On July 9-10, 2001, a Communication Seminar took place at Cernica, Romania. The participants were communication leaders and their teams from the Romanian SDA Conferences as well as from the Romanian SDA Union. Martin Haase, the Communication Director of EUD (Euro-Africa Division), presented the seminar. Adrian Bocaneanu, SDA Romanian Union President, opened the seminar with a biblical meditation. He accentuated the need to talk to people in their specific language.
The goal of this seminar was to better understand the role of the Communication Department in the SDA Church, an occasion for the Communication workers from the various Conferences to get to know each other, as well as to learn modern methods for working in the Communication Department.
The seminar continued with information about the EUD Communications team, the EUD website (www.euroafrica.org), and the News Network website (www.eann.org). Many communication methods for use during crises were discussed. It is imperative that the church’s communication work be adapted to modern communications technology. Each Conference evaluated their present communication achievements, their future plans, obstacles encountered, and their strong points in the communication work. One representative from each Conference presented these main ideas to all of the participants in order for them to be able to adapt these ideas in their own areas.
It was suggested that all the Conferences use as much of the mass-media tools (newspapers, radio, TV, Internet, etc.) as possible. They must develop a good trust relation with mass-media editors and with civil authorities. The fact was emphasised that the Communication Department must have a close relationship with all other departments of the church, and show the church’s activities to both church members and non-members, spreading a message of hope based on life in Jesus Christ.
The second day, the seminar continued with a presentation of a flyer and a mini-CD produced by General Conference of the SDA Church, that presents information about our church to people that want to know more about Adventists.
They were presented with instructional materials about how to make a communication plan, how to organize a press conference, preparing for an interview, and “media training” for those who work in communication department.
The final material presented was about the spiritual motivations for communication workers.
Over 40 participants attended this seminar. The presentations were professionaly produced in Power Point. Otto Stanoiu made the translation from German to Romanian. The participants thanked their host – The Romanian SDA Theological Institute, Cernica – for providing such fine accommodations. A new
communication seminar will be announced at a future date. [Lucian Mihailescu]
