New UMC.org will offer more services, create communities

By Linda Green*

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - United Methodist Communications will relaunch the denomination's Web site to become the "front door" to the online faith community in early January.

UMC.org has been retooled to incorporate innovative technologies to bring people together in new ways.

The first large-scale social networking site developed by a mainline denomination, UMC.org's online community has been designed to foster meaningful relationships within the global church community and to allow people to connect with the church seven days a week from wherever they might be.

"The new design was necessary as the Web transforms to become a part of the fabric of our lives," said the Rev. Larry Hollon, chief executive of United Methodist Communications.

The Book of Discipline, The United Methodist Church's law book, charges the communications agency with developing, implementing and maintaining the denomination's "presence on and use of the Internet, the World Wide Web, or other computer services that can connect United Methodist conferences, agencies and local churches with one another and with the larger world."

Since the Web is the place people go to for information, connection and recreation, it's important for the church to be in the environments where people seek to find meaning today, Hollon said.
Research has shown the current Web site "is not as user-friendly and accessible as the church needs in order to be a favorable environment," he said. "So we've committed to this redesign for current church members and those seeking to know more about The United Methodist Church."

The site design team conducted interviews with more than 250 members, leaders and seekers around the world during the research phase of the redesign. The design and its new features were based on the needs expressed by the users, according to the communications agency's Web team.

A Web site is about connecting people and establishing a relationship that serves the needs of the user effectively, Hollon said. UMC.org is an "important entry point to the United Methodist community," and the site has been retooled to be as friendly and useful as possible.

"Designing the Web site based on the expressed needs of leaders, members and those who seek to know more about the church seemed to us to be an important way to maintain that critical relationship," he added.

Front door to the church
When the switch is flipped in early January, the new site will enable individuals to access the church's resources, find a church in any community in the United States, identify personal spiritual gifts and share prayer concerns with others.

The new UMC.org has been designed to meet the needs of a large, diverse audience and to make people feel welcome, as if they are walking into a church, the designers on the Web team said. It will serve as a single entranceway that provides access to church resources and offers visitors a close look at who United Methodists are as a faith community.

"The site is important to the denomination because it is the front door online to our faith community," Hollon said. "It is one of the first places people go to locate a local congregation or to discover tools for leading more effectively or finding ways to connect with local congregations to live more faithfully."

Social networking is becoming an important way for people to connect, learn and interact with others who share common interests and concerns, he said. "As the first denomination to offer social networking on a Web site on this scale, it is our hope that users can interact to grow in their understanding of Christian faith and in their commitment to the church."

A person visiting the "Our People" section of UMC.org will meet the people of the United Methodist Church as well as other individuals of faith around the world, hear their stories and share personal experiences. The new site will allow individuals to expand their ecumenical relationships and learn how others are making a difference in the world through service. More than 60 related topics will provide opportunities for site visitors to join community groups, talk and find spiritual gifts that will benefit others.

UMC.org's online community also has a needs registry through which participants can reach beyond their immediate communities to a global audience. They can create online needs registries of the resources and assistance they need, as well as search the database for volunteer opportunities.

Similar to other online social networks, UMC.org's online community will allow users to establish a profile page with photographs and personal information.

Connections are already occurring through user groups for "UM 101," a small-group study program about the United Methodist Church, Hollon said. Upon completing the online course, many participants continue to stay connected with course participants and share their faith journeys. The course, offered by United Methodist Communications, was developed before the UMC.org redesign but offers an example of effective social networking.

"We've also seen that this does not replace face-to-face community in local congregations; it happens in addition to this important physical community," Hollon continued. "The church is, in part, about relationships. We hope to provide a means for people to relate to each other about faith and important life concerns that will encourage deeper study and engagement in local congregations, where the faith is transmitted and we each receive support as we grow in our journey of faith."

Highlighting the footprints
The Web site's "Our Church" section welcomes visitors to The United Methodist Church and gives glimpses of the denomination's work throughout the world. It shows seekers how that work is grounded by a Wesleyan heritage and a Methodist perspective. In addition to teaching United Methodist history, the site incorporates a United Methodist global map to highlight the footprints of the denomination in the world.

How United Methodists live, practice, and share faith through action can be found in the "Our Faith" section of the Web site. A prayer center allows an individual to submit a prayer request to one of more than 300 covenant prayer groups around the world, whose members will pray on the request for 30 days. The center is supported by the Upper Room Living Prayer Center. Online sermons enable a person to learn, explore and grow in faith.

The area called "Our World" shows how United Methodists are making a difference globally and domestically.

The site highlights accomplishments and provides resources, volunteer opportunities and information for people who want to make a difference through their local church. Visitors to this section can also find the latest news and information on global issues and programs such as United Methodist global relief efforts and HIV/AIDS and malaria prevention programs.

"Our World" is also the home of "MethoPedia," an encyclopedia format with resources and news stories about topical issues.

Other features
The redesigned "Find-A-Church" feature offers local churches an opportunity to showcase their primary ministries and add a personal welcome message, worship schedule and activities, photos of the church and its people, membership statistics, an interactive map and driving directions, and more. Users can search the database of churches by geographic location, congregation size, language and ethnicity to find a church that meets their needs.

The "Ask InfoServ" section provides answers to frequently asked questions about the church and allows users to contact the denomination's official information service by e-mail to get their questions answered directly.

The new search tool, supported by Google, makes it easier to find information by enabling users to search UMC.org as well as United Methodist annual conference and church agency Web sites.
For a sneak peek of the new site, go to UMC.org and click on the flash box in the middle of the page, above Headlines.

*Green is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in Nashville, Tenn. Diane Denton, United Methodist Communications' public information officer, contributed to this story. UMNS is a unit of United Methodist Communications.