Church Consulting Inc

A List of Frequently Asked Questions:

What is a FirstClass Communication System?

It is a secure private electronic Group Conferencing and Communication System that connects all priests, parishes, and people of a diocese to the diocesan office, to each other, and to the Internet. FirstClass is a trademark of Open Text Inc., one of the world's largest manufacturer of Group Conferencing and Communication software. FirstClass is located in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada, and has over 25,000 sites already operating in 55 countries around the world. FirstClass software is available in 15 languages. FirstClass software is already in use in schools, colleges, government offices, dioceses and churches, and small to medium sized businesses. It is the least expensive and the easiest to use Group Conferencing and Communication system.

Whom would a FirstClass System connect?

In a diocese or church group, it would be used to connect churches, secretaries, priests, committee members and personnel at the diocesan office. Because FirstClass Diocesan systems are a protected internal communication system they are secure from unauthorized access from anyone other than a registered and authorized user. The FirstClass System is normally accessed via the Internet but may also be accessed via a modem.

Why not use a Website instead of a FirstClass System?

A website is a public site on the Internet, and is ideal for advertising to everyone around the world. Everyone will have access to it, if they have access to the Internet. Therefore nothing is private, nothing is secure. A website is like advertising in the newspaper --- it is available for all to see.

A FirstClass System is like corresponding with others using the postal system --- it is private, secure, and goes only to those intended. A FirstClass diocesan system is better for the church than a website since it is owned and controlled by the Diocese. The FirstClass diocesan communication system provides not only free secure and private internal communication within the diocese, but it also provides a free website for the diocese and free webpages for every user. CCI recommends that a diocese have both a FirstClass System for internal communication, and a website for external advertising. Don't forget that a Diocese which decides to post all its information on a website will have to pay for a full time website administrator to post all that information, making the annual cost MUCH more than a simple, easy-to-use, collaborative FirstClass Diocesan system. Yet, using the FirstClass System, websites are simple and free --- no special programs, no html necessary --- a parish website can be maintained easily by a Church Secretary. Of course, you can use HTML if desired, but it is not necessary.

How does a FirstClass System differ from other systems?

An FirstClass System is a private email system, attached to the Internet, but not actually part of it. Imagine a major highway, along which are traveling many vehicles. Off to the side of the major highway is a small subdivision, connecting to the major highway at an intersection. One can drive down the highway, turn off the highway at the intersection, and approach the subdivision --- only to find that the subdivision is gated, with a guard on duty, and only registered users can drive in or out of the subdivision. The registered users in the subdivision can circulate easily within their subdivision, sharing ideas and conversation, AND as well can access the major highway anytime they wish, but no one from the major highway can access the subdivision without permission. The subdivision is like a private network, and the major highway like the Internet.

The purpose of an diocesan or Church FirstClass System is to be a private system open to all registered users, and enjoying all the connections with the Internet --- but keeping anyone from the Internet, who is not registered, out of the private System. Thus a diocese or school or a company can have its own private system yet enjoy all the advantages of the worldwide Internet for sending and receiving information.

At Lambeth 98, we used a FirstClass System that allowed all Bishops at Lambeth to access the system, and also to access the Internet. However, no one from the outside could access the private Lambeth FirstClass system, without permission and without registering on the Lambeth FirstClass system.

(The Quest Committee, set up by Lambeth 1988, specifically chose FirstClass Client/Server software as the Communication software of choice for use in dioceses in the Anglican Communion. That is why FirstClass Communication software was used and demonstrated at Lambeth 1998, and why I was there as a member of the Quest Committee, teaching Bishops and others how to use the software. With the support of the Quest Committee, I was licenced as a reseller of FirstClass software, and have supplied software to over 13 dioceses. By being licenced as a Channel Partner by FirstClass., I can provide FirstClass software to Churches and Dioceses at a lower than normal price.)

If a diocese, using a FirstClass system, wants to give outsiders access to specific information, one sets up a Website on the Internet, and then the millions of Internet users can access the website. But if a diocese wishes to interconnect its parishes, priests, and key laity in a private secure Internet Communication system, then the FirstClass system is the answer. Of course, to make things easier, the FirstClass system comes with websites too (in fact every parish can have a free website too), so that a diocese can have a private FirstClass System plus its own Website, and can thus make specific information available to everyone on the Internet, yet keep the bulk of its business private for its registered users only. The FirstClass Server works equally well on PCs, Macs or Linux. Clients are available for Windows PCs, for Macs, and for Linux.

You mentioned that you own NWnet --- what does it actually do?

NWnet, the privately owned FirstClass System for the Diocese of New Westminster (Canada), has 104 active Conferences with many registered users. Many Clergy are online, plus some Church Secretaries. All Committees of the diocese can have their own Conference for posting Minutes, Notices, and receiving input from others. The Diocese can have a number of Conferences by which it can send Notices to Clergy and Parishes, which are "Read Only". Some Conferences are imported (like Sermonshop, Episcopal Church News, Anglican News, Humour, etc). Some Conferences are public interest ones, like World Issues, Evangelism, Essentials, Seniors, Youth, Organists, Bible Study, etc. In these Conferences, interested members share ideas, ask questions, share info. Of course, there are Conferences for Deaneries, where clergy and laity may share info re their own regions in the diocese. And the Diocesan Council can post its own Minutes for everyone to see.

If a diocese sent all Parish Mail by email, by using a FirstClass Diocesan system, it could save up to $10,000 per year in postage and paper alone! Of course, for a while, it might still have to send "paper mail" to some parishes --- but I suggest that once the diocesan FirstClass system has been operating for a year or so, the diocese could charge those parishes who want "Paper Mail" the cost of postage and paper involved in sending them the Parish Mail. In that way, a diocese can realize the full saving, without forcing anyone to receive Parish Mail electronically. As long as there is a reasonable overlap before the change is complete, most people will be happy with the move, knowing the diocese is saving money, and they can get their information instantly and easily. It is noteworthy that the distant parishes in a diocese are the most excited about a move to a FirstClass Communication system, since they will be getting the same information as everyone else, instantly. They begin to feel that they are as close to the centre as the larger city parishes.

I own NWnet so that it can be used for Demonstrations and Practise Sessions. All other FirstClass Systems are owned by their respective Dioceses.

We understand that the original purchase price for the FirstClass System is the full and complete price --- but are there any Annual Costs as well?

The actual cost per year would depend on the local Internet charges. In addition, there is an ANNUAL Support and Maintenance Fee of approximately $550. This provides free Technical Support (with an 800 number) and free Server upgrades. The FirstClass system is so simple to operate that one person or a committee can administer it. No complex computer knowledge is needed; no administrator needs to be paid.. Most people are delighted to discover how easy, simple, instant, and free our FirstClass diocesan Intranet is! It is open to all clergy and many laity in the diocese. Contrast this with other Communication Systems which cost $500 or more, per MONTH. Such Systems look inexpensive at first, but are very expensive over time --- and they are not owned and controlled by the Diocese.

What would we expect a FirstClass System to do for our Diocese?

The FirstClass Intranet system would be an electronic hub that connects all churches, clergy, and some laity to the Diocesan Office and to each other. The diocese could post all of its Parish Mailing to the system, from where it can be easily accessed by any parish, priest, church secretary or lay person. Thus the diocesan office can simply and easily replace all or most of its presently posted Parish Mailing with electronic mailings. Parish Mail needs only be sent to the diocesan FirstClass system once, and it is then available for all. No postage, no envelopes, no paper, no delay, no copying --- all this is replaced by one easy and simple electronic posting, and it is instantly available for all, for free.

The Calendaring feature allows each user to see the common Diocesan Calendar, showing all diocesan events, so that scheduling of meetings can be done without any clashes, and everyone has instant access to Diocesan and other Events. There can be a Diocesan Calendar, private Committee Calendars, and Personal Calendars.

The Diocese can have its Website on the FirstClass system, and if so, users can access their Diocesan Systems via the Website (or continue to use the free Client). Parishes can have their own free Websites, ones which they can easily maintain themselves.

Distance Education (Distributed Learning) is easy and simple using the FirstClass Diocesan Communication system. Dioceses can run education programs for laity, Sunday School Teachers, Lay Readers, or anyone else --- and several dioceses can collaborate in offering different Distance Education Programs. Students can be located all over the diocese, and the Tutor may be living in a different city or even country. Think of the chance to involve so many people in Christian Education, while located in their own homes and on their time.

Parishes can publicly share information about Meetings, Workshops, Special Services. Committee members can discuss committee business between meetings, and do so privately. Clergy can sent email to each other (or anyone else) privately. Laity can read important public diocesan information. Committees can post Minutes for all to see. Illustrations can be easily placed into any msg. Users can read Anglican/Episcopal News items immediately, share opinions with others, learn information about different diocesan committees and interest groups. Clergy can read Sermonshop material prior to each Sunday for helpful thoughts on the Propers. All users can send email around the world, for free.

The diocesan FirstClass Communication system is always available --- 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

What personnel is needed to effectively run a FirstClass System?

A volunteer Committee of from 2 to 4 people should be appointed to administer the system. None need be computer experts, but all should be familiar with computers. It is helpful to have someone who understands Windows 2000 Pro or communication systems, to act as a Consultant to the Committee. No one needs to understand Programming or the inner workings of a computer. The Administrator would expect to spend several hours each week on the system, making requested changes or helping new users. This time will be decreased by the amount of responsibility shown by the other Committee members.

What would it cost to have Church Consulting install a FirstClass System for our Diocese?

The following is a sample of the costs of the hardware, software, and the Training Sessions involved in installing a typical Diocesan FirstClass system. Diocesan needs and conditions will of course change the details.
Hardware:
1- Computer - Pentium 4, with three 100 gig hard drives, 512meg RAM, NIC card, CDRom, LCD Monitor, mouse and keyboard. (The second hard drive is for mirroring (automatic backup) purposes, the 3rd hard drive is in a drawer allowing you to make a backup copy to take off premises, if you wish.)

Software:
Windows 2000 Pro
FirstClass Server for Windows, version 8.3 software
Licences for 100 Regular Users (plus 2 free remote licences); more are available at extra cost.
PC-Cillin Antivirus software.

Since I am a reseller for FIRSTCLASS software, I can supply all the hardware and software at the lowest cost. The above is normal equipment, and is enough to run a diocesan system for up to 70 parishes. If desired, more licences for users can be purchased, but the hardware listed above is just fine for a medium size diocese in US or Canada. All hardware and software remain the property of the diocese. (If the diocese supplies the computer deduct $1000.)

The use of a FirstClass diocesan System assumes that most parishes have their own computer and therefore only need a connection to the Internet. (The cost of computers has dropped so low these days, that any parish can afford one.) All registered users of the FirstClass system receive a free Internet address, and free Internet email worldwide. Any Pentium powered PC with Windows, or Mac or Linux computer will work just fine to access the FirstClass Diocesan Server. The FirstClass Client used by the clergy and others to access the Diocesan Intranet (the Server) is FREE to all users. Or access via a browser like Firefox or Internet Explorer if desired. .

I will come to your diocese, install a complete FirstClass System, configure it to your own diocesan requirements, connect it to the Internet and to other diocesan FirstClass systems, as desired. I will Train the Administrator and Diocesan Staff, and provide TWO WEEKS of TRAINING WORKSHOPS around your diocese for clergy and lay people.

Thus for a total of $11,000 US, your Diocese can possess a complete system, including Training Workshops throughout your diocese for clergy and laity .

Where should the FirstClass Server be located?

That should be a diocesan decision. There are at least 2 different possibilities. Perhaps you can think of some others?

1) If the Server is located in the diocesan office, it can be connected using an ADSL connection to the Internet. If an office hub is used, all diocesan staff computers will be connected to the Server, and if will function as a messaging LAN. For some offices, that flexibility is indeed helpful. Administration is done remotely, so access to the Server in the Diocesan Office is not a problem.

2) The Server can be located at a local Internet Server Provider (ISP). This placement works best if the ISP will donate the space (perhaps for an Income Tax Receipt) or will have a low monthly charge.

Does the Administrator of the FirstClass System have to come to the Server to make Changes?

Definitely not. The Administrator can access the FirstClass System remotely from his or her own home computer, or from anywhere else. Most Administrators live several miles away from the site of the Server, with no inconvenience. In at least two FirstClass Diocesan Systems, the Administrator lives more than 300 miles away from the Server, and accesses the Diocesan System without a problem. Only upgrades of the System have to be made at the Server --- everything else can be handled remotely.

When are you available to come to our Diocese and install a FirstClass System and do the Training Workshops?

I am available whenever a diocese or church group wishes to invite me to do the installation of a FirstClass Diocesan Intranet system, to do the Training, and the Workshops.