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Church of Scotland goes global from the Mound
The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland goes
global from the Mound in Edinburgh this weekend thanks
to a range of cutting edge initiatives including live
webcasting, text updates and podcasting.
Thousands of surfers around the world are expected
to log on to watch and listen to the live proceedings
from the Assembly Hall for the Kirk's annual meeting.
The colourful opening ceremony, daily worship and heady
debates will all be broadcast live over the internet
via the Church of Scotland's highly commended website.
The Rev Albert Bogle, whose multi-media team from
St Andrew's Parish Church in Bo'ness is leading the
delivery of the service, has also introduced a range
of new additional features this year to encourage more
people to log on and be part of this major event.
In previous years when the Assembly has been webcast,
thousands of users from hundreds of countries have used
the facility. This year, for the first time ever, text
alerts are being introduced to inform surfers that the
next debate is due to start shortly, giving them time
to log on to the live streaming service to watch the
action. For just 50 per day for up to five text alerts
on a mobile phone, this text service will make it easier
for people to dip in and out of Assembly proceedings.
For those who have missed any of the live proceedings,
highlights from the Assembly will this year be made
available to download as a 'podcast' using iTunes technology.
Website editor Lynsae Tulloch commented: "We
received more than 60,000 hits on our website during
the week of the General Assembly in 2005. This shows
there is considerable interest, both in Scotland and
internationally, in the Kirk's annual meeting. Our range
of additional online services this year will make it
even easier for those wanting to keep up with Assembly
business as it happens, or be able to download any highlights
they may have missed.
"With users from more than 200 countries around
the world, many of whom are on different time zones,
these facilities are invaluable."
She added: "The daily text updates service and
podcasting the General Assembly are just the latest
in a string of developments this year on the Church
of Scotland website, which was relaunched with a brand
new extranet facility in March. With our hit rate topping
more than two million in 2005, signifying a massive
770 per cent increase since our site was first launched
five years ago, the Church of Scotland clearly has a
very relevant part to play in the digital age."
To log on to watch the General Assembly live, visit
our Assembly pages here.
18 May 2006
nrga/35/05/06
Note to news desk
For further information, please contact Lynsae Tulloch
in the Media Relations Unit on email church.scotland@btconnect.com
The Church of Scotland website was established more
than five years ago and provides an essential gateway
for information about the Church, including online worship
material, contact details for ministers and parishes
online, history of the Church, updates from the Kirk's
councils and committees and all the latest news from
the Media Relations Unit.
It is also responsible for hosting the webcasting
of the annual General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
from Edinburgh in May.
To receive the text updates, simply text "ASSEMBLY
ALERT" to 60060*
* Charges apply.
Please visit our go live pages from more information.
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