One stream of information flowing through every Presbyterian neighborhood.
1) What are you trying to do here?
We're making one website that helps inform and inspire Presbyterians across the PC(USA) starting with their own "neighborhood."
2) Is this another news agency?
No. In fact, part of our motivation to create PNNews.org was to make the existing news about the PC(USA) more accessible.
3) Isn't neighborhood a euphemism for synod?
Yes. It seemed natural and manageable to organize news according to the 16 regions called synods. We hope readers can claim their region of the country as their neighborhood to see news there and within their presbyteries.
4) Have you done it this way before?
Not even close. So bear with us as we develop the site for your neighborhood.
5) Who's behind this thing?
PNNews.org exists only because of the mutual trust and financial support among synods. It was inspired by the formation of the Presbyterian Communicators Network.
6) How can you be trusted?
We won't say, "trust us." We do say that we already trust each other (synods). Journalistic integrity and neighborly accessibility are our standards. The lead partner of PNNews.org, Synod of the Sun, is a member of the Associated Church Press which follows these standards.
7) How did it start?
It started with the collegiality of the Presbyterian Communicators Network. It gained form when we saw this article published in an "online newspaper" in Dallas, published by blackwhiteread.com. We saw that their publishing system would be the perfect tool for sharing news across the synod.
8) And then what happened?
Shane Whisler, director of communications in Synod of the Sun, contacted the creator of the news publishing franchise, "black, white, read, LLC" and drafted a vision for Presbyterian Neighbor News. Synod of the Sun Executive Judy Fletcher shared the vision with other synod executive and the vision became a partnership.
NOTE: The monetary pledges for the initial cost of this project started with Synod of Living Waters and was completed with a donation from Pines Presbytery (Southern Arkansas-Northern Louisiana).
9) What's next?
We will gradually train editors for each neighborhood edition. This will take some time. The Sun Edition launched in the spring 2008. We introduced three other editors a few months later and named the official launch date, June 21, 2008 at the General Assembly in San Jose, Calif. As of then, 12 of the 16 synods in the PC(USA) are participating. Some are awaiting their turn to start their site and others are in the process of naming an editor. The home page of the network is where you can find who's online.
PNNews.org is made possible by the mutual trust and financial support of synods in the Presbyterian Church (USA). Synod of the Sun is the organizing partner. Contact: editor [at] pnnews.org