Episcopal Press and News
Anglican, Episcopal Editors Share Meeting
Episcopal News Service. June 11, 1987 [87132]
MONTREAL (DPS, June 11) -- "What's Now? What's Next?" was the theme when the Episcopal Communicators and the Anglican Editors of Canada gathered on the campus of McGill University here for the 1987 North American Consultation to hold their individual annual meetings and to participate in joint plenaries, workshops and issues groups.
The American and Canadian groups also presented their individual annual awards for excellence at a joint banquet; the speaker was the Very Rev. Andrew Hutchinson, Dean of Christ Church Cathedral, Montreal. When the Communicators' 1987 Polly Bond Awards were given out, The Voice (Diocese of Newark) walked away with three (best column, photograph and news feature); and The Witness (best layout and cover), Interchange (Diocese of Southern Ohio) (best humor and series) and The Communicant (Diocese of North Carolina) (best editorial and overall excellence) each got two. The Record (Michigan) (best cover, in a tie with The Witness); Episcopal News (Los Angeles) (best front page), The Diocesan (Florida) (best news feature, in a tie with The Voice); and the Anglican Digest (best feature) also received awards. The feature video award went to "Confirmation: A Sacrament of Commitment" from the Diocese of Colorado.
At their business sessions, chaired by President Ruth Nicastro, the Episcopal Communicators heard that membership has risen above 90 and that there were also a record number of new members.
The name "Episcopal Communicators" was affirmed, with "members to include persons with ministries in the communications field who work at the national, regional, diocesan or congregational levels of the Episcopal Church with responsibilities including print, audio-visuals, electronic media and public affairs." New by-laws were approved, stating "the objective of the organization is to be a network of support for our mutual ministry and mission and to enable the professional development of those with communications responsibilities in the Episcopal Church." An elected board of six directors will serve staggered three year terms. The president's term is also three years, but outgoing presidents will also serve for one year as members of the board with voice and vote. Anyone elected to fulfill an unexpired term will be eligible for re-election to a full term; anyone serving a full term must wait out a year. Both the treasurer and secretary will be appointed by the board.
Dick Crawford of The Episcopalian and Mary Lee Simpson of The Southwestern Episcopalian (Diocese of Southwestern Virginia) were elected to the Board of Directors. Burt Dougherty, retiring treasurer, was honored for his years of service to the group, both as treasurer and for his frequent service as chaplain. J. R. McDowell of the Diocese of Southern Virginia has agreed to succeed him as treasurer.
It was unanimously agreed to break with precedent and hold a spring meeting separate from General Convention next year, in order to avoid a loss of momentum in the group's work.
A resolution was approved requesting that the Episcopal Church Center expedite the implementation of EPINET. Another resolution authorized the board of directors to investigate the best way of approaching the 1988 General Convention on the importance of communication. In response to issues raised by the communicators, Nicastro agreed to appoint a committee to conduct a survey of who uses the Diocesan Press Service and how, what they would like to see and related concerns.
Concern over the underrepresentation of electronic media in the organization prompted Nicastro to appoint Skip Schueddig of the Episcopal Radio-TV Foundation to chair an outreach and recruitment committee. In response to a request from Associated Church Press, the Episcopal Communicators voted to join ACP in working against rising postal costs.
In joint sessions, the groups listened to keynote speaker Louise Lore, executive producer of the Canadian Broadcasting Company's award-winning "Man Alive" series, heard critiques of award winners by some of the judges and learned of preparations for the 1988 Lambeth meeting from the Rt. Rev. John Bothwell, Bishop of Niagara and Archbishop of Ontario; the Rt. Rev. Rustin Kimsey, Bishop of Eastern Oregon, and his wife, Gretchen; and Bob Byers, communications officer for the Anglican Consultative Council. Issues groups covered ecumenism and social action, Central America, social issues and investigative reporting. Skills workshops delved into the mysteries of desktop publishing, photography, news feature writing, graphics, video and the Polly Bond Awards.
For recreation an afternoon bus tour of Montreal took participants off the campus of McGill, an evening barbecue provided an opportunity for fellowship and an optional post-meeting tour of Quebec provided a glimpse of the Old World in the New.