eBulletin Policy and Framework

Coauthored with current editor Chris Davidson 20-2-13

The purpose of this document is to lay down a Framework for practice and articulate some guidelines for the Academy’s eBulletin. Now after some 55 editions, the eBulletin has evolved from being a support for and repository of teaching materials to having its own goals to serve the Alumni and the wider profession of spiritual carers as much as the current student body.

FRAMEWORK FOR THE DOCUMENT

The eBulletin is the voice of the Academy in demonstrating its commitment to the training and formation of ministers who are, when required, able to go beyond the provision of pastoral care to adherents of their own denomination to offering spiritual care to people of other or no faith – by working within the context of that person’s faith rather than their own.

This is described in this position statement published in every eBulletin:

“Everyone has spiritual resources - sometimes religious, sometimes not. In a time of crisis, everyone may need support to help them draw on their particular spiritual resources. That’s what graduates of the Academy are trained to be – carers who can discern where a person is coming from spiritually, and meet them there. This e-bulletin aims to enhance that training.”

The eBulletin’s purpose is to observe these priorities in order:

  1. To maintain the Academy’s multifaith focus in acknowledging that a viable spiritual orientation can be operating in people of any or even no faith tradition. (This focus seeks to complement the ecumenical and interfaith aspirations of the churches and other faiths represented on the Advisory Council.)
  1. To support the on-going spiritual formation of its readers by presenting articles on, and hotlinks to other articles, that deal with:
  2. The principles and practices of offering spiritual care
  3. “Different’, and interesting counter-cultural themes likely to test the limits of their own denominational perspective without necessarily challenging their commitment to their denomination. *
  1. To publicise Academy course and events, sometimes through separate flyers on supplementary emails to the readership.
  1. To strengthen the spirit of collegiality in the Academy who, after graduation, tend to be dispersed across a variety of institutions, sometimes ministering alone.

In genre, the Bulletin falls somewhere between a scholarly journal and a professionals’ magazine or industry newsletter. It is not designed to supplement the teaching regime as much as to enhance the spiritual formation (in the broader sense) of students.

It is also aimed at being entertaining, interesting and easily readable to encourage recipients to make the time to read it regularly – hence it is deliberately short (two A4 pages only) and frequent (twice a month). This applies particularly to encouraging the spirit of collegiality mentioned above

ROLE OF THE EDITOR

An editor is responsible for publishing the eBulletin in line with the framework above and under the auspices of a Publisher appointed by the Council. The Editor works in line with its ecumenical and interfaith aspirations in supporting the Academy. As an appointment, the editor signs the Code and Conduct and receives a commensurate remuneration. The appointment is considered to be quite permanent.

Under strategic parameters set in consultation with the Publisher, the editor needs to be able to exercise sufficient autonomy to set a flavour for the eBulletin select and present a mix of articles to maintain that flavor over time. As a result, the editor should be someone who has a firm grasp of the Bulletin’s readership’s demographic profile, its needs and preferences. The editor has unique control over sources, format, style, presentation and aesthetics of the Bulletin.

The editor does not work alone but responds to advice and encouragement from the Publisher. Their Advice is clearly distinguished from Directions. Working to tight deadlines, the editor should not be hamstrung by lengthy pre-publishing protocols.

The editor also maintains an email mailing list – now at about 300 listings – to circulate advice when each new eBulletin is completed and loaded on the Academy’s website.

* Currently, the sources for eBulletin are articles contributed by Academy staff and other associates, websites on relevant themes, and the newsletters of chaplaincy organizations and other such bodies (often online). Copyright requirements need to be respected and permissions obtained when necessary.

Recorded by Greg Smith for presentation to the Advisory Council in 2014 to serve as a standing policy Framework.

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MACCM. Bulletin Framework 20/2/14 GS/CD version 2.