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Strengthening our connections
By Tom Rehling

The recent devastation by hurricane Katrina has been a stark reminder of the importance of communications. When the power went out and the phone services were destroyed, the communication systems from Biloxi to New Orleans came to a screeching halt. People outside the affected area had no way of contacting family and friends who were battered by the storm. Emergency assistance was slow in arriving, partially because of the lack of communications. It is very difficult for us to cooperate and work together without good two-way communications.

The same is true for our conference. Since our conference stretches across three states, we are very dependent upon healthy communication systems to keep us united in doing God’s work.

We communicate in many different ways from the conference office. Our means of communication include: this newspaper, bulletin inserts, e-mails, our web site, telephones and postal services. Most of these are one-way communications, from the conference office to you. We don’t know if the information always makes it to people who want or need it. Therefore, in order to strengthen and promote two-way communications between local churches, associations, and the Rocky Mountain Conference, we are implementing a Church Liaison Program.

Each congregation should choose one person, other than the minister, to serve as their “Church Liaison.” This person will be their congregation’s connection to the “Conference Grapevine,” a communications network of people sharing information about their local churches, associations, conference, and national.

Qualifications:

• Have a passion to advance the mission of the entire church: local church, association, conference, and national.
• Ability to receive e-mails and communicate electronically.
• Desire to understand the workings, mission, and ministry of the United Church of Christ.
• Willingness to participate in communication and information training sessions.
• Ability and desire to communicate verbally and in written form with their local congregation and the wider church.

Responsibilities:

• Attend a regional training session to learn information and communication skills pertinent to their role of Church Liaison. They will help to develop this program to make it most useful to their church, association and conference.
• Assist conference staff to communicate needs and share resources between congregations.
• Receive and send communication to conference staff, sharing significant news and information from their church to the conference staff and being in dialogue with the staff.
• Serve as an instrument for liaison and communication of available leadership to the Conference and Association Nominating Committee members.

This fall, we are asking each church to select one person who will serve as their Church Liaison for the next year or more. Please send this person’s name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address to Peggy Ice at the conference office.

Next spring, Church Liaisons will be contacted with the date and location of the training sessions. Our goal is to have the Church Liaison Program communicating effectively, in every congregation in the conference, before our June annual meeting.

Please help us strengthen the connections with your congregation.

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