The CIT Department
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The CIT Department Team
Dr. Theresa Duhart
General Secretary / CIO
Dr. Theresa Duhart serves as the General Secretary of the Department of Communication and Information Technology and Chief Information Officer. She oversees all department operations and coordinates with the Connectional Leadership on all information technology and communication concerns of the CME Church.
Mrs. Sharon Doss
Business Services Coordinator
Mrs. Sharon Doss currently serves as the Business Processes Coordinator for CIT and is responsible for the administrative task associated with all CIT projects. She manages and coordinates with various CME Connectional leaders and departments about various connectional events and correspondence concerning the CIT Department.
Bishop James B. Walker
Episcopal Chair of CIT
[email protected]
Bishop Thomas L. Brown, Sr.
Episcopal Vice Chair of CIT
[email protected]
The General Department of Communication and Information Technology (CIT)
The purpose of the Department of Communication and Information Technology (CIT) is to oversee communication and information technology for the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, and to connect, unite and share information within and beyond the walls of the Connectional Church.
The General Secretary/Chief Information Officer (CIO) oversees the Department and staff, processes, communications and technologies to ensure deliverable outcomes that support the goals of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.
The CIT Department’s focus is primarily on communication and information technology with the specific functions being:
- Oversee mission-critical communication and information technology for all functional purposes in the denomination to meet the needs at all levels of the church, having responsibility for communication and information technology components of the CME Church at the Connectional level.
- To empower the Church with standardized technology services, tools and platforms to build and enhance ministries and generate revenue services including standardized email and information communications; establish and maintain operational technology platforms; develop, secure and store electronic data that belong to the Church; and assist in the use of software and data management to all functional areas of the Church.
- To maintain and further develop the official Web site of the CME Church format for all connectional Departments and Episcopal Districts; maintain the General Church’s social media sites and other technology platforms that c can connect members of the General Church internally and externally.
- Broaden the role and scope of communications and technology for the General Church and recommend solutions that will enhance the ability of each Department to deliver and amplify its message to the CME Church and outside organizations.
- To plan, create, produce or cause to be produced, and distribute or cause to be distributed resources that are informative and vital to the life of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. It shall work with all CME agencies in coordinating resources produced for strategic Church initiatives. The Department shall provide digital content spaces for clergy and laity in local congregations in a variety of accessible formats to promote understanding and appreciation of the connectional Church, to develop support for and encourage participation in initiatives, ministries, and missions of the general Church and its departments, and to provide such resources and information to assist local congregations and their leaders in carrying out their ministries.
- Create and participate in partnerships with other General Departments, and national, international, interdenominational, interfaith, and other organizations working in communications and information technology as deemed relevant to the mission and ministry of The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.
- In collaboration with the College of Bishops, establish CIT teams at all levels in all Episcopal Districts with persons knowledgeable in the fields of communications and technology, to include periodic consultations for such purposes as idea exchange, information sharing, joint planning and monitoring and evaluation of the General Church’s communication and technology components.
- Implement communication strategies using state of the art communication and technology tools and resources to connect, unite and share the mission and message of the CME Church within and beyond the walls of the church. The Department shall oversee a comprehensive communication system for the Church, providing a total view of communication structure and practices. It shall unify and coordinate public media messages and programs of CME departments.
- Oversee the public relations strategy and activities including branding for the General Church. The Department shall be responsible for setting the official brand guidelines of The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, and preserve and protect the integrity of the denomination’s intellectual property, copyrights and royalties.
- Develop information, resources, databases, apps and services that provide channels of communication to and from all levels of the Church. Represent the General Church interests in new technological developments in the fields of communication and information technology, including research, the evaluation of new devices, apps and methods, and the application of technological developments to the communication and IT services of the Church.
- Operate a CME Technology portal that provides discounted computer hardware and software from major vendors.
- Provide online registration support services for all connectional meetings, and assist Episcopal Districts with their online registration efforts, with each event financially accountable to compensate the Department for this work. Publish digital or e-books, e-journals and other online material for distribution by the CME Church.
- Provide for appropriate translations of materials to the greatest extend possible, in languages designated by the General Conference of the CME Church; provide for appropriate translation of materials to the greatest extend possible of the Discipline in electronic format in languages designated by the General Conference of the CME Church.
- To educate and train at all connectional levels in communication and technology principles and skills, including workshops and training experiences in communication and technology skills related to various media.
- To suggest and collaborate on creative funding sources and opportunities for alternative streams of income for the CME Church using technology platforms
- Implement a “green” strategy for connectional meetings and assist annual conferences in developing a paperless strategy for the purpose of cost savings and ecological conservation efforts.