Commission on Communication

Commission members are trying creative ways of meeting the challenges of communications in a time of growing media sources and shrinking financial resources. They seek new and emerging communications means while adapting to financial constraints and the reality that existing communications mediums may need to be continued and even improved.

Media Goals and Objectives

Print Communications

• Publish seven issues of The Nebraska Messenger with a circulation of approximately 53,150, including all United Methodist households, churches and related institutions in Nebraska.

Electronic Communications

• Continue making the conference's World Wide Web presence a primary priority.
  
• Establish and utilize additional electronic communications sources (in particular e-lists for clergy, laity and local churches), offering the advantage of speed of communications and potential savings in paper and mailing costs.
  
• Provide communications ideas and support to local churches through the following media: coordinated mailing, e-communications, The Nebraska Messenger, and the Web site.
  
• Educate Nebraska United Methodists in using effective communications in telling the local churches' stories.

Media

• Promote The United Methodist Church's mission, ministry and good news through media outlets.

Igniting Ministry

• Participate in the United Methodist Communications' Igniting Ministry matching grants program, seeking two matching grants yearly for television ad campaigns in Nebraska (preferably in Lent and back-to-school or Advent). This line item represents one-fourth of the funding necessary. Commission members have committed to raising the other one-fourth to match the grant through private donations.
  
• Air the two ad campaigns, with the help of United Methodist Communications in Nashville, Tenn., through selected regional television stations, promoting the mission, ministry and good news of the church.
  
• Support Igniting Ministry welcoming/media training at all levels.
  

Video

• Utilize and maintain new video equipment purchased in 2001 by communications and CCFA.
  
• Produce and distribute audio/video cassette tapes of speakers and events as requested by conference boards, commissions and committees, as time and money allows, using contract services if necessary.
  
• Consult with local churches on video production.
  

Interpretation

• Assist in designing promotional and interpretive materials for conference programs.
  
• Provide consulting services to Camping, Fellowship of Learning, Annual Conference, Council on Finance and Administration, and other areas in producing promotional and interpretive resources.
  
• Promote distribution and use of media resources from and by United Methodist boards and commissions.