"Achieving an effective balance of online and print media serving the church is our top priority," said ELM director Robert Williams. "This is a unique challenge in the current year when we are working within budgetary limitations, and coverage needs are significant, particularly for this summer's Lambeth Conference in Canterbury."    

Consultation with the ELM board of governors and other industry experts to discuss long-range strategy and planning began in December, Williams said, noting that further conversations are scheduled to continue.

At present, the ELM staff works as a media group providing the Episcopal Life Online website, the Episcopal Life Daily e-mail reports, the Episcopal News Service, the Episcopal Life Weekly bulletin inserts, and the Episcopal Life monthly newspaper and printing partnerships.

ELM's configuration as a media group was endorsed by the board of governors last year.

In order to operate within the 2008 budget approved in mid-February by Executive Council, ELM has agreed to a request to suspend at this time the current search for a full-time editor for the Episcopal Life monthly newspaper, Williams said.

In similar decisions, a search for a director of mission for the Episcopal Church, and filling the position of director of administration, were also suspended earlier this month.

Considerations prompting the ELM decision were outlined by the Episcopal Church's chief operating officer, Linda E. Watt.

"The work of Episcopal Life Media," Watt said, "is currently influenced by three factors:

• Optimal balancing of reporting online and in print, a challenge now engaged by all major newspapers, and also an essential consideration for effective stewardship of contributed church funds;
• Mid-February discussions by Executive Council's Administration and Finance Committee, and Council's approval of a 2008 budget requiring streamlining of ELM operations;
• The need to provide The Episcopal Church comprehensive and cost-effective coverage of the Lambeth Conference this summer.

"Assessing these factors, and affirming the excellent work now being done by the ELM editorial team, I have asked that the search for a monthly newspaper editor be suspended at this time. We are enthusiastic about the configuration of ELM as a media group with a management structure calling on talented professionals who are dedicated to ELM's continued excellence:

• The News Unit is to be managed by Matthew Davies, editor of Episcopal Life Online.
• The Features Unit is to be managed by the Rev. Lisa Hamilton, who recently joined the ELM team as correspondent with many years' journalistic experience, notably with Trinity Church, Wall Street.
• The Video/Multicast Unit continues to be managed by Mike Collins; also assisting in the editorial and multicast work is ELM's executive editor, the Rev. Jan Nunley.
• The Print Production Unit is staffed by art director Molly Ruttan Moffat.
• The Business Unit is managed by Lawrence Moore, who currently oversees advertising, circulation, marketing, and printing partnerships.
• The Operations Unit, including personnel and fiscal coordination, is managed by Bernice David, current operations director for ELM and Episcopal Books and Resources.

"These managers will continue to serve collaboratively with the supervision of the current director of Episcopal Life Media and Episcopal Church communication, Robert Williams, who leads the department and works in ongoing consultation with the ELM board of governors."