- Locate a United Methodist Church
- Personalize Your Find-A-Church Page

Rethink Church
Global Health
Central Conference Communications
- Our Work
  - Communications Training
- Our Mission
- Archived news stories
- - A Prayer for Zimbabwe*
  - Adapted by Mark Conard from the Prayer “For Those Who Suffer,” The United Methodist Book of Worship # 546.
  - Lack of education plagues Mozambique economy
  - While the economy in Mozambique is improving, it's not quick enough for impoverished families looking for a sustainable income.
  - Community radio crusade renewed in U.S. Congress
  - “Radio of the people, for the people, by the people" is the goal of bills introduced in the U.S. Congress.
  - United Methodist radio back on the air in Liberia
  - United Methodists in the West African nation have a new FM radio station to help heal the war-torn country.
  - Zimbabwean ministries get boost in communications skills
  - United Methodist church workers hear challenge to tell stories of faith in their areas.
  - Communications commission meets in Zimbabwe
  - Twenty-nine members of the Commission on Communications are meeting in Africa Jan. 4-11, the first ever meeting outside the United States.
  - Africa University develops e-learning plans, officials say
  - Africa University is on an e-learning threshold to become the pan-African institution it was created to be, school officials told United Methodist bishops.
  - African United Methodists count on radio to reach masses
  - MUTARE, Zimbabwe (UMNS) — On a vast continent where large regions are “off the grid” — inaccessible by Internet or telephone — African communicators are looking to one medium to help them connect United Methodist churches: Radio.
  - Analysis: Looking at community radio in Africa
  - Communication is a rare and precious resource in a land where phones lines don’t exist and no one delivers letters.
  - Africa University sees broader role as service provider
  - A training conference for United Methodist communicators is a sign of more events to come at the denomination's Africa University.
  - Conference trains communicators to tell Africa's stories
  - MUTARE, Zimbabwe (UMNS) -- For Marie Manisha, whose homeland of Burundi is still recovering from war, good communications is essential to life itself.
  - Mozambique struggles with communication issues
  - Bishop Joao Somane Machado and his staff know good communication saves lives.
  - Poor infrastructure stymies communications in Sierra Leone
  - It’s “neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night” that keeps the mail from being delivered in this African country.
  - Church in Zimbabwe far behind in communication
  - Gladman Makwenya is a young, enthusiastic communicator, ready to take on the challenges of spreading the news about the church in Zimbabwe with a pen and some loose recycled newsprint pages.
  - Initiative helps communicators build global network
  - Thirty-one representatives from 17 African countries will gather June 15-30 for an intense two-week course of study to build their skills as Christian communicators and help build a global network for the United Methodist Church.
  - Liberia Conference close to establishing radio station
  - Bishop John Innis is looking forward to being the first broadcaster on United Methodist radio in this war-torn country because he has good news to share.
  - African communicators meet, share ideas for future
  - Most United Methodist communicators in Africa work without access to a working landline phone, Internet, transportation and, in some cases, reliable electricity.
Scholarships & Fellowships
The Foundation for United Methodist Communications

Judith Weidman Racial Ethnic Minority Fellowship

Overview

The Judith Weidman Racial Ethnic Minority (REM) Fellowship (edit content)

United Methodist Communications offers this one-year fellowship to help prepare a United Methodist young adult of racial ethnic minority origin for a communications career in an annual conference of The United Methodist Church within the United States.

United Methodist Communications launched the Judith Weidman Racial Ethnic Minority Fellowship to place a recent college/seminary graduate in an Annual Conference for the purpose of working side by side with an experienced conference Director of Communications (or similar title).

Because no formal academic preparation is available for this specific type of work, the Fellowship exposes the recipient to the structure, communications management, implementation and the dynamics of communications at the Annual Conference level. The experience enhances knowledge and existing skills, and provides exposure to a variety of communications tools, media, and leadership roles as they relate to communications in the United Methodist Church.

One recipient is selected each year and is placed in an annual conference where he/she is mentored by an experienced United Methodist communicator.

In 1997, only four racial ethnic minority persons were serving as communicators in our 64 annual conferences. This is clearly an inadequate response to the United Methodist Church's stated commitment to inclusiveness.

The lack of such persons in communications leadership positions is a justice issue as well as a missed opportunity to engage communications approaches that reflect the insights and experiences of persons from a variety of backgrounds.

Criteria for Selection

Applicants must be a United Methodist who intends to pursue a career in religion journalism and is enrolled in post-graduate study at a school in the United States. (The term "religion journalism" includes news writing for secular and church media and for church institutions. The committee will consider appropriate news and journalism forms, including electronic and broadcast media, as well as print.)

Applicants are judged on six criteria:

Christian commitment and involvement in the life of the United Methodist Church
Academic achievement as revealed by transcripts, grade point averages and the required letters of reference
Broad communications study, experience and evidence of communications talent. (“Communications” in this context includes journalism, mass communications, marketing, public relations and electronic media. Experience is not required in all five areas of study, however strong writing skills are necessary.)
Clarity of purpose in plans and goals for the future
Desire to learn how to be a successful United Methodist conference communicator.
Potential leadership abilities as a professional religion communicator for The United Methodist Church.

How to Apply

Send all materials to:

Judith Weidman REM Fellowship Committee
United Methodist Communications
Communications Ministry Team
P.O. Box 320
Nashville, TN 37202-320

Or

Judith Weidman REM Fellowship Committee
United Methodist Communications
Communications Ministry Team
810 12th Ave. South
Nashville, TN 37203-4744

Applications are due by March 15.
Download an application (PDF)

About Judith Weidman

Centered in Christ, committed to excellence, United Methodist Communications informs, inspires and engages the people of The United Methodist Church and the world.

Adjust Font Size

Contact Us

This will not reach a local church, district or conference office. InfoServ* staff will answer your question, or direct it to someone who can provide information and/or resources.

First Name
Last Name
Email
Zip/ Postal Code		Phone (optional)
Country
Question

*InfoServ ( about ) is a ministry of United Methodist Communications located in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. 1-800-251-8140

Not receiving a reply?
Your Spam Blocker might not recognize our email address. Add this address to your list of approved senders.

Sign In