wfn.org | Internet guild plans live webcast for church communicators

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.ORG>]

Aug. 29, 2002  News media contact: Kathy L. Gilbert7(615)742-54707Nashville,
Tenn.   10-71B{379}

By Matt Carlisle*

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - Churches of all sizes can explore new ways of
doing online ministry through an upcoming audio webcast sponsored by the
United Methodist Web Ministry Guild.

The guild will offer the free, interactive event, "We Built Our Church Web
Site: Now What?" from 9 to 11:30 a.m. CDT Oct. 31. The webcast will
originate from the Radisson Hotel in New Orleans, prior to the start of the
annual meeting of the United Methodist Association of Communicators.
Participants will be able to query panelists either as audience members or
by e-mail. Instructions are available at www.UMC.org/webministry.

The guild supports local church Web developers who use the Internet to
extend their church's mission and ministry. Web as a ministry will be the
focal point of the first of two panel discussions. Top Web ministers from
around the country will discuss how they developed their online ministries. 

Scheduled speakers include: 

7	Mark Stephenson, who started the Ginghamsburg CyberMinistry in 1997.
Ginghamsburg Church, a United Methodist congregation in Tipp City, Ohio, has
more than 50,000 user visits per month at its Web site,
www.Ginghamsburg.org. The site has more than 2,500 pages, with features that
include streaming video. An electrical engineer by training, Stephenson
works as a chief scientist at Science Applications International Corp., a
high-tech research and technology company.
	
7	The Rev. Faith Green, associate pastor of communication, technology
and public relations for Hope United Methodist Church (www.hopeumc.org) in
Southfield, Mich. A graduate of the divinity school at Harvard University,
she also worked as a journalist reporting for National Public Radio, CBS
radio, ABC radio and several Christian networks, including Focus on the
Family.
	
7	Amy Texley, director of information for United Methodist Church of
the Resurrection (www.cor.org) in Leawood, Kan., one of the denomination's
fastest-growing churches. She has applied concepts used in high-growth
business to this high-growth church, which focuses on reaching non-religious
and nominally religious people.

The second panel discussion will focus on streaming on the Web. Web
developers from churches using cost-effective forms of streaming will share
their experiences. They will explain how even small churches can make use of
this technology. 

Communicators attending the annual meeting as well as church Web developers
can participate as members of the live audience. Those who attend will
receive an interactive CD containing Web ministry resources. Support for the
guild is provided by Nashville-based United Methodist Communications.

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*Carlisle is executive producer of the United Methodist Church's Web site,
www.umc.org. He is on staff at United Methodist Communications in Nashville,
Tenn.

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United Methodist News Service
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