You Really Do Need to Know!
Chances are, anyone reading this post already knows that the Fellowship has multiple ways of engaging its constituency. In this age of instant (and sometimes too frequent) barrages of information, we forget that there was a time “before”: before websites, email, Instagram, Google, YouTube, and WhatsApp. It’s hard to believe, but it’s true.
In 1967, the leaders of our Fellowship were sitting down to talk about “promotion.” They knew that, somehow, they had to find an organized way to communicate more efficiently with the churches about The Fellowship's needs and activities. In that era, promotion was basically centred around in-person connections and good old “snail mail”, a.k.a., the post office.
The first Promotion Committee meeting was held on August 11, 1967. The meeting was chaired by Dr. J. H. Watt. Present were representatives from various boards of the Fellowship: Rev. R. D. Holmes, Foreign Missions; Mr. Eldon Buehler, Home Missions; Mr. Stan Graham, French Missions; and Rev. John Bonham, Muskoka Baptist Conference. Two other members, Rev. Paul Delaney, representing the Christian Education Board, and Rev. L. K. Tarr, were absent.
As part of the process, the committee developed terms of reference that, although the committee's composition has changed, still reflect the goal of The Fellowship’s current Communications Department.
The Promotion Committee will be made up of a representative appointed by each board, the general secretary, and three others who will be chosen either by the Council or the committee for their ability or aptitude in the field of promotion.
The work of this committee will be to be thoroughly acquainted with all the undertakings and needs of the boards and the Fellowship as a whole, and to publicize them in a manner which will elicit the greatest possible support for them from our constituency.
The committee will strive to build up a good rapport among the churches and between the churches and the boards and Council.
In that first meeting, it was agreed that engaging with pastors was the key to effective communication with the rest of the church’s membership. It was also agreed that feeding the pastors was an excellent way to start the conversation and encourage engagement (Some things never change!).
Early in 1968, the committee started organizing a series of programs initially called, “The Fellowship on the Hot Seat.” Committee members were assigned to invite pastors and deacons to join these meetings, giving them a chance to meet the Fellowship and then “grill” whichever Fellowship leader was assigned to that meeting.
The first “hot seat” breakfast took place in London, Ontario, on March 23, 1968, under the leadership of Roy Lawson, Robert Wilson, and Ernest Buehler.
Time has demonstrated the wisdom of first communicating with pastors and getting them enthusiastic about the Fellowship and then involving them in promoting the Fellowship and its activities within their congregations.n