wfn.org | Texas Conference offers Internet service to unite connection

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.ORG>]

July 9, 2002 News media contact: Linda Green7(615)742-54707Nashville, Tenn.
10-71B{290}

By Nicole Benson*

HOUSTON (UMNS) - The Texas Annual Conference is seeking to strengthen the
United Methodist connection by creating an Internet presence that will unite
local congregations, annual conferences, missions and ministries.

The conference has launched UMCMail, a national Internet Service Provider,
to provide family friendly, filtered Internet access to United Methodist
churches, clergy and members.

UMCMail resulted from the doctoral research of David W. McKay, the
conference's communications director, and was developed in consultation with
United Methodist Communications and the United Methodist Web Ministries
Guild.

"I believe that the United Methodist Church must actively use the Internet
to fulfill our mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ," McKay said.
"With UMCMail, we are stating 'the Internet is our parish.' Our goal is to
empower annual conferences to communicate effectively the Gospel of Jesus
Christ in the digital age."

The conference venture offers filtered Internet access to United Methodists
as a service and a ministry that will enable parents to control what their
children see on the Web.  Information packets about the effort were
distributed to annual conferences on July 8.

Revenue from UMCMail will be shared with any annual conference that agrees
to use the money for Web-based ministries, conference technological needs,
budgets and technology grants to churches and ministries. 

Subscribers will receive three e-mail accounts, personal Web space and
content-filtering technology. UMCMail's service costs $13.95 a month, plus a
one-time $10 set-up fee. UMCMail also offers its Web-filtration tool for
those using DSL, cable or other ISPs for Internet access for $5 a month. For
more information, go online to www.umcmail.net or call (866) 450-8933.
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*Benson is communications coordinator of the Texas Annual Conference and
editor of CrossConnection, the conference newspaper.

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United Methodist News Service
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