Methodists Tackle Communications Problem in Africa
Breaking down communication barriers between generations, gender, nationalities and languages have been a core problem for denominations and church groups around the world. A 13-member communications team from nine African countries crossed national
Breaking down communication barriers between generations, gender, nationalities and languages have been a core problem for denominations and church groups around the world. Many are tackling this problem by strengthening their staff, adopting new techniques and technologies, and forging new relationships with communicators across borders and barriers.
The United Methodist Church is a case in point. Last month, a 13-member communications team from nine African countries crossed national borders and language barriers to form the first Association of United Methodist communicators in Africa.
"Even though we are expressing ourselves in different languages we can go back and tell our people, 'God loves us all, there are no communication barriers,'" said the Rev. Konah Parker, director of communications for the United Methodist Church's Liberia Area, to the United Methodist News Service.
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The new association was born at the end of a two-day communications consultation held at Africa University from July 20-21, during which attendants challenged themselves to find solutions to all the problems African communicators face.
"The leaders of the church in Africa have told us their ministry is hindered by the inability of church leaders and members to communicate with each other in a timely and accessible way," said the Rev. Larry Hollon, top executive of the communications agency that sponsored the event.
"The need for the church to share information about a whole range of its concerns - from day-to-day to emergency circumstances - requires more effective communication ability," he said. "We are working with the African church to create a reliable, efficient communications infrastructure with trained communicators."
In addition, the event would help bring the larger United Methodist church together, as “one family.”
"I envision communication centers established throughout the United Methodist Church in Africa, Asia and Europe, and the entire church would be connected globally, all part of one family," said Tafadzwa Mudambanuki, a member of the UMCom’s Communication Resourcing Team.
Accordingly, such a conference for communicators is being scheduled for Europe and Asia, and training workshops are being planned in Africa to provide skills in Computer software and journalism.
Meanwhile, in Africa, the communicators are resolved to “identify needs and approaches to building and enhancing communication infrastructure in the church,” according to UMNS.
"From what we're hearing in Africa, we hope to help equip each area with the tools and training needed to run a viable communications center or workstation," Mudambanuki said. "At the same time, we're looking at how community radio or ham radios could strengthen the outreach of the church."
These communicators will model in large part after the United Methodist Association of Communicators in the U.S., which is a voluntary organized institute that provides fellowship for church communicators and hold education events for those involve din the communications ministry.
African communicator also elected officers to serve an interim executive board. The officers are: Parker, president; Bulelwa Makeleni, South Africa Provisional Conference, vice president; Taylor Walters, North Katanga Area, Democratic Republic of Congo, secretary; Gladman Makwenya, Zimbabwe Area, assistant secretary.
