11 May 2016 | Watford, UK [Sam O Davies/tedNEWS] A providentially sunny day on Thursday, 28 April provided ideal weather conditions for twenty-two South England Conference directors and staff to participate in a very practical Crisis Communication Management Training at The Stanborough Centre, Watford.
Led by Victor Hulbert, Trans-European Division (TED) Communication & Media director, the full day programme was the launch of Crisis training for all Unions across the TED. The programme is designed to help the Church, not just to avoid potential crisies, but to deal effectively with a crisis should it arise.
Thembie Mapingire, co-ordinator for the SEC Cornerstone Counselling service was delighted. “It was excellent. For me, it’s something I didn’t get trained in before. For my role as a counsellor, I’ve never been trained or prepared to do a press release or give statements, yet that is something that could potentially happen in the department, or could be expected from me. So for me it was fantastic.” Prayer Ministry Co-ordinator, Veronica Williams added, “It was very informative and enlightening.”
Hulbert started by sharing actual incidents that have happened within the UK, vividly demonstrating that crisies happen when you least expect them and when you may be totally unprepared. He illustrated the point by providing examples that needed skilful communication to address the press and media in crisis situations.
Hulbert cited, among others, the fire that destroyed the British Union Conference building in 2008 and the media attention that followed. He also showed how any crisis can potentially attract both negative or positive responses from either the media or members of the community. Consequently, he pointed out the importance of being equipped with the required skills for communicating effectively during a crisis, so that a crisis situation can be turned into an opportunity to highlight the positives of the church.
Hulbert demonstrated a substantive knowledge on the subject and drew together a wealth of principles that he shared with the participants. But it was not just theory. The attendees were given several opportunities to demonstrate and learn how they would respond in crisis situations. The SEC Media staff were also on hand to provide some professional camera recordings of TV interviews, as Hulbert guided a simulation for the attendees to practice the principles they had just learnt in front of a camera.
Following the recordings, participants regrouped to review their performances. This engendered much animation and discussion. Even though there were expressions of nervousness about standing in front of a camera, many said they were delighted for the opportunity. Pastor Kirk Thomas, Personal Ministries director, commented that “The Crisis Communication Training was excellent, timely, fantastic and motivational.” While Pastor Kevin Johns, Pathfinder director said, “It was very informative and useful; something I will be able to utilise, but I would like more.”
The training was enabled by the SEC Communication and Media Department and was meant to emphasise the need for preparedness. The Department now intends to make this training an annual event to help establish a team that is always ready to deal with an unexpected crisis that may engulf the church.
TED staff were exposed to a condensed version of the same training on Tuesday, 10 May. From the most important person in the building; the front of house receptionist, through to the President, staff gained the basic skills in how to handle a crisis – including the ability to slow down, consult, think things through, develop and disseminate key messages, and build bridges.
Communication leaders from across the TED will be exposed to similar training on Wednesday, 18 May during a TED advisory council being held for all Union directors at Weybridge, Surrey, 16–20 May. The hope is, that working together with the Communications and Ministerial departments, this information can then be shared more broadly, not just with directors and administrators, but also with ministers and church members. [tedNEWS]
tedNEWS Staff: Victor Hulbert, director; Esti Pujic, editor
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