Communications as a ‘ministry-driver’ for the 21st

Century UMC

Pastor Taurai Emmanuel Maforo

Objective

• To explore how communications is/or can become a ministry driver in the UMC

• To inspire Harare West District to using available resources for effective communication

• To engage the church in identifying new mediums of communication

Introduction

• Surrounded by varied objects or symbols of communications.

• Communications is with us

Introduction

• As the world interfaces there is encoding and decoding of messages.

Introduction

• The 21st century world has become a global village

• The United Methodist Church is part of the village

Communication as a Strategic Function

“Communication is a strategic function necessary for the

success of the mission of The United Methodist Church.”

(Bk. Of Discipline 2012,1806)

Brainstorming Session

1. What are we doing in circuits?

2. What are our challenges?

3. What opportunities do we see in improving our communication?

Definition of terms

• Our point of departure is defining;

1. “communications”,

2. “ministry”,

3. and “driver”.

Communication

• Two-way process of reaching mutual understanding, in which participants not only exchange (encode-decode) information, news, ideas and feelings but also create and share meaning. In general, communication is a means of connecting people or places. (businessdictionary.com)

Ministry

“Ministry is meeting people where

they are at and taking them to where God wants them to be.”

(J.R. Briggs.com).

Ministry takes people from their “here” to a “God-there”

Drivers

1. General usage of the term

2. Use of the term in sport(Golf)

3. Business usage

4. Computer/IT usage

General usage of the term

• The one who operates and controls the direction and speed of a motor vehicle.

NB – operates, controls, direction, and speed

Use of the term in sport(Golf)

• Golf drivers - A golf club with a wide head and a long shaft, used for making long shots from the tee.

Business Usage

1. The business drivers are external or internal influences that significantly impact and/or set direction for programs.(source: Business Drivers Strawdog for the California State, pg. 1)

2. An aspect of a business that effects a change on another aspect of the business. A driver is most commonly a factor that contributes to the growth of a particular business. (investorwords.com)

Computers/IT 1. Small program that enables a computer and a

device to communicate with each other. Computer operating systems usually come with 'pre-installed' device drivers for the current models of the popular devices. Older or latest device drivers (which usually come on a disk with the device or are downloaded from the manufacturer's website) must be installed by the user. (businessdictionary.com)

2. A driver is software that allows your computer to communicate with hardware or devices. Without drivers, the hardware you connect to your computer—for example, a video card or a webcam—will not work properly. (Microsoft.com).

Imagine A Video With no Sound – Its like a ministry with no communication

Working Definition – “Ministry Driver”

• A ministry driver may thus be said to be an instrument that controls the direction and speed of

the denomination with a view toward the “long short” – the mission of the church (Matt. 28:18-20) and ensuring a communicative relationship of its

programs. That direction is achieved through considering external and internal influences that

significantly impact the organization (UMC).

The Communications mandate

• “As United Methodists, our theological understanding obligates us, as members of

the body of Christ, to communicate our faith by speaking and listening to persons both

within and outside the Church throughout the world, and to utilize all appropriate means of

communication.” (Bk. Of Disc.2012,1801,p698)

Key components of the mandate

• Communicate

• Speaking and listening

• Internal and external audience

• Use of appropriate means

The first 6 Macro Trends of the 21st Century by Jonathan MacDonald

– Corporate technology in the hands of citizens

– Physical is increasingly virtual

– It is about distribution not destination

– Mass Niche not Mass Groups

– Broadcast control is now self-scheduled

– C2C is more powerful than B2C Communication

• C2C – Citizen to Citizen, B2C – Business to Consumer

“The responsibility to communicate is laid upon;

• Every church member

• Every pastor

• Every congregation

• Every annual conference

• Every institution

• And every agency of the Church

The United Methodist Communications Informs, Inspires

and Engages

Inform

• United Methodist Communications develops and delivers news and information products and services and various supporting media that communicate the message of the Church and share the Good News.

• Communications informs the church and the world of the activities and ministries – thus must work closely with all ministries

Inspire

• United Methodist Communications develops and delivers training, consulting, funding and infrastructure that empower the Church at a global, national, and local level to develop communications or communication platforms.

• Communications therefore inspires relevant boards and committees towards having up-to-date infrastructure. Eg. Work with BOCLAB in coming up with church building designs that are multi-media-friendly

Engage

• United Methodist Communications offers media production services, guidelines, examples, and ready-to-use resources that equip others at the conference or local church levels to create or improve the communications

Communication Tools

Pen and Paper

• These are primary news gathering tools

• Anything not written did not happen

• We no longer live in oral era

NB – NEWS is the first draft of history

Audio Recorder

• Accuracy is critical in gathering news as there are tendencies to misquote interviewees.

• Also essential for future playback – Bishop Muzorewa’s song at the funeral “Till we meet again...”

Cameras • Still Photo Digital cameras

• Video Cameras

• iPads

• Cell Phones

Church Office Basic Communication Tools

• Cell phone

• Landline

• Fax

• Email

• Computer – desk top for office and lap top for pastors

Broadcasting Tools

• Social Media

• Blogs

• Websites

Zimbabwe Episcopal Area Website:

www.umczea.org facebook/umczea

Christian Education Communication Audio Visual Tools

• Television set(s)

• Video Cassette Recorder(VCR)

• DVD Player

• Projector and Screen

Worship Communication Tools

• Music software

• Worship software

• Public Address System – preferably with hands-free cordless microphones

NB – Size is not determined by the amount you have but by the church size and design.

Communicating without words

Non-verbal communication constitutes 94%(Kramer)

• Structural design of churches – sends messages of how the congregation is forward-looking. We teach that we accept different forms of baptism yet we build churches without baptismal fond.

• Billboards – shows a live or dying church or a stuck church.

• Multi-purpose buildings – show how serious the church is with specialized ministries. Example – many churches say they support children’s ministries yet they don’t have space for them.

CONCLUSION

• We must therefore know that whether we intend to communicate or not – meanings can still be derived from silence

• Communications is/has been and will remain a ministry driver in The United Methodist Church – directly or indirectly

• Let us therefore use available and appropriate tools of communications to drive the church’s ministry

Question Time