3117 Edition
November 21-27, 2011
Headline News
World Association of Christian Communication meets in Toronto to chart future course
Written by Lydia Ma
The global board of the World Association of Christian Communicators (WACC) met in Toronto from October 8-13, 2011, to decide on key matters, chart the future course of WACC, and fellowship with one another. Representatives from all WACC regional executive committees were present, including Asia, Pacific, Europe, Africa, Middle East, North America, Latin America, and Caribbean. WACC-Asia Region was represented by President Rev. Samuel Meshack from India and Secretary Lydia Ma from Taiwan Church Press.
These regional representatives were welcomed by WACC General Secretary Karin Achtelstetter and WACC President Dennis Smith as well as the rest of the WACC staff in Toronto. With guidance and help from WACC staff, President, and General Secretary, global officers worked on finalizing a draft of WACC’s strategic plan for the years 2012-2016. Elections for new global board officers were also held on the last day of meetings.
As this meeting coincided with the Canadian Thanksgiving holiday, a service was held at Hope United Church on the morning of the first day. Board meetings began in the afternoon at WACC headquarter office located inside the Hope United Church. A thanksgiving dinner featuring traditional thanksgiving foods was held in the evening at the headquarter office as well.
In his President’s Address, Rev. Dennis Smith said the WACC had implemented major changes in its program structure and governance in the last 5 years due to global economic crises and new communication trends, which prompted the WACC to restructure. Some of these changes included moving the WACC headquarters from London to Toronto as well as downsizing the Secretariat.
“Over these last three years, the Officers have identified several key concerns for strengthening global and regional leadership,” Smith said. “WACC needs to increase its networking capacity, its visibility and credibility as the world’s leading faith-based association of communication professionals, it’s global and regional governance structures, and its sense of common identity and purpose.”
To equip new directors in leading their regions and guide them in planning WACC’s direction for the next few years, the rest of the week was devoted to training, meetings, and seminars. Directors participated in several sessions of leadership training led by Joette Thomas of the Craighead Institute, which included topics such as: Accountability, Management and Governance, Regional Leadership, and more.
Two highlights of this board meeting were the 30-minute morning prayers and “Regional Conversations” held every day. Each morning prayer session was designed by representatives from two regions together. The “Regional Conversation” consisted of dialogue on common challenges and issues facing the two regions paired in conversation, while the audience listened in and took note. For this part of the program, Asia was paired with Caribbean, Europe with Pacific, Latin America with Middle East, and Africa with North America.
As two global board officers had reached the end of their terms, an election for new officers was held on the last day. In the end, Rev. Dennis Smith was re-elected President, Praxedis Bouwman was re-elected Vice-President, Rev. David Wanless from South Africa was elected as the new Treasurer, and Rev. Samuel Meshack from India was elected as the new Secretary of the global board.
