the denomination’s top legislative assembly.
Through the initiative, the agency is working to improve communication systems and resources for church members in Europe, Africa and Asia.
Bishop Joao Somane Machado, leader of the Mozambique Episcopal Area, said, “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 conferences outside the United States and work with bishops to develop strategies. The communication agency plans to help build relationships between those conferences and their U.S. counterparts, and general boards and agencies.
“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.