Expression of Interest for Role of Digital Media Consultant

Addressing the Criteria for the Consultant

“The consultant shall have knowledge and experience in the following areas:”

1. Digital media technologies.

Since 1986 I have been directly engaged in providing online services for broad community use. Initially this was through developing, maintaining, and moderating dialup “bulletin board” services in South Australia and Western Australia. I also provided IT support to the SA Synod Offices during the time of my first ministry placement in the Adelaide Plains. When engaging in my second placement jointly with the WA Synod and Frontier Services I developed internet based services to serve the needs of my local communities in the Pilbara and of the wider church. I continue to provide internet services to a wide range of congregations and other entities within the UCA.

A large part of the services I have developed over the past 37 years has been focused on providing means of expression for people within the church to enhance their mission. As the available capabilities and capacities of internet services have grown over that period I have continued to learn and develop new ways and means. I have provided services for websites, email, web-forums and discussion groups, voice and video services, conferencing, and online meetings through-out that period. I am well networked with others within the UCA, and beyond, who are working within the same space to maintain my expertise and interest.

1. Computer hardware and associated accessories.

Over the past 45 years I have sold, serviced, built, maintained, refurbished, upgraded, and experimented with a very broad range of computer systems and associated hardware. I am proficient in the use of many operating systems, (Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, ChromeOS, IOS etc) and consider myself to be platform agnostic. I also work with a wide range of audio and video creation tools. I also regularly provide technical production services for live performances.

1. Computer software for media creation, display and dissemination.

I am both experienced and competent in using most current software (on and offline) for media creation. Most commonly I use “Davinci Resolve” for Video editing, “Reaper” for audio editing, “Microsoft 365” for generally administrative tasks, “Canva” for promotional materials, WordPress for web page publishing, “OBS” for live streaming and “Proclaim” for content presentation. I tend to work with tools that are not locked into a particular operating system allowing for the widest scope of implementation.

1. Online and offline media sources.

In the exercise of my own ministry, I use a wide range of content for images, video, and music. I tend to use open-source materials with less restrictive licensing arrangements but am familiar with a wide range of popular “fee for service” sources. I am also networked with a wide range of other ministry practitioners and creatives who explore together and collaborate on new resources as they appear. I also assist a variety of musicians in creating, recording, and distributing their content.

1. A clear understanding of the Basis of union.

I have completed the “History and Polity of the UCA” course twice during my ministry. First in 1985 during my ministry formation at Parkin Wesley College and then in 2012 as a refresher for professional development. I regularly read and reflect upon the BoU in my ministry and often engage with others who have a similar interest.

1. A demonstrated knowledge of the theology and ethics of the Uniting Church.

I have regularly attended courses and seminars to maintain my currency in professional ethics and ministry practice. I have led many congregations where members come from a wide range of traditions and faith experience and provided them with content that is well-grounded in the experience, spirit and aesthetic of the UCA.

1. Communication skills.

I communicate clearly and well with text, speech, and presence. I preach most weeks and seek out opportunities to learn more and share what I have learned with others.

Addressing the scope and operating principals of the Consultation

“The scope of the consultation shall include but not be limited to:”

“The consultation shall be conducted with the following principals:”

The scope of the consultation, with its emphasis on exploration and facilitation, suits me well. To my mind, it outlines a positive starting point. The work of the consultant will be to understand how the church, placed and oriented in this moment, and what we have at hand to build on. Technical expertise in the consultant will be useful but the focus will be on working alongside others to find how our congregations can progress in their mission. Curation is not only a task of discovering and listing useful resources but also of considering how congregations can use them well within their own context. Our congregations have different capabilities that will need to be discovered and developed. Hopefully we will learn new, and perhaps surprising, things.

The outlined operating principles are very similar to my own. Working in partnership with others rather than competing is a very healthy approach.

The church is engaging in more mission and ministry using online services. It is important that the way in which we approach, understand and utilize these services.

Considering the expected outcomes for the Consultation

“…the expected outcome or learnings from this consultation would include:”

This project would be collaborative, iterative, and recursive by nature. This appeals to me as its focus will be upon learning, exploring, and enabling.

To build a clear idea of how the church can proceed after the consultation will be a very valuable result, not just for the presbytery, but for the whole church. There are many different groups and individuals within and beyond the UCA that have a similar interest in this that would value the results as they are addressing the same questions.

I also expect that the consultation process will help develop and grow a network, within presbytery and beyond, of folks with skills and interest in using and creating Digital Media. I anticipate that any future work on this project, including developing the role of a “Digital Media Curator”, would look to further growth of a team approach to developing resources and services. Such an approach is inherent in the described operating principles of this consultation.