wfn.org | Church's UMC.org site gets new look, more features

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

Jan. 15, 2004  News media contact: Linda Green 7 (615)742-5470 7 Nashville,
Tenn. 7 E-mail: newsdesk@umcom.org 7 ALL-I{013}

By Linda Green*

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - UMC.org, the Web site of the United Methodist
Church, has been redesigned as a place for people worldwide to meet and put
their faith into action.

United Methodist Communications, the Web site host, is relaunching the
www.umc.org site Jan. 16. 

Visitors will see a site with a new look and feel, said Steve Downey, Web
ministry leader at the agency. It will be more user friendly, offering
expanded news, analysis, leadership tools and other features.

The redesign, the result of two years of research of user needs, categorizes
topics to make searches simple and to help clergy and laypeople engage more
effectively in ministry and fellowship, Downey said. The site also will
provide support for people on their faith journey and opportunities to
connect with a local congregation.

"The new UMC.org helps us all expand and strengthen the connection," said the
Rev. Larry Hollon, United Methodist Communications' top executive. "Our
research indicated that many UMC.org visitors are seeking ways to be
connected locally, and the new Web site will be a virtual community where the
church can provide a place for people to learn, share and grow in faith."

The online door to the United Methodist Church draws more than 250,000 visits
a month. Introduced in 1995, it was last redesigned four years ago.

Downey said the Web site has operated as a "card catalog" for churchwide
agencies and church leaders, but research showed that one-third of the site's
visitors were United Methodists with no formal role in the denomination.
"They just wanted to know and understand their place in the connection," he
said.  

Many people visit the Web site to understand what the 10 million-member
United Methodist Church is about and how they can become involved, and for
answers to spiritual questions, Downey said.

Research indicated that people around the world are looking online for
spiritual clues. 

"What makes the Web unique is that it allows people throughout the world to
be able to interact with one another in ways they have never been able to do
before," said Matt Carlisle, Web site executive producer. "It brings a whole
new component to spiritual development that allows people to communicate with
anyone in the world and share ideas."  

One of UMC.org's tasks is to open lines of communications for people,
Carlisle said. Another role is to determine the needs of each individual user
and help that person become better connected to a local church. "It is about
getting connected with people and living out your faith," he said.

The relaunch of UMC.org will enable people throughout the world to share
faith stories, pray, study, engage in ministry and learn more about the
church, Downey said. Many of the new features were done in collaboration with
other churchwide agencies.

Also included in the redesign are sites for the Council of Bishops, 2004
General Conference, InfoServ, the Korean United Methodist Church, United
Methodist News Service, the Korean United Methodist Church, United Methodist
Youth Ministries and the denomination's Web Ministry.

The staple items of the current UMC.org site, such as Find-A-Church, have
been enhanced.	Other standard features, such as United Methodist News,
Today's Devotion and Movie Reviews, have been reorganized so visitors can
find what they need easily. 

"My Spiritual Journey" is a new feature enabling visitors to engage in faith
formation through prayer, listening to sermons from around the world,
participating in a test that assesses spiritual gifts and learning how those
gifts can be used. Another section will help people cope with real life
issues and get assistance.

Visitors interested in volunteer service will find local opportunities on the
site, and church organizations will be able to post their needs there.

Though reconnecting people with a local congregation is a goal, the site does
not replace church, Carlisle said. "It is redefining how you live out your
spiritual life online."

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*Green is a United Methodist News Service news writer in Nashville, Tenn.

 
 

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United Methodist News Service
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