wfn.org | Re: United Methodist Daily News note 27

[owner-umethnews@ecunet.org]

"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS 97" by SUSAN PEEK on April 15, 1997 at 14:24
Eastern, about DAILY NEWS RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (270
notes).

Note 270 by UMNS on Aug. 13, 1997 at 16:06 Eastern (3487 characters).

TEXT: Lack of Ethnic Communicators a Concern

Produced by United Methodist News Service, official news agency of
the United Methodist Church, with offices in Nashville, Tenn., New
York, and Washington.

CONTACT: Thomas S. McAnally                 458(10-21-30-71B){270}
         Nashville, Tenn. (615) 742-5470             Aug. 13, 1997

United Methodist communications agency seeks to
address shortage of ethnic communicators in church

     NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) -- A shortage of ethnic minority
people in regional communications staff positions in the United
Methodist Church is being addressed by UMCom, the church's
communications agency.
     Staff of the Nashville-based agency is developing a proposal
for a fellowship for college graduates to steer them into work
with the church.
     The Rev. Judy Weidman, UMCom's chief executive, unveiled
initial plans to the entire staff during a meeting here Aug 13.
     "Only four racial ethnic minority persons serve as
communicators in our 66 annual (regional) conferences," Weidman
said.  "This clearly is an inadequate response to our church's
commitment to inclusiveness."
     While it can be considered a justice issue, Weidman said
"more importantly it robs our members of the opportunity to have
communications vehicles that reflect the insights and experiences
of persons from a variety of backgrounds."
     Approximately 45 of the 66 annual conferences have at least
one full-time staff communicator.  Others have part-time
communicators, some of whom carry other programmatic
responsibilities. 
     The proposal being developed by the UMCom executive staff
calls for launching next July a one-year fellowship for a recent
United Methodist college graduate of racial ethnic minority
origins.  The graduate would be placed in one annual conference to
work on a variety of media with an experienced communicator.
     The graduate would be expected to have some background in
communications and a professed interest in exploring annual
conference communications as a possible career goal.  Following
the year's fellowship, UMCom would help the person seek permanent
employment as an annual conference communicator.
     Weidman said it is hoped that by the year 2000 UMCom will
have a program endowed by the Foundation for United Methodist
Communications which will fund three fellowships a year.  
     Already the agency provides a $6,000 annual Stoody-West
Fellowship for graduate students in religious journalism and a
$2,500 Leonard M. Perryman Communications Scholarship for
undergraduate ethnic minority students studying journalism and
mass communications.
     Weidman said initial estimates suggest that the annual cost
of one fellowship would be $50,000 including a salary of $30,000
and benefits, moving expenses, and travel.  A $5,000 stipend would
be provided for the annual conference communicator serving as a
mentor. The communicator would serve on the search committee and
participate in the development of a learning contract. The bishop
of the area also would be involved in the process. 
     Weidman said UMCom staff, retired staff members, former and
present commission members, and others would be invited to help
with the first year start-up costs of about $25,000.  The program
would be publicized through United Methodist-related colleges,
through the church's ethnic caucuses, and through associations of
ethnic journalists.
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