8.3 THE COMMUNICATIONS UNIT

8.3.1    The Conference shall appoint a Director to the Unit. The Director is a member of Conference and of the Connexional Executive.

The task of the Communications Unit shall be to effectively communicate the MCSA vision of healing and transformation. To this end the Unit shall provide a service of communicating information on the life and witness of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa.

Communications Advisory Board

8.3.2        Conference shall appoint a Communications advisory Board

consisting of the following:

A Bishop (Chair); Director of the Unit; General Secretary; Mission Unit Director and five (5) selected members knowledgeable in, inter alia cor- porate communications and strategic management, marketing, etc.

The Function of the Unit

• To continuously advocate, mobilise, inform and educate Methodist people and be the public relations arm of the MCSA within the office of the Presiding Bishop
• To effectively communicate and assist in realising the MCSA’s vision: ‘A Christ Healed Africa for the healing of nations’ and the five imperatives including a deepened spirituality; justice and service in church and society; evangelism and church growth; empowerment and development and education.

8.3.3    The functions and duties of the Director are, inter alia:

(a)     Head the Communications and information unit of the MCSA reporting to the Office of the Presiding Bishop, the Conference and the Connexional Executive; exercise oversight on the work and staff of the Unit, and represent the Unit at Conference and the Connexional Executive;

(b)     Direct and manage the MCSA’s communication strategy which includes, inter alia, public relations, media, marketing, information and education strategies and programmes;

(c)     Edit and review the New Dimension MCSA newspaper as well as undertake all associated activities, ensuring that the newspaper reflects the ethos, mission and vision of the MCSA;

(d)     Manage the MCSA website and other social media pages;

(e)     Establish and maintain good relations with relevant media;

(f)      Provide and ensure relevant theological, social and political

content to the MCSA’s work;

(g)     Liaise and network with other media partners;

(h)     Write up and issue press releases and public statements as directed by the office of the Presiding Bishop;

(i)      Undertake public relations and media liaison for the MCSA.