wfn.org | Agency will provide computer technology to entire church

[NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG]

Sept. 25, 2000 News media contact: Linda Green·(615)742-5470·Nashville,
Tenn.  10-71B{425}  

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS)-- United Methodist Communications (UMCom) has signed
an agreement with computer giant Microsoft Corp. to give the denomination an
easier way to finance its technology needs.

The communications agency will offer Microsoft products to the United
Methodist Church in a cost-effective way. The arrangement enables UMCom to
consolidate the entire purchasing volume of computer products for the
denomination. The agency will provide computer products at a reduced price
and in a variety of languages to local churches, annual conferences, boards,
agencies, schools, colleges, universities and other ministries. 

"This agreement potentially makes hardware and software available that will
connect the church at virtually every level," said Larry Hollon, UMCom's top
staff executive. In the past, UMCom was asked to "wire" the church, which
was not possible because of constant changes in technology, he said. The
agreement with Microsoft moves the agency and the entire church toward an
electronic future, he said.   
  
The partnership officially began Sept. 25 with the launch of a software
store at www.umcom.org/microsoft on the World Wide Web. The 24-hour-a-day
store will allow people to view and buy computer software and products with
a credit card after an account number is issued. Products must be bought
solely for church use and cannot be obtained for personal use, UMCom
officials said.

The agency has two goals in the partnership: to create a churchwide
communications system by providing low-cost software throughout the
denomination; and to provide technical support for product selection,
installation and trouble-shooting.

The Book of Discipline gives UMCom responsibility for providing
communications services and resources to local churches and annual
conferences, agency officials noted. The Discipline, the denomination's book
of law, also charges UMCom with developing, implementing and maintaining the
denomination's "presence on and use of the Internet, the World Wide Web, or
other computer services that can connect United Methodist conferences,
agencies and local churches with one another and with the larger world."

The project will be self-funded, according to Chris Smith, the agency's
information systems director. "No church contributions will be used to fund
this endeavor," he said. The agency will act as a center for distribution of
software technology throughout the church at below market or street price.

For example, buying Microsoft Office2000 Premium software (this version
contains Word, Excel, Outlook, Publisher, Small Business Tools, Access,
PowerPoint, FrontPage and PhotoDraw) would cost about $650 at retail, and
would include one year of technical support, according to agency officials.
A United Methodist entity buying the same software package through UMCom's
arrangement with Microsoft would pay $92.86 and receive a year of technical
support.

The Microsoft plan will allow UMCom to save the church a minimum of  $1
million annually by providing software licensing to meet computer needs at a
reduced cost, Smith said. Licensing gives a person the legal right to use a
piece of software. 

The church is bound by law to buy a separate license for every software
program used on each computer, he explained. "UMCom's arrangement with
Microsoft offers an easy way to work within the copyright laws." 

In the future, UMCom's online store will also offer computer-related
hardware and software from other companies.

"We are not stopping at Microsoft," Smith said. "We hope to use our
Microsoft business plan as a blueprint for securing the same type of
agreement with other technology suppliers.

"The United Methodist Church is unique," he continued. "It has the ability
to create and implement a plan of this magnitude because it is a
connectional church."

Details about the licensing agreement and obtaining an account number are
available by writing techshop@umcom.org or calling toll-free (866) 521-1179.
Orders can be placed at that telephone number between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
CST.

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United Methodist News Service
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