wfn.org | Dinner guests answer the question - "What is PresbyNet?"

[PCUSA NEWS <PCUSA.NEWS@ecunet.org>]

Note #6660 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

12-June-2001
GA01103

Dinner guests answer the question - "What is PresbyNet?"

by Emett Barfield

LOUISVILLE, June 12 - Barry Creech, coordinator of Communication Assistance
and Consulting, opened the PresbyNet dinner meeting Tuesday evening by
asking those attending, "What is PresbyNet?" He told them that for several
times a week the staff has been struggling with that very concept. According
to Creech, "The lesson we are learning is that PresbyNet isn't about
technology, PresbyNet is community, online community for the Presbyterian
Church (U. S. A.)."

	Speaker after speaker rose to address the great importance of a community
building instrument for our church.  The Rev. Christy Ramsey spoke of the
value of PresbyNet's online discussions with its variety of subjects. For
the laity and clergy alike, it provides sources of data that are immediately
available with a simple click of a key.

Elinor Mosser, associate for Computer Communication, pointed to the value of
"connectedness" for ministers isolated from colleagues because of serving
small church in remote areas. Using the prayer ministry provided by the
service allows an individual to share prayer concerns with fellow Christians
as well as Presbyterians all over the globe.  Mosser said that teaching and
preaching resources are readily available with the opportunity to dialogue
with others who share the same interest or concern.

	Citing a book by Robert Putnam, Bowling Alone, Creech said, "...when people
engage each other frequently, they come to know each other and develop
trust. Once trust is developed, change isn't fought.  Instead, people can
collaborate." It is his opinion that there is no better way of finding
community in cyberspace than PresbyNet.

	The meeting concluded with an invitation to attend the PresbyNet booth in
the Exhibition Hall.

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