wfn.org | UMNS# 05186-Publishing House plans new materials,

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Publishing House plans new materials, faces tougher market

Mar. 31, 2005	 News media contact:   Kathy  Gilbert * (615) 7425470*
Nashville {05186}

NOTE: Photographs are available in the Photo Gallery at
http://umns.umc.org.

By Kathy L. Gilbert*

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS)-The United Methodist Publishing House, while
continuing to grapple with sales below budget projections, is "not going
to sit back and watch the drift," pledged Neil Alexander, president and
publisher.

At the Publishing House board's spring meeting, March 28-30, Alexander
told directors to "get on the edge of your seats; we are going
somewhere." Among the changes: new products, researching new markets and
revisions to the popular Disciple Bible study series.

The Publishing House, like many other Christian booksellers, is facing
tougher competition while adjusting to changing worship styles, said
Larry Wallace, senior vice president of finance and operations.

The second-quarter financial report shows a sales shortfall of $1.7
million, about 2 percent behind sales for the same quarter in 2004.
However, Wallace said the budget is on track for the rest of the fiscal
year ending July 31 due to cost savings initiated by the Publishing
House.

"We have wonderful stories to tell-of customer service where attention
to detail exceeded expectations," Alexander said. "We also have
challenging stories when the product did not fit the need and
advertising failed to break through the noise."

Board members reviewed initiatives designed to boost sales and reach new
customers for Cokesbury products.

The board approved $2 million to develop and market an interactive DVD
curriculum for children's Sunday school classes for use in fall 2006.

The curriculum is "high tech and multi-sensory," said Marj Pon, director
of children's resources. "We want children to ask to go to Sunday
school, to drag their parents out of bed to take them to church."

The high-energy videos will feature teen role models and provide
"built-in assistants/experts" for Sunday school teachers. Board members
previewed one segment featuring teens singing, playing guitar and
teaching children dance steps to a rap song, "Who da man? J.C. J.C."

"We are not trying to produce the next dated children's materials. We
want to invigorate the Sunday school movement and help the church grow,"
Alexander said.

The $2 million investment will go toward hiring additional staff and
paying for capital expenditures, additional research, advertising and
sales efforts over the next 12 months.

The Disciple Bible study series, a product for local churches to offer
in-depth study of Scripture, is $568,000 below projected sales for the
first six months of the fiscal year. Changes to address the shortfall
are to be implemented in May, said Harriett Olson, senior vice president
of publishing.

"Disciple has been a fixture for the last 18 years, but we want to
extend our reach," Olson said. "We want to keep the resource fresh and
vibrant, and we are listening to evaluations we receive from users."

Among the changes, new eight-week sessions will be offered, and new
videos are being produced for Disciple I. Training seminars for
facilitators are being shortened and will become optional for churches
offering the Bible study, though still highly recommended. Ordering
procedures are being simplified, and copies will be available in
Cokesbury retail stores.

In other business, the board authorized $240,000 for congregational
program ministries. A project leader will identify congregations with
strong ministries and do research on the resources needed to support
those ministries.

The Publishing House will spend $62,000 to research the "emergent
church" movement and participate in its Web network. The label refers to
Christians who are rethinking Christianity against the backdrop of
postmodernism. Generally, the nondenominational movement emphasizes
traditional evangelical beliefs while rejecting the structures and
styles of institutionalized Christianity.

"We are learning to live in a world where the rules are always
changing," Alexander said. "It is an exciting time."

The Publishing House is the official publisher of the United Methodist
Church. It is self-supporting and is the denomination's oldest and
largest general agency.

# # #

News media contact: Kathy L. Gilbert, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470
or newsdesk@umcom.org.

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