wfn.org | UMC.org adds services for local churches

["NewsDesk" <NewsDesk@UMCOM.ORG>]

March 25, 2003 News media contact: Kathy Gilbert7(615)742-54707Nashville,
Tenn.	10-71BP{168}

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:
7	The Rev. John Eades, a pastor who specializes in counseling people
with gambling problems - and is a recovering gambling addict himself.
7	Janette Carter, the daughter of country music legends A.P. and Sara
Carter.
7	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.
7	The Rev. Janna Tull Steed, author of the recent book Duke Ellington,
a Spiritual Biography. 
7	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 Espaqol, visit
http://www.umc.org/esp/churchlibrary/discipline/default.htm.

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United Methodist News Service
Photos and stories also available at:
http://umns.umc.org