redhead
Definition of Campaign
Posted on: 03/06/2014 22:45
Emerging Spirit Campaign.
Definition of campaign includes:
work in an organized and active way toward a particular goal, typically a political or social one.
In charitable, professional and grassroots worlds, launching a campaign involves recruitment and fundraising. To argue against at this point indicates: misuse of the word and its definition, nisunderstanding of a campaign process, or a denial that the Emerging Spirit launch was not a campaign, but rather an engagement. An experiment. And WC was part of that dialogue... and if that was the case, then why not use the appropriate words, such as engagement, andexperiment?
The term Campaign was used. That means in all charitable/fundraising worlds,goals were established. Goals, clearly, not achieved. Hence the end of WC.
And to be clear, the very financially healthy bequest that funded Emerging Spirit was bequeathed with direction (possibly what is known as a restricted bequest; one that has conditions attached to it). That I leave to UCCan to officals to clarify, but it seems to be the case.
The reason that WC is ending is, most likely, not that there are not funds to support current technology or far less costly technology (which could include volunteer tech support and far less paid UCCan tech support still operated under the auspces of UCCan), but that the campaign goals have not been achieved AND that UCCan is clearly moving in a different direction. The way that the message of WC's closure was delivered and the lack of any official response to the clear outcry is evidence.
Please, read this carefully:
http://touchstonejournal.ca/jan09/Article3.pdf
WC is not closing down because of a lack of funding. True, alternative tech options are not cost free, but they are far less expensive, and there have been WC members willing to provided support. truth be told, there is still a cost to managing volunteers, and there are legal costs, etc. All tolled, less than running Drupal. And at the end of the day, not too terribly complicate.... unless the complication is that goals not met throught the Emerging Spirit Campaign means that UCCan is moving in a completely different direction, has no real interest to the virtual and real life in benefits that WC provides, and is far more invested in moving forward with cultivating new initiavtes, such as joing with other United Church organisations. And yes, I do see plintering and splitting happening within UCCan. It has always been an uneasy allegiance. Perhaps, at times, united. But not a union.
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redhead
Posted on: 03/06/2014 22:49
Please just excuse typos; honestly fingers work not so well - I do see the mistakes. Do not let that reflect the message.
redhead
Posted on: 03/06/2014 23:28
more information:
http://www.metunited.org/jmv4/index.php/met-life/public-news/53-general-...
redhead
Posted on: 03/07/2014 00:00
duplicate
redhead
Posted on: 03/07/2014 00:11
Engaging a New Generation: The Emerging Spirit Campaign
At Metropolitan United Church, we have a long history dating back 180 years. And we're looking forward to a long, vital future as well. But we know the world is changing, and we must change too.
To remain relevant in the years ahead, we recognize that we must provide worship experiences that appeal to a diverse range of people. That's where Emerging Spirit comes in.
Emerging Spirit is an initiative focused on establishing and nurturing a new relationship between the United Church and Canadians, especially people between the ages of 30-45, because this is one of the first Canadian generations to grow up largely outside of the church. Many are at a turning point in their lives where they're considering major decisions about career directions, marriage and children, and setting down roots. Many are also considering questions about spirituality and whether or not they could participate in a faith community. The goal of Emerging Spirit is to help the church be a more open, welcoming place for all who visit or seek to join the church.
Emerging Spirit's provocative national media campaign is now appearing in magazines across the country. This campaign will invite people who are curious about religion, spirituality, and moral issues to explore these topics with others at a new website designed for non-church-goers and by visiting a United Church congregation. Visit the site at www.wondercafe.ca
In case people could not see the link, thought it in the best interest of everyone to take a look at the above.
As an historical note, I do not quite understand the 180 year reference.... just saying.
stardust
Posted on: 03/07/2014 02:51
Hi Redhead
I'm not sure but I think your argument re the OP is that somebody has posted about Emerging Spirit and the WC not being related to each other? I think most of us on the WC know that it is or was part of Emerging Spirit, or at least as I have understood it. No argument from me. It is true as you state that the WC did not live up to its potential in the eyes of the UC GC. Unfortunately it failed in its mandate.
redhead
Posted on: 03/07/2014 06:41
Stardust, you shoud read Young's article once again.
It is about the Emerging Spirit Campaign, about outreach (aka evangelism and the history of evangelism aka re-termed outreach), the target audience of the Emerging Spirit Campaign, which is 30-45 year olds, and is backed up in a solid way with 24 footnotes: this is an article that is examining outreach, ministry and in particular the Emerging Spirit Campaign and its specific intent to target a 30-45 year old demographic.
It is not primarily about Templeton.
stardust
Posted on: 03/07/2014 02:50
.
stardust
Posted on: 03/07/2014 02:58
Redhead
Yes, I understand what you are saying re the Emerging Spirit campaign but I've been reading about it since its inception in 2006 so its hardly news to many of us. I presume you weren't aware of it.
Please note that I did edit and delete the Templeton links on my other post above since it wasn't really relevant to the discussion or your topic. Sorry about that.
redhead
Posted on: 03/07/2014 04:20
Stardust, I joined WC in 2007. Prior to that, I understood UCCan very well, and I was even a member of CGIT for three years. (Not even certain if that exists anymore, but I can attest to the fact that I learned a great deal in those three years, wearing a sailor-esque white, navy trimmed top with a longish navy skirt and a really poorly blanket stitched navy triangle felt hat adorned with a white wool pom-pom - welcome to my eighties Tuesday night garment nightmare.)
That revealed, I learned a great deal about UCCan and Xianity, and that I was allowed to attend CGIT along with my friends, whose families were UCCan members, even though my family was not (and trust me, there were times that was made clear to me, even though I did no understand why at the time. So, there was a duality to the welcoming message, as there is even today). Additionally, my undergraduate and graduate studies religions and ethics, at least generally, place me in a position to understand what is going on, not to mention my professional work in charities as a fundraiser and grant writer, all of which I have openly discussed on WC since I joined in 2007 - not to mention that a number of WC members know me in RL, and know all of this to be true.
And I have a very clear understanding of the history of UCCan, and its current state. So your presumption, Stardust, is perhaps not clear. Hope this clarifies it for you.
stardust
Posted on: 03/07/2014 13:27
Redhead
So, your OP is to inform us what has happened or is happening to the WC? Emerging Spirit closed in 2010 ( I think) and WC was originally to close after running for 4 years since 2006. Its lifeline was extended to 2014.
Did you read pinga's thread here? I recently explained the same news as you are telling us here that it was hoped the WC would bring people age 30-45 physically to church.
What is it you want us to do about your OP? I'm not sure I understand.
redhead
Posted on: 03/07/2014 16:13
Then re-read it Stardust.
I have read and posted on every thread regarding WC closure.
And the issue is not about cost.
It is about the fact that goals outlined in the Emerging Spirit Campaign have not been achieved, in the way envisioned. So kick it to the curb.
And what you have wanted ,written about, sought out, is a clear explanation. Same goes for what I am writing about: People who actually made the decision should at least provide a real explanation, because clearly the issue of cost is a smoke screen, since very low cost alternatives exist, and RL volunteers would provide support , expertise, and guidance (although managing volunteers requires paid time).
Understand that cost is not the major reason that WC is being shut down.
stardust
Posted on: 03/07/2014 18:09
O.K. Redhead.....I believe you ....I can't add more.
revjohn
Posted on: 03/08/2014 16:33
Hi redhead,
The term Campaign was used. That means in all charitable/fundraising worlds,goals were established. Goals, clearly, not achieved. Hence the end of WC.
WonderCafe.ca was a part of the Emerging Spirit Campaign. All monies set aside for the Emerging Spirit Campaign would have been exausted as of December 2009 unless General Council 40 in Kelowna voted to make the Emerging Spirit Campaign a priority expense.
The vote did not go that way and if you paid attention to the internal critiques of Emerging Spirit that outcome was not a surprise. As a Commissioner to the 40th General Council that was very clear.
At General Council 40 WonderCafe.ca was discussed and it was felt at that time that WonderCafe.ca should be saved. That it alone, of all elements associated with the Emerging Spirit Campaign it was preserved. It was felt that the ongoing expenses for WonderCafe.ca could be included in another budget line item of the National Budget.
Which is why WonderCafe.ca did not end when the Emerging Spirit Campaign ended.
There is nothing complicated or convoluted about it. Commissioners to General Council decided Emerging Spirit would not continue while deciding that WonderCafe.ca should.
So, if one wants to be accurately read the situation one cannot read the promotional stuff for a campaign that Genral Council already buried and apply it to an element of the campaign that was removed and preserved simply because the new mandate for WonderCafe.ca doesn't come out of Emerging Spirit but rather out of GC 40
The reason that WC is ending is, most likely, not that there are not funds to support current technology or far less costly technology (which could include volunteer tech support and far less paid UCCan tech support still operated under the auspces of UCCan), but that the campaign goals have not been achieved AND that UCCan is clearly moving in a different direction. The way that the message of WC's closure was delivered and the lack of any official response to the clear outcry is evidence.
Respectfully, I disagree.
There is no legitimate reason to believe that the stated reason for closing WonderCafe.ca is not true just becuase it was so horribly botched in its delivery.
There is certainly no reason in 2014 to blame the demise of WonderCafe.ca on a program which was buried in 2009 when WonderCafe.ca was severed from Emerging Spirit at that time and transferred to (I'm guessing) the Division of Communications.
Grace and peace to you.
John