wfn.org | Ecunet Announces Plans for Major Expansion and Reduced Rates

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@wfn.org>]

January 11, 1998
Contact: Susan Preece, Ecunet Board Member
(770) 429-7850 ext. 7803
http://www.ecunet.org

The world's oldest global, ecumenical online conferencing community, has
announced plans for a major expansion with an upgraded "open standards"
platform and reduced membership fees.

Ecunet has contracted for new Internet servers and host software with
OnePlace, LLC, of Greensboro, NC, which will enable the system to
accommodate thousands more members and eliminate system overloads.  

The conferencing community, which pre-dates today's Internet fever by more
than a decade, incorporates a unique system that enables participants to
start (and moderate) as many public meetings or private conferences as they
choose. Meetings or participants can have read only and/or write only
privileges which enable unaltered posting of published information, or
private submittal of sensitive information. These features enable
participation and leadership from any or all members which creates an
amazing interactive community among lurkers, seekers, lay professionals and
clergy where they can share their views on a variety of specific
faith-related subjects.

"The new system will be scalable and difficult to outgrow.  The price of
membership will also significantly decrease which will encourage new
members yet still cover overhead expenses," said David Pozzi-Johnson,
president of the Ecunet board of directors.  He is also director for
information technology, World Council of Churches, Geneva, Switzerland.

More than 9000 users from 22 religious networks, including Presbyterian,
Baptist, Lutheran, Anglican Church of Cananda, Episcopal, United Church of
Canada, and organizations like the World Council of Churches have used the
unique Ecunet conferencing software for public and private dialogues on
topics such as sermon ideas, social justice issues, denominational theology
and relief work around the world.  At any given time, more than 5,000
"meetings" "conversation topics" are active on the network.

After nearly 15 years, the popularity of Ecunet has led to more members,
causing the system to outgrow its proprietary-coded program.  The new
system will cost members an annual fee of $28.95, nearly an 80% reduction
for most users.  The membership fees for Ecunet will be reduced as a result
of reduced overhead and savings realized from more powerful software.
Access methods will include direct dial access, a web browser interface and
access via Internet mail.  It will also allow continued support for members
without Internet-capable equipment.

OnePlace provides church and family organizations with a variety of
interactive services, and remains focused on providing customers with
technology and marketing services for the next century.  "Ecunet is the
very type of organization we can serve best," says Leon Gentry, OnePlace
President.  "They offer a growing community of dedicated members who
understand the value of online communications, and they have a very focused
vision of what they want to accomplish in the next century."

Financial support from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the United Church of Christ, and the
worldwide Anglican community have helped make possible the transition to
the new system.  Other denominational networks provided support and
expertise, too.

"The more isolated a person (is) in the world, the more important it is to
have a computer community," said the Rev. Houston Hodges, a retired
Presbyterian minister from Huntsville, Ala.  Hodges is among the Ecunet
pioneers from the mid 1980s.

"Via Ecunet, a lonely pastor in a remote mission field can be in daily,
loving, helpful contact with supportive friends all over the world.  It
allows a retired pastor from Alabama to be at the very center of action of
the Presbyterian church."

Each denomination may name its own branch of Ecunet, and each has full
access to members of other denominations on the system.  For example, the
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) calls its branch "Presbynet," "Quest" is
operated by the Anglican/Episcopal Church, and the ELCA calls its branch
"LutherLink."

"The LutherLink section of Ecunet provides an indispensable intranet
connection for ELCA leaders," said the Rev. Eric C. Shafer, director of the
ELCA's Department for Communication, Chicago, Ill.

"We look forward to the new Ecunet with its increased capacity, reliability
and gifts for storytelling in our ELCA community and outreach with the
gospel," Shafer said.

The new system is expected to begin testing in March and should be in full
operation by May.