There is an assumption within the United Church that we are all good communicators. The truth is harsh. We are not. As you say, we communicate in our own churchy language and churchy place. We communicate to ourselves in our unrecognized and unacknowledged echo chamber. That was not true a generation or more ago.
The United Church has always been focused on communication. Our original imprint was Ryerson Press. We had the United Church Publishing House. The Methodist church publishing house at 299 Queen St. West, later bought by Moses Znaimer, became our national office and eventually the main studio of CITYTV. We had a Division of Communication and Berkely Studio, who did remarkable things in various media for decades. There is probably a PhD in church history in all of that.
In the 1990's the Division of Communication, created "Pen, Paper Parlour and Pew". Don Genge was the author. The simple, user-friendly binder which was a "how to" manual on church bulletins, bulletin boards, graphic design and the early use of computers and copiers.
The internet was a toddler then. The United Church was there through an ecumenical, international network partnership called Ecunet. It even-pre-dated the internet by several years. Dr. David Lougheed of VST was an earliest driver behind Ecunet and it's United Church iteration, UCHUG or United CHurch Users Group. There is another untold story there.
The United Church shut down DivCom in 2000, mostly for economic reasons. Berkely Studio was absorbed, restructured and eventually disappeared. We are left with United Church Resource Distribution, or UCRD. It fulfills orders through Shopify.
Our communication skills need a serious reboot. I have seen many position descriptions for ministers in the last few years which say "Skills in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Office required." But where do we learn those skills and concepts as you outline that are specific to the church? I see and hear nothing but crickets. But then I am a luddite. I still use WordPerfect.
I do. You will have to pry it from my cold, dead, hands. And I have shared your post with the church secretary, who was quite impressed. You have reframed our communication strategy. Thank you.
There is an assumption within the United Church that we are all good communicators. The truth is harsh. We are not. As you say, we communicate in our own churchy language and churchy place. We communicate to ourselves in our unrecognized and unacknowledged echo chamber. That was not true a generation or more ago.
The United Church has always been focused on communication. Our original imprint was Ryerson Press. We had the United Church Publishing House. The Methodist church publishing house at 299 Queen St. West, later bought by Moses Znaimer, became our national office and eventually the main studio of CITYTV. We had a Division of Communication and Berkely Studio, who did remarkable things in various media for decades. There is probably a PhD in church history in all of that.
In the 1990's the Division of Communication, created "Pen, Paper Parlour and Pew". Don Genge was the author. The simple, user-friendly binder which was a "how to" manual on church bulletins, bulletin boards, graphic design and the early use of computers and copiers.
The internet was a toddler then. The United Church was there through an ecumenical, international network partnership called Ecunet. It even-pre-dated the internet by several years. Dr. David Lougheed of VST was an earliest driver behind Ecunet and it's United Church iteration, UCHUG or United CHurch Users Group. There is another untold story there.
The United Church shut down DivCom in 2000, mostly for economic reasons. Berkely Studio was absorbed, restructured and eventually disappeared. We are left with United Church Resource Distribution, or UCRD. It fulfills orders through Shopify.
Our communication skills need a serious reboot. I have seen many position descriptions for ministers in the last few years which say "Skills in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Office required." But where do we learn those skills and concepts as you outline that are specific to the church? I see and hear nothing but crickets. But then I am a luddite. I still use WordPerfect.
David this is awesome sharing!!!!! Thank you!
Also you still use WordPerfect!? Impressive …
I do. You will have to pry it from my cold, dead, hands. And I have shared your post with the church secretary, who was quite impressed. You have reframed our communication strategy. Thank you.
“Divine Liturgy at half-ten in the nave.” 😂
LOL... ok that part was a little tongue in cheek... but seriously.... lol
love it!