Certification

Certification

The following individuals hold current certifications as Christian Communicators in the United Methodist Church:

  • Mark Barden, Director of Communications, Western North Carolina
  • Mary Barnes, Media Center Director, Indiana 
  • Paul Black, Director of Communications, Illinois Great Rivers
  • Sandra Brands, Director of Communications, Troy, New York
  • Tom Burger, Retired
  • Dan Gangler, Director of Communications, Indiana
  • Shari Goodwin, Director of Communications, Boston Ave UMC, Tulsa, OK
  • Kurt Gwartney, Communications, Choctaw UMC, Oklahoma
  • Tim Hebert, Webmaster, Louisiana
  • Christie House, Editor, New World Outlook, GBGM
  • Marilyn Kasperek, Director of Communications, Western New York and North Central New York
  • Joan LaBarr, Director of Communications, North Texas
  • Kathy Noble, Editor, Interpreter, UMCom
  • Rick Norman, Coordinator, VIM, Oklahoma
  • Bill Norton, Director of Communications, North Carolina
  • Matthew Oates, Writer, Indiana Area
  • Victoria Rebeck, Director of Communications, Minnesota
  • Kelly Roberson, Director of Communications, South Georgia
  • Andrew Schleicher, In Transition
  • Amelia Tucker-Shaw, Call Representative, UMCom

Steps to being certified in Christian Communication

  1. Prospective candidate submits an inquiry, and is provided basic information about what certification in Christian communication is and the certification process.
  2. Candidate, upon request, is assigned a mentor who is either a member of the Committee on Certification in Christian Communications or another certified communicator to guide him/her through the process.
  3. Candidate is notified annually of the availability of certification.
  4. Upon completing the requirements for church membership, employment and academic preparation, the candidate completes the application for certification, provides references, and prepares responses in writing to questions submitted by the committee.
  5. At least two, and preferably three, members of the committee interview the candidate by telephone conference call or in person and bring a recommendation concerning the awarding of certification to the entire committee.
  6. The committee as a whole considers the application and decides whether certification will be granted.
  7. The candidate is notified in writing of the decision on his/her application.
  8. If certification is awarded, a certificate is presented at the next meeting of the United Methodist Association of Communicators*. The employer and the registrar of the Board of Ordained Ministry in the person’s conference are notified of his/her certification.

*Upon the candidate’s request, the certificate may also be presented at the next session of his or her annual conference.