Dear CME Members,
Greetings! I’d like to share news and updates to the members of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church on behalf of the new General Department of Communication and Information Technology (CIT) established at the 2022 General Conference.
I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as the first General Secretary and Chief Information Officer of the CIT Department, and I’d appreciate your support during this next four years. You are welcome to contact me by email or telephone and I will respond in a timely manner.
The purpose of the CIT Department is to oversee communication and information technology for the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, and to connect, unite and share information within and beyond the walls of the Connectional Church. The Chair of the CIT Department is Bishop James B. Walker, and Bishop Thomas L. Brown, Sr. is the Vice Chair. Additional information about the CIT Department is located here: https://thecmechurch.org/citdepartment/ .
CIT news and updates are below. Click on the links below to take you to each section. Look for news from CIT on a regular basis.
Exciting Changes and New Resources Coming Soon
- Official CME Web Site Changes
- New Team Members
- Monthly CIT Events
- Tech Support Services for Local Churches
- Technology Platforms
Internships Opportunities for Youth and Students in CME Colleges
A roadmap or strategic plan for the CIT Department is being developed for short-term and long-term goals, and the major steps needed to reach them. The roadmap will help to ensure that the department’s mission and vision is carried out to provide communication and information technology resources for the CME Church at all levels; and to connect, unite and share information internally and externally to better help our Zion tell its story and witness in God’s kingdom.
Our new quadrennial theme, BE BOLD: FACE NOW – Embrace Next – See New, is our new mantra!
Deuteronomy 31:6 states, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
God is on our side! And the CIT General Department will BE BOLD, Face Now, Embrace Next and See New!
CIT is re-imagining service delivery for the CME Church through digital transformation and digital equity! Digital transformation creates new or modify existing business processes, culture and member experiences to meet changing business and market requirements. Digital equity is a condition in which individuals and communities have the information technology capacity needed for full participation in our society, democracy and economy. Both digital transformation and digital equity will drive change and lead to a more fair, just, and impactful future for our denomination and its members.
Refresh, Redesign, Re-imagine is CIT’s theme as this department is shaped to provide robust and sustainable support resources and services for the CME Church with an inter-generational team – beyond what has been imagined and what we have dreamed for a while in the CME Church, and through the “new” CIT Department.
The official CME Web site (https://thecmechurch.org) will be revamped in phases beginning with the new landing (main) page rolling out on August 10, 2022!
New Team Members of the CIT Department
I am pleased to welcome:
Mr. Aaron Price to the CIT team as the Web Administrator, responsible for the design and functionality of the CME Church Web site! After the redesign phase, Aaron will provide the monthly upkeep of the CME Web site, providing the graphic designs for all connectional events, and more.
Mrs. Sharon Doss, the former Vice President and Business Manager of the CIT Connectional Department for many years, will serve as our Business Support Services Administrator, and collaborate on such business support services such as connectional event registration support, technology support services, and training and development.
Monthly CIT Events
Monthly virtual CIT Tech Talks featuring guest speakers on interesting and worthwhile communication and IT topics are being planned to empower our church members at all connectional levels. Look for the first CIT Tech Talk to occur on Saturday, August 27th.
Virtual training webinars are being planned and will feature a variety of training sessions on topics such as must-have hardware and software for local CME churches, live streaming tips (from accomplished CMEs who do it well), Zoom tips and tricks, and more.
Tech Services for Local Churches
Graphic designs (including one the Quadrennial theme, IAmCME, and other useful ones) will be made available free through a graphics library for our CME members to download within the next few weeks.
Technology support services will become available later this year to support local churches communication online. The goal is to provide Web sites and domains, hosting, email, mobile apps, and graphic designs services for local churches at nominal fees.
New Tech Platforms
CME Learning Management System
The CME Church’s Learning Management System (LMS) was implemented earlier this year growing out of the Strategic Plan. A Learning Management System is software application for the administration, documentation, tracking, reporting, automation and delivery of educational courses, training programs, or learning and development programs. Most students and educators use some type of LMS in their schools, colleges and universities.
The CME Church LMS is now available for new members to access training classes on demand, where our teachers, instructors, Christian educators can create courses using a variety of media, and where one can track a new minister, his or her ministerial examinations, or officers and their training classes.
Our members around the world will be able to go to one online location, a platform to download or purchase manuals, publications, research archives of our history, or watch a training video or one of our CME events on demand. Using the LMS, our connectional leaders have an opportunity to provide training and other resources to our members.
To view the CME Church LMS and preview a few courses, click on the links below.
CME Google Drive and Workspace
Internship opportunities are being explored for youth in our local churches and students at our CME Colleges majoring in communications and information technology to assist the CIT General Department with projects and tasks. An internship will give a youth or student the opportunity for career exploration and development, and to use their skill sets or learn new ones.
CIT is looking for CME members – youth, young adults and adults – with skill sets in digital designs, marketing and strategy, Web development, and videography. As CIT builds its team and revenue is generated, we want to ensure that we recognize and utilize our own talented CME members! Please email your resume and areas of interest to cio@thecmechurch.org.
The General Department of Communication and Information Technology (CIT) has established partnerships with Adobe, Apple, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Microsoft, Mobile Beacon and Zoom through our membership with TechSoup. All CMEs can save from 5%-50% on technology products from top vendors! CIT continues to work on discounts with mobile wireless carriers and other membership perks for connectional members.
Amazon Smile
CIT has established a partnership with AmazonSmile! AmazonSmile is a way customers can support their favorite charitable organization every time they shop with Amazon, at no additional cost. When you shop @AmazonSmile, Amazon will donate to the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. You can help to support the CME Church and CIT when shopping Amazon by clicking here.
Look for more news from CIT on a regular basis. Thank you for your support! Comments, questions or concerns may be emailed to cio@thecmechurch.org. Your feedback is welcomed and appreciated!
In the Service of the Lord,
Dr. Theresa Duhart, General Secretary/CIO
Department of Communication and Information Technology (CIT)
Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
cio@thecmechurch.org https://thecmechurch.org/citdepartment/
1-855-CME-1870 (1-855-263-1870)