Note #9205 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:
06168 March 16, 2006
2 new Web sites offer splashes of diversity
Latest cyber offerings highlight multicultural and Asian-American ministries
by Evan Silverstein
LOUISVILLE - Two new Internet Web sites reflecting the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s commitment to racial-ethnic diversity are now up and running on the denomination's Web site.
One of the sites, www.pcusa.org/diversity, is dedicated to multicultural ministry; it was launched by the PC(USA)'s Office of Evangelism and Racial and Cultural Diversity (ERCD).
The other, www.pcusa.org/asianamerican, is dedicated to Asian-American ministry; it is sponsored by the PC(USA)'s Office of Congregational Leadership (Asian-American), part of the Theology and Worship program area of the Congregational Ministries Division (CMD).
Both sites, designed in cooperation with the Internet Services staff in the PC(USA) Office of Communication, went online last week.
The Rev. Raafat Girgis, associate for ERCD, part of the National Ministries Division (NMD), views the new multicultural Web site as a tool to inspire and equip Presbyterians to minister to people from a variety of races and cultures.
The site highlights resources and training opportunities that Girgis said will help presbyteries and congregations in their efforts to "intentionally recognize, incorporate and celebrate the values and gifts of diversity."
"We hope to see it as an interactive means between the national office and between the presbyteries, governing bodies and congregations," Girgis said of the site, "and to facilitate the registration for national events and multicultural church consultations."
Multicultural churches are those that incorporate the cultural traditions and dimensions of more than one ethnic or racial group.
Girgis identifies and edits the content for the multicultural Web site.
Meanwhile, the Asian-American site is also viewed as a valuable tool by officials in the Office of Congregational Leadership (Asian-American), according to its associate, the Rev. David Hoonjin Chai.
He said it supports the office's goal of developing leadership in Asian-American Presbyterian churches and presents information on consultation and conferences as well as on the Asian-American Educational Ministry Team.
The site will give the Asian-American program more visibility outside its usual constituency, Chai said.
"There are so many things going on at the Presbyterian Center, but we have a hard time communicating with people outside, especially non-Asian-Americans," he said. "I have a pretty good networking system within the Asian-American community, but this Web site will probably be our best, most workable networking system to connect outside the Asian-American community."
Chai helps identify content for the Web site, along with his administrative assistant, Bok-Soon Slayton, and the Rev. Heeja Han, a volunteer consultant in his office.
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