OCA to revamp website, communications

SYOSSET, NY (OCA) - In an initial effort to move the Orthodox Church in America's external communications to "the next level," a consultation was held at the Chancery here on Tuesday, December 15, 2009.

"The focus of the consultation was to brainstorm the means by which the message of the Church and its ministries might be more effectively communicated, primarily through the internet and print media," said the Very Rev. Alexander Garklavs, OCA chancellor, who, together with the Very Rev. Eric G. Tosi, secretary, facilitated the gathering.

Of primary concern to consultation participants was the effective use of the internet, and specifically the OCA's web site at www.oca.org.

"It was announced at the 15th All-American Council in November 2008 that the web site was to undergo a serious, comprehensive overhaul," Father Alexander noted. "For a variety of reasons, this has yet to be done, although preliminary work on making the site more 'user friendly' has been undertaken.

"At present, the site contains well over 10,000 pages of information, but navigating it has become burdensome," Father Alexander observed. "Two of the greatest concerns we hear is that finding specific resources on the site can be difficult and that the site does not allow for two-way communication." Very, very true. The kontak and tropar links have never worked from the saints of the day section for me for example.

Consultation participants suggested making the site interactive -- introducing a blog is among several recommended upgrades -- while featuring podcasts and videos and providing direct links to ministry resources. Enabling parishes to directly update their listings on the OCA web site without relying on a third party, as is now the case, was also recommended.

With regard to communicating the work of the Church, it was agreed that more information on day-to-day happenings affecting the OCA at large must be forthcoming through regular -- ideally daily -- press releases.

"Reporting not only 'what' is happening, but also 'why' it is happening, was seen as essential," Father Alexander noted. "Important events often go unreported, while others are shared apart from an appropriate context. It was strongly felt that, while the web site has been effective in communicating the activities and events of non-OCA and pan-Orthodox ministries and agencies, it has fallen short in its primary task as the 'voice' of the Orthodox Church in America itself." I read more about OCA events from blogs by the clergy and laity than I do from the oca.org website itself.

An in-depth discussion on the "new ways" people communicate -- Facebook, Twitter, and so on -- concluded that, while the OCA must take such things seriously in upgrading its on-line communications, the need for printed communications remains, since many of the faithful, especially seniors, do not have access to the internet.

"For example, it has become evident, for the second time in four years, that posting 'The Orthodox Church' quarterly on the web site exclusively instead of mailing hard copies to the faithful is ineffective," Father Alexander said. "While printing costs and postage have increased several times in recent years -- magazines and newspapers across the board are experiencing a decline -- the consensus was that earmarking sufficient funds to print and distribute hard copies is essential." I have yet to ever read the quarterly in its online form. Something about thumbing through a long PDF just sounds like work to me.

While the winter 2009 issue, like the fall issue, will only appear on-line in PDF format, issues for the coming year will be printed. It was recommended that in the near future the faithful be given the option to receive "The Orthodox Church" by e-mail, should they desire to do so, while bulk delivery to parishes and other options that would reduce the cost of distribution will be explored.

"The consultation was a first step in addressing our need to provide more -- and better -- communications," Father Alexander concluded. "Finding the means and personnel to do this, which will not be accomplished overnight, is one of our greatest tasks at this time."

Participating in the consultation, in addition to Fathers Alexander and Eric, were Ms. Melanie Ringa, OCA treasurer; Mr. John Maddex of Ancient Faith Radio, CEO of Conciliar Press Ministries, and member of the OCA's Saint Elizabeth Mission, Chesterton, IN; Mr. Mark Stokoe, Metropolitan Council member; Protodeacon Eric Wheeler, Director of Finance, Old Westbury Gardens, Old Westbury, NY; the Very Rev. John Matusiak, TOC managing editor; and the Very Rev. Leonid Kishkovsky, TOC editor.