Signis Report On Theology And Communication

[This document, prepared by Gaye W. Ortiz in November 2003, was presented to the Signis Assembly of Delegates meeting in Cape Town, South Africa. Signis is the official title of the World Catholic Association of Communication.]

Origins

The original purpose of this program, as devised by a small committee in 2002 at the Signis board meeting in Mechelen, was to encourage an element of theological reflection comprised in the activities and ethos of Signis and to provide a service of an international dimension to those working in the area of theology and communication.

The former was to be initially addressed by inviting a theologian to each board meeting to identify areas of reflection for board members; the latter, by initiating a discussion ‘Question of the Month’ on the Signis website and by working with existing institutions in developing a reflection on theology and communication.

Update

The search for a South African theologian to attend our assembly began through recommendations of contacts from Bernardo Suate and Sr Angela Ann Zukowski. I had a brief correspondence with Fr Gabriel from a local seminary who promised to put me in touch with someone from the South African Theological Society, but this contact never materialized. Using a source recommended by Frances Forde Plude, I contacted another person from the Theological Society weeks before the assembly. At the time of the submission of this report no answer had been received.

Following several unsuccessful attempts to establish a forum and locate a moderator for the discussion exercise, it was clear that this approach was not workable as a first step of the program. Instead, a rethinking of the proposed activities has led to a reassessment of the strategy needed to attain the goals of this program. I have had input from Guy Marchessault, Sr Rose Pacatte, Sr Angela Ann and Frances Forde Plude in composing this plan of action.

Plan of Action 2004-05

  1. Working with existing institutions – There are many regional academic programs in theology and communications. These range from one-time seminars, like the National Seminar in Bangalore in 2002 to undergraduate and graduate programs, such as Communicative Theology offered by Leopold-Franz University in Innsbruck and Theology and Media offered by University of St Paul, Ottowa. Two key contacts are the International Network of Societies for Catholic Theology and the International Federation of Catholic Universities.

    PROPOSAL: a) to establish links within the regions that will promote Signis to these universities with theology and communication programs, initially by email contact that has a URL link to the Signis website; b) to represent Signis at the next conferences of these two associations; c) to hold a consultative meeting coinciding with the International Conference on Media, Religion and Culture in Louisville, at which Guy Marchessault, Fran Plude and I will discuss with other attendees in the theology and communication field the possibilities for Signis involvement, such as in the provision of online courses in theology and communication.

  2. A communication theology presence on the Signis website – I have several recommendations that are simple and straightforward to implement, which only need a dedicated member of the Brussels secretariat. Rather than producing information that is already duplicated elsewhere (such as the mooted discussion question of the month, and which might not be used to its full extent) Signis will be a helpful international resource.

    PROPOSAL: The task will be to post on to our website materials and links that are of interest to those working in the theology and communication field, and to furnish them in the three Signis languages.

  3. Encouragement of scholarship in theology and communication – Signis can be instrumental in helping students in this field further their studies by offering international scholarships.

    PROPOSAL: to set up a committee to devise guidelines and procedures for offering the first Signis Theology and Communication scholarships in Academic Year 2005.