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“Uniting Creative” has been disbanded as part of the restructure of the Synod of New South Wales and the ACT. Following the decision of the 2011 Synod for communications to be part of shared services and recent Standing Committee decisions endorsing a new communications pathway, the editorial, media relations and administrative positions (four people) in Uniting Creative were made redundant. Of the three remaining, Esther (web designer) has decided to move on and Adrian (advertising manager and film buff) and Marije (mission promotions officer) are considering their offers of redeployment. Consequently, the April edition of Insights was the last to be produced by Uniting Creative. So, it’s time for us to say goodbye and thank you, particularly for your contribution, whether in the form of friendly or challenging emails, book reviews or other writing. We shared some of the following with our readers in the April issue of Insights, contributors and other friends, so for many of you this is your chance to slip off and make a cup of tea. Please come back for the end, though. Being at the helm of one of Australia’s premier and award-winning religious publications for two decades has been a privilege, a joy and a great deal of hard work. Under Marjorie’s direction as editor and Stephen’s as deputy editor, the Insights’ team has created around 220 great issues of Insights on time every time, provoking interest, encouraging broad conversation and earning revenue to sustain its printing, distribution and a portion of staff time. We’re proud of this fantastic record — and trust that you are too. Uniting Creative’s dynamic and devoted team has done much, much more than this for the Uniting Church in New South Wales and the ACT. This has included: Designing publications and websites, targeting media involvement, marketing Living is Giving (raising around $2 m each year), developing advertising and public relations campaigns, taking photographs, running drought appeals and bushfire appeals, mentoring Uniting Church journalists around Australia to ensure best practice journalistic principles are upheld, managing media reporting for Assembly and Synod meetings, and helping the church to journey through a number of painful issues including sexuality. What will we miss? The splendid panorama of covers and themes and working out how big ideas can connect with ordinary people living out their faith in service to Christ. Friendly church members and clients sauntering through our offices. Letters that show how much people care about their faith, the church, ecumenism and theology. Reporting the work of the Christian church and other religions locally and worldwide. The hundreds of volunteers who have contributed articles, book reviews, reflections and helpful advice. Working with each Moderator to target his or her media presence. The warm, intelligent people that have been our colleagues and peers. The trust you have given us. What should you ask for regarding communication in the Synod? Christian communication is more than words on a page and it should be. There are gospel principles at stake. These revolve around relationships and involve justice, egalitarianism and diversity. There are people whose rights need airing, there are issues the church needs to raise when mainstream media doesn’t, there is transparency we should model and there are principles around freedom of the press that we should maintain. Do fight for these wherever you can. They are invaluable in proving that this organisation lives by the values it espouses and is working to create a just and participatory society rather than one that privileges the powerful and rich. What are we looking forward to? · Fresh challenges, new opportunities and time to work on our own creative projects. · Reflective space to hear the “still small voice” about where we should venture next. · A team celebration where we can truly honour the work that we have done and the way we have given our very best to the Uniting Church. To give you an inkling of what we mean here: Marjorie worked in Uniting Church communications for 23 and a half years (she spent three and a half years with the Uniting Church Assembly before working for the Synod). Stephen has been deputy editor for Insights and Synod media officer for 20 years, Adrian Drayton has been involved in producing Insights and as a creative coordinator/designer for 18 years. A host of other fantastic staff members may have served for less time but have done so no less passionately and we are truly grateful to them all. The current team will enjoy celebrating our achievements without the pressure of continuous deadlines or sudden media crises/management issues barking at our heels! · In the meantime we will continue to go quietly about our business, tying up loose ends, cleaning our desks and bookshelves and saying some fond farewells with a minimum of fuss. We get to enjoy one more Synod meeting, where we will file reports for Insights online and Facebook, before we ride off into the sunset. What do we wish for you? Our blessings are with you as the Synod charts the difficult territory ahead. These are not easy times in the Uniting Church and tough decisions are being made in all of its councils. May the love of God and the peace of Christ be with you as you search prayerfully, generously and humbly for ways to work for the common good. Marjorie will continue to blog about writers, books and reading at www.abiggerbrighterworld.com and Stephen will kick on at www.sacredturf.com. Please vote for ABBW in the Best Australian Blog Competition 2013 (it’s the blue button on the home page at the right) and follow the Facebook page. Lyndal’s work can still be seen at http://lyndalirons.com.au/. Thank you for all your cooperation, support and care during the 20 years we have been responsible for communication and media relations in the Synod. This has meant a great deal to us. Insights list has been a bit like Stephen’s faith community; as much as possible we have attempted to make our decisions democratic (for those who cared at least). He is going to ask Geoff to move my admin powers onto someone else — a brave volunteer, who will have the best interests of the list at heart. You will no longer be bombarded with boring news but we hope you can keep the discussions alive. Cheers, Stephen and Marjorie <저작권자 ⓒ christianreview 무단전재 및 재배포 금지>
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