A copy of the report for your perusal:
Effective communication is central to our mission.
Church communication occurs in multiple voices, languages, contexts, media, and technologies to inform – and to transform for common good – the lives of unique individuals and varied constituencies. Value is placed on every phase of communication cycles, and especially upon listening, honesty, evaluation, critique and commentary in the achievement of respectful and full dialogue and discourse
(Growing in Community – Draft Document, The Episcopal Church, USA 2005)
The church at large is most often viewed and portrayed as outdated, outmoded and irrelevant to much of modern society, although those who make comments such as these are usually grateful for the assistance of that same church in times of crises, life development and change.
Over the last year I&C have been examining current communications strategy, within and outwith the church, with a view to developing a communications methodology appropriate to our culture and context.
Everyone in the Diocese, including members of the I&C Network, needs to consider why good communication is important. I&C is taking two already-available documents as its guides. Each is underpinned by mission, belonging and involvement, and provides opportunities for reflection as well as proposing action.
Ø Church of Scotland policy paper ‘A Co-ordinated Communication Strategy’, launched by the Council of Assembly last year, published in the October edition of Life & Work, and available online here.
Its sections on ‘Context’ and ‘Communication within the Church of Scotland’ are especially relevant.
Ø The Episcopal Church (USA) has produced ‘Growing in Community: A Strategy for Episcopal Church Communication‘
This draft document provides detailed and pressing rationales for involvement in communication by every individual and body in TEC and the wider Communion, and is adaptable to our own context.
To enable our considerations, a more formal examination of Communication Strategy will be taking place over the coming year – an evaluation of patterns and practices which we hope will encourage us all in communicating clearly, concisely and effectively the message we share.
There are questions we all must consider, questions which initially seem simplistic.
Who are we attempting to communicate with?
What are we trying to communicate?
What is our purpose?
What is our agenda? – are we honest and open about our desired outcomes?
Are we willing to listen and to hear, or just to talk or present “our side”?
Does the language we use include or exclude?
Far from navel-gazing or insular time wasting, such questions are highly important. If we understand neither our message nor the ones we are communicating with, the message is lost and our attempts at communication are ineffectual. We subconsciously communicate our thoughts about a subject by what we don’t say as well as what we do say, in how we involve or exclude members of a particular grouping when we plan an event/meeting/discussion. If we fail to communicate with people in initial stages, our outcomes are limited and we lose a great deal to the death of “well-meaning but pointless.”
Future plans for the Information and Communication network include:
Ø Development of a Diocesan Communication Strategy, enabling and encouraging the use of good practice and self-assessment in the methods and language we use.
Ø Continuation of the Website development; and training in the use of the content management system for Regional Councils, Action Networks and Diocesan Officials. Simple written instructions, online tuition and live seminars will be needed to introduce the reasons for improved communication and the mechanics of the content management system.
Ø Utilisation of Word Press-based site development for churches without a current internet presence, with appropriate training
Ø Training and support for church magazine editors
Ø Re-imaging of the Diocesan Crest, in order that a high-quality, high-resolution graphic is available for both paper and electronic media
Ø Widening of membership of I&C to include those Diocesan regions currently not represented within the group
