Dear members, After a long hiatus, we are returning to the question of the forums reorganization. The original desire for this goes as far back as the first reorganization thread in 2013. Then came the Forums Reformation in 2014, which eclipsed everything else. Now that question of Anglican orthodoxy has been stabilized and a clear doctrinal consensus is celebrated in our community, we believe it is time to return to the basic question of layout: what is the ideal forum home for Anglicans on the internet? The present forums layout is heavily geared to theology and dogmatics. While all of you may find it desirable or you wouldn't be here, there have been others who had joined but then left because there wasn't more beyond just theology. In this past year there was a request to at least create a Prayers area, which we were happy to oblige, but it captures the more basic desire of having a more rounded community which covers all aspects of the Christian and Anglican life, and not just theology proper. After some recent strategizing we've architected the following layout for a comprehensive and well-rounded community for Christians and Anglicans on the Internet. It is in the highest degree tentative: Code: === Village Papers === -Forum news -Forum assistance === Public Square === -New members -The Commons (subscription) -Questions? -Anglican news -Non-Anglican discussion === Scholium === -Scripture -Philosophy -Theology -Sacraments -History -Apologetics === Parish === -Liturgy -Sacred music -Pastoral care and prayers -Common area (games/music/movies discussion) === Home === -Holy matrimony -Education & catechetics -Living the faith Please give us as much feedback, criticism and input as possible! We'd like to get this done rather promptly.
Looks great, but I would like to see the Visual Arts (Christian expressions) included. For some people, self included, find visual and vocal expressions as the highest means of praising the LORD. It takes time to do these things and it is a time where one gives themselves to the LORD with all their heart and soul. It would be a shame to leave that out. IMHO
This plan looks very good. I agree with the suggestion to add an arts/visual medium to the forum as well. Under "parish" could there also be a spot for evangelism and/or church planting, volunteering etc.. Lastly, I didn't see a section to continue the prayer sub forum. Would that be included in home or parish?
Overall it's what I'm looking for as well. I would probably combine the parish and the home sections so they won't feel so bare. Also may want to move the Scholium (sp?) to the end, if the goal is to take the focus off technical conversations.
1. Perhaps we can expand the Sacred Music section to encompass all audio and visual content. 2. Good idea. We might call it by the generic name such as "Outreach." 2. The prayers section was included under the pastoral care. If we do end up merging the "parish" and the "home" categories, then this one combined section should have some good generic title too, such as, "Devotions." We'd want to encompass prayers, spiritual questions, personal set-backs, accomplishments. Another name for it is something like, "Care of Souls," although that is more of a historic label than something much used today. But perhaps the world could use a little more return to the historic categories of how things have always been done.
I think these options sound good to me. I know that few people have expressed interested in evangelization in a some recent posts. I think that it is an interesting topic. Any thought of having a live chat? Or Hangout options were people can speak in real time?
A live chat largely obviates the existence of this forum as a whole. We can add a chat, no problem, but the discussions had there would then be absent from the forum. We obviously want to enrich the forum, as a place of growing conversations and a record which future visitors can consult in the hereafter. If a conversation is of a personal nature, it can be done over Private Messages. In short, all needs on that front look to be already satisfied. An Arts section makes sense.
Working on this right now. One final revision, based on the above outline but even more clear and intuitive: Code: === Announcements === -Announcements -Community Pages (General Information) === Community === -The Commons -New Members -Formation & Devotion -Family Life -Movies/Music/Games -Science & Technology -Advice, Care & Prayers -Anglican & Christian News -Non-Anglican Discussion === Scholium === -Sacred Scripture -Church History, Theology & Doctrine -Philosophy, Truth, and Ethics -Liturgy & Sacred Music -Feast, Fasts, and Church Calendar -Questions? === Discipline === -Banned Members -Moderation Tribunal === Website Discussion === -Technical Assistance -Questions & Suggestions