Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa or AMECEA Social Communication Officers and Catholic media practitioners gathered in Nairobi, Kenya for a three-day workshop to develop policies for management and operations of information and communication technology or ICT in the region.
Addressing the opening of the meeting, AMECEA Social Communications Chairman Bishop Charles Kasonde says having ICT policies would help the Church develop an effective media strategy for evangelization.
He explains that the guidelines would improve working conditions in social communication departments and Catholic media houses within the region and their relations with the faithful, parishioners and the general public.
AMECEA Pastoral Coordinator Fr Fabien Pikiti explains that Eastern Africa Bishops acknowledge the need for the Church to use new media to spread God’s message.
He adds that the Catholic Church in the region is working to improve its presence in the digital world and that pastoral agents need training in media and policies to make appropriate use and avoid abuses.
FR Fabien pledges that the Church shall find creative ways to use ICT to reach out to the people with the Gospel.
The Eastern Africa bishops during their last plenary in Malawi in July 2014, approved the inclusion of ICT as one of the priorities in the pastoral strategic planning.