DATE:

July 21, 1998

DATE: July 21, 1998

MEMO TO: Information Resources Committee

FROM: Jim Boyles, General Secretary

RE: Comments from Forums at General Synod

____________________________________________________

The following comments were recorded on newsprint and relat to the work of your committee:

Information to Serve Your Needs

* develop a data bank of resource people both diocesan and national

* Privacy concerns (legislation)

* The dioceses have a responsibility to communicate their needs to the national office

Website Development

* define the audience

* make it attractive

* get it up.online

* both ABC , other services

* services to members (issues of privacy)

* evangelism (possibily ecumenical)

* help to design (own) policies for (own), how to use (national), how to find things. (national) and other websites

Anglican Journal Editorial Balance

* an "Anglican" house organ; open to criticism but dedicated to strengthening the church

* should be reporting news, not making it

* a need for balance between editorial independence and the need to notify the church of the work of the church

* there seems to be an assumption of an adversarial approach - the Journal needs to be something that can build the church

Called to Full Communion with Lutherans

* local congregations must be made aware of what is happening through education (sermons, newsletters, guest speakers, etc.)

* How do we publicize the processand provide effective information resources?

* How do we publicize what is already happening?

* study guide use among Ang/ELCIC congretagions to be encouraged - disseminate publications to each other (diocesan papers, advertize in each, summer camps)

* joint pastoral letters and statements

Canadian Council of Churches

* use church papers (i.e the Journal) to put its ideas and policies to the congregations and individuals