WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT THIS TERRIBLE AMENET.ORG PAGE -- HOW CAN WE MAKE IT BETTER?

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2002

Answers

You might contribute some money to pay for it. To design, develop, and maintain a page of that magnitude will cost about $5,000.00 the first year and at least $1000.00 each subsequent year. Do you realize that the page is the work of one man using his resources? Put the money on the line and you can have the type of page you want, otherwise....

Blessings,

Pastor Paris

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2002

I do not know the details regarding the money for an A.M.E web page. But I like to offer a suggestion for our web page. The American Bible Society hosts free web pages for churches in North America. Bishop Bryant is on the advisory counsel for the board. They have several templates, plus those who know how to write in computer language can also use those skills. Please check out the Forministry web site. www.forministry.com perhaps we can share this info with the editor of the web site. If you would like to see a sample. Please look at my church web site. www.forministry.com/59715spcac Let's keep this issue in prayer and find ways that we all can help.

-- Anonymous, January 12, 2002

I have, for some time now, listened to both sides of this debate and my feelings are these:

When one SEEKS and is elected to any office, whether that office be Bishop, General Officer, Connectional Officer or President of the Local Church Lay Organization, I would hope one has considered the costs involved. I would also hope he or she is therefore ready and able to assume the responsibilities of this office with dignity and pride.

None of the offices I have mentioned are, in my estimation, adequately funded or well paid. However, those who assume them SOUGHT and entered these positions fully aware of what the salaries, lack of salaries and responsibilities would be.

While web pages, newspapers, newsletters, travel and other requirements of holding office can be expensive, if one is unable or unwilling to do all things well, perhaps a lesser position should be sought.

Only TIME is required to make web pages, newsletters and other forms of communication timely and up to date. This also means they should not contain information six month to two years past. To me such a notion is inexcusable

As an elected officer, I publish a quarterly newsletter and maintain a website. The site comes from my own personal expense with no cost to the organization it represents. While it is not as elaborate as the one mentioned here, it is nevertheless one which I can afford. It appropriately represents the organization whose name it bears and it is, as nearly as I can make it, always up to date. Old news is no NEWS at all.

-- Anonymous, January 12, 2002

In response to REv. Paris -- It was my understanding that the AME Web page was included in the budget of the church. In December, their was a technology conference in Nashville -- it was my understanding that Websites would be a part of that. It was stated that Monies should be contributed to this effort --- I beleive that if the CME, AMEZ (which by the way --- have smaller budgets and membership) can develop a well done web page. I think the money can be found for this to happen. Under the budgeting for the AME Church their is a line item for information management -- PG. 651 Office of the Treasurer. I believe that we need to hold people accountable for the office they serve -- if they can not function or even ask for help (I have not heard any request) they should step aside and away.

-- Anonymous, January 12, 2002

Mark, you are correct about the Budget Item but there were no funds allocated. Check the Discipline for the budget. Having been in this business from the beginning, as Rev. John has been also, I find that there is no FREE lunch or web pages. The ABS will go the way of other ".coms" offering free pages. Your name, email address, your church will be saturated with advertising from the Free Web Sites. As they go out of business, the links will no longer work. You do not have control over the ads placed on your web site. I know the person who developed the "Official" AME Web Site but I'm not at liberty to reveal that information. I'm sure he monitors this site and will comment if he so desires. I do know that he pays for it himself. Praise God for that. That is why I get a little testy when someone makes critical remarks about the site. Until we walk a mile in his shoes, we cannot be critical and then it should be constructive, like send or offer him some dollars to help. Until the AME Church is willing to fund and hire a professional, we will never have a truly representative web site. The Christian Education department has an outstanding site. Part of the problem is the censoring of information that is rampant in our church. There are some leaders who does not want the people to have current or accurate information. It is the well known principle of growing mushrooms; keep them in the dark and feed them bull****.

I heard about the meeting in Nashville too late for me to attend. By the way, I maintain the 10th Episcopal District web site and did not receive an invitation to this conference. Did anyone else know of this conference of the results of the same?

Blessings

Pastor Paris

Blessings.

Pastor Paris

-- Anonymous, January 13, 2002

Pastor Paris there are NO ADVERTISEMENTS on the american bible society web pages. None at all, they have been around a long time. They have a wonderful support system and a 800 number if one has questions. I personally think it would not be a bad idea to contact them. Especially since we have no money. As I have stated before; one can look at my web site to get a sense of the templates. The ABS is adding additional features. And I think they have best free web sites, that I have seen. So I would suggest that ABS be looked at instead saying no, all one has to do is email or call them. Another suggestion might be a grant. I am thinking of the Lily Foundation or the Pew Foundation. They both have web sites and do give quite a bit of money to churches for various endeavors. It is important that we have a national web site. Let us come up with concrete and positive suggestions to help the person who has this responsiblity. And to the person in charge of the website, let us pray for God will make a way out of know way. Best wishes. PS Pastor Paris I do hope you will visit the American Bible Society and even call them with your concerns. I am very pleased to say they host a lot of A.M.E web pages.

-- Anonymous, January 13, 2002

Pastor Paris the fact that you did not hear about the technology workshop shows the need for a national website. Can you give us accurate figures on what it would cost to put together a web site. Hopefully I can hear from the person in charge. One other idea might be having a subsciption like we do for the Christian Recorder or other secular magazines.

-- Anonymous, January 13, 2002

It is interesting that talk of a web site connecting the connection is taking place on the web site that has been connecting the connection for the past several years.

Over the years, there have been several pioneers who from their own resources and resourcefulness have taken on the mission of extending the communication chain of the A.M.E. Church.

Pastor Paris was one of those pioneers, Others have emerged throughout the connection, this writer included. None have received connectional funds but the work has all been divine.

Just by the nature of how A.M.E. Today has been set up, it has come as close to a connectional news source as the church has had thus far, But I feel many know it primarily for the dicussion down below and not the news service on its main pages, A,M,E, Today was the first AME news organ to ever provide gavel-to-gavel real-time coverage of a General Coverage. The first to release the news of the election of a female Bishop, The first to proclaim much of the news from the A.M.E. connection for the past four years,,,and yes without a budget.

Budget is not the only thing required to create an informative and updated A,M.E. web site, It will take some journalistic background and inclination and ideally, an independent budget that will allow it to be a subjective organ rather than a mouthpiece.

There is no way, under no circumstances, that a denominational web site could or should bem housed on a free web site. The cost of hosting is not now, nor has it ever been, the problem, The problem is collecting the material, Editing it andd preparing it for publication and doing all this in a timely fashion.

There also is a degree of skill and techical knowledge required to produce a web site that not only is functional, easy to navigate but also pleasing in appearance.

Free sites are fine for churches and organizations getting their skills together. The site pretty much, with templates, takes care of itself. But it is a "cookie cutter" solution and if you look at some of the independent creations throughout our Zion, you can see proof, irrefutable that we are capable of more than that.

This is all to say money is just a small part of what needs to be addressed to really have a AME web site that functions as much of us would desire one to, The other factors are the organization of such a journalistic endeavor and then the resources to collect, compile and then publish.

Free without skills or information, still will leave you lacking.

I have spent my whole life honing journalistic skills and exercising them in a secular setting and even with those skills, you can only deal with as much information as you have access too.

Obviously this is not a problem with an easy answer but this is just a rambling way to point out money, for the site housing, is one of the least of the standing, multitude of problems.

Rev. John

-- Anonymous, January 13, 2002

Reverend Paris,

I don't believe it is any secret who maintains the Church Website. Those of us who attend General Conferences and Connectional meeting are well aware of whom we have elected and under whose responsibilities it falls. In fact I have personally written to him about this same issue on two occasions and have gotten very positive results each time I did so.

Additionally, five or six thousand dollars a year should be no problem if one would simply ask. My own Annual Conference can and has collected this amount in one or two free will offerings to various charitable endeavors. Although I am aware that some Conference could not generate this amount, my Conference is only one of 108. I am certain there are more than twice five thousand AMEs who would willingly contribute $1.00 or more a year to make certain this website was representative and met our needs--using our own private domain.

Because, we are a Connectional Church, it is no longer possible for any person who wishes to have accurate and current information to be kept in the dark. It is as simple as a personal phone call or an e mail letter away. It is also my experience that Bishops publish advanced events at least twice a year at their respective Annual Conferences and Mid-Year Convocations. Therefore, in my opinion, the posting of events long since past cannot be explained, justified or excused away.

Reverend John's post came as I was posting my own and I think he has hit the "nail on the head." We also have persons highly capable of doing the job if we only asked.

-- Anonymous, January 13, 2002

Do we need an A.M.E web page. For all intents and purposes The A.M.E today has all the information regarding our denomination. There is even a calender for events. We do get world wide news concerning our zion. Maybe the better question is, how can we help Rev. John keep this ministry going? And how can we help him. I am so blessed that we do have his ministry. What do you think.

-- Anonymous, January 13, 2002

It is obvious that Rev. John has a better handle on the development of a truly connectional web site. It seems to me, based on his evaluation, it would require a fulltime staff of two to three persons with the proper skills such as IT as well as journalism. Then the problem of leasing or buying servers etc. The Current "official" web site is not maintained by those with the names on it. When it first came on board, you couldn't even get a response from the email addresses listed. Certainly, Rev. John's site is a virtual AME WEB Site. It would take at least two fultime professionals to continue the development and maintain this as a Connectional site with daily updates. Thios conversation may be the stimulus that will lead to a viable AME WEB Site that all of us can view with pride. I hold the position that God is not satisfied with us trying to get everything free. David refused to accept the gift of land for an alter from Araunah [2 Samuel 24:18-25]. Please study this passage and tell me what lessons we are to learn from this. Also, in Haggai, the LORD of Hosts says the silverr and gold are Mine; we are His also. Therefore why do we have to beg for scraps from the table of non- believers when the "cattle on a thousands hills" belong to our Father in heaven. I suggest we are suffering the "plague" David and the Children of Israel avoided because we are not willing or do not have enough faith to accept God at His word and give Him the best. I would suggest a study of Haggai would be very revealing to us as AMEs.

Blessings,

Pastor Paris

-- Anonymous, January 13, 2002

Your sentiments about abundance and prosperity are topics that e Bishop Bryant talked about at annual conference last year in the Pacific Northwest. It was one of the reasons he suggested we read "The Prayer of Jabez" If nothing else comes out of this discussion, I hope all of us will realize that A.M.E Today is a miracle, and Rev. John is truly annointed by God and so generous with his gift of A.M.E Today. Let's keep him and sister Jan in prayer that God will reward them for their faithfulness.

-- Anonymous, January 13, 2002