Episcomm24

This year's Episcopal Communicators Annual Conference is now in the books, at least the in-person version.  The online version, Publish Glad Tidings, is still to come on May 2, 9, 17, & 23, 2024.  ​

I was fortunate to attend the conference April 16-18, 2024 in Portland, ME.  What a great time to spend learning new things, connecting with other communicators, and sharing our work!  Episcopal Communicators is open to everyone working in the ministry of communcation in the Episcopal Church.  That means everyone from the volunteers doing the e-newsletters in tiny congregations to the people who are paid to manage communications of all kinds for a diocese.  The theme across all of this is "You are not alone".  We're all in this together and we work to lift each other up.  Check out becoming a member if you are doing communications ministry and are not a member >

I attended the Learning Lab session on video by  Canon Craig Wirth, Communications Director, The Episcopal Diocese of Utah. He helped us learn how to tell stories through maximizing every shot.  I am not a videographer, but even I learned something!  I also attended workshops on Intergenerational Communications and on Social Media.  

The Polly Bond Awards were, as always, inspiring.  It is so good to view an awards ceremony as an occasion for lifting up good work.  In Province II, Kirk Peterson (The Living Church) won an award for news writing: Award of Excellence:  Presiding Bishop's Health Looms Over Election of Successor.    Chris Whitaker (Diocese of Newark) won an award for a digital magazine: Honorable Mention: 2023 Lenten Devotional, one for communications accessibility: Award of Excellence: Live from Christ Church in Short Hills: The Webcast,  and another with Libby Clarke for layout: Award of Excellence: Faure Requiem: A Concert of Remembrance.  Mary Grace Puszka (Diocese of Long Island) won an award for commentary: Award of Excellence: Opening the Door to Women’s Ordination, two for a booklet: Award of Excellence: 2023 Episcopal Ministries Annual Appeal Report & Honorable Mention: Episcopal Ministries of Long Island's 2023 End of Year Report,  and one for graphic design: Honorable Mention: Pride Prayer. Sonja Slother (Diocese of Rochester) won an award for graphic design: Award of Merit: St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Rochester, NY Logo. Denise Fillion (Diocese of Long Island) won an award with Mary Grace Puszka for a social media post: Award of Excellence: Find a church that...(Advent Campaign).  Congratulations to all!!

Mark your calendars for EPISCOMM25,which will grace Oklahoma City from May 12-16, 2025!

Jan Paxton
​Province II Webeditor

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