INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT (C.A.C. WORLD WILD)
Charter March 2006
Section 1: Introduction
The Information Technology (IT) Department of the Christ Apostolic Church Worldwide (CAC) is
a vital support service for the church’s expanding ministries. This charter defines the mission
and objectives of the CAC IT Department; it outlines the scope of the Department, defines
terms, and delineates roles and responsibilities for information security throughout the
organization. Enforcement rules are also included in this charter. CAC IT Department policies are aimed at using Information Technology to serve God inexcellence. Policies are goals or mandates used to cultivate standards. CAC IT Departmentprocedures detail how to implement standards in order to comply with policies.
Section 2: IT Vision
God is an excellent GOD. Everything about Him should speak to excellence. Technology in
carrying out church mission cannot be an afterthought. People’s expectations are just too high.
In using technology, we must strive to do everything as unto Christ. What are people seeing
when they come to our church web sites? Does it compellingly reflect Christ through its
production values? What is our level of quality saying about the type of church we are? Are we
communicating mediocrity, inward focus, and lack of attention? What software do we use to manage our membership? How do we connect to the Internet? The IT Department is there to implement policies to answer these questions.The IT Department will aim at an efficient delivery of services to the Church and to the world using Information Technology as an enabling tool. To this effect, IT Department will work closely with other departments of the Church to achieve excellence.
Section 3: Mission and Objectives
1. The primary mission of the CAC IT Department shall be to put good use of technology.
2. As part of its educational mission and strategic plan, the CAC IT Department shall
provide state-of-the-art information technology to meet the needs of the Church in research, teaching, and evangelism.
3. The CAC IT Department shall acquire, develop, and maintain data and information, computers, laptop computers, computer systems and networks for the worldwide secretariat and designated ministers. These information technology (IT) resources are intended for CAC related purposes, including direct and indirect support of the CAC authority’s instruction, research and service missions; CAC administrative functions; and the free exchange of ideas within the CAC community and among the CAC community and the wider local, national, and world communities.
4. The CAC IT Department shall support the goals of CAC by assuring the availability, integrity and appropriate confidentiality of information. Primary objectives include
development and implementation of proactive measures to prevent security problems and effective response to security problems when prevention methods are defeated 5. The IT Department shall consult with ministries on their technology needs and get involved in all major technology initiatives excluding audio/visual presentation technology
6. The IT Department shall facilitate fast dissemination of information
7. The IT Department shall enhance and Support CAC Ministries.
8. The IT Department shall provide expanded opportunities for connection of members worldwide
9. The IT Department shall provide facilities to enhance outreach (electronic content
designed to allow people to explore Christ and our community of faith on the periphery)
10. The IT Department shall provide facilities to empower members to share their faith and the church with their circles of influence
11. The IT Department shall in no way supplant opportunities for personal connection in small groups or other interpersonal approaches.
12. The IT Department shall provide resources to know about CAC through Internet.
13. The IT Department shall develop and deliver Internet based learning material and literature to the interested.
14. The IT Department shall set the Website standards for all CAC Churches.
15. The IT Department shall provide for increased awareness of and attention to the issues of information technology within the church organization and its activities, especially policy, issue analysis and interpretation
16. The IT Department shall encourage the development and provision for resources that are accessible and responsive to the needs of CAC assemblies, DCCs, Zones, and other partners in ministry
Section 4: Scope
This charter applies to all people who maintain or manage CAC IT Department resources, their supervisors and their unit administrators. It applies to all locations of those resources, whether at the worldwide secretariat or remote locations. The policies, standards and procedures, some of which are listed below in Section 7.5, apply to all CAC Assemblies, Districts, Special Districts, Zones, and DCCs that intend to or that have Internet presence and that display information on the Internet. This charter is intended to help protect integrity, availability, accountability and appropriate confidentiality of CAC IT resources and information. Additional standards and procedures may govern specific data, computers, computer systems or networks provided or operated by specific CAC and subsidiary units.
Section 5: Units of IT
5.1 Training and Administration Unit
The Training and Administration Unit shall
1. Have the responsibility of training the staff, ministers, and their volunteers in software applications, as well as providing updates to the church database;
2. Implement the Computer Literacy Program of the IT Department;
3. Organize IT Department training and awareness events;
4. Be responsible for creating and maintaining centralized CAC IT Department policies, standards, and procedures.
5.2 Internet Unit
The Application Unit shall provide the programming solutions to church needs, developing and designing programs that provide online services, ticketing and event registration solutions. The
family of websites shall be maintained and directed by this Unit and shall be used to promote the various ministries and spread the Gospel message to visitors and to the rest of the world.
The Unit shall ensure integrity in website contents for all CAC worldwide websites. The Unit shall also be responsible for Internet research.
5.3 Desktop Unit
If there is a computer to be set up or software to install in the church buildings, the Desktop Unit shall be there with the solution. The Desktop Unit shall provide Help Desk support for staff users, including installing and maintaining PCs for all ministries at the worldwide secretariat.
The Unit shall recommend hardware and software for specific purposes and shall also be responsible for troubleshooting.
5.4 Network Unit
The Network Unit shall keep the church connected with network solutions, email, Internet service, and maintaining servers that provide ease of communications between staff and to the world. The Unit shall: coordinate and provide accountability for the integration, communication and networking efforts within the church organization.
Section 6: Organizational Structure
6.1 Chief Information Officer (CIO)
The CIO shall
1. be the head of the IT department.
2. oversee all activities of each Unit
3. have the responsibility to ensure implementation and management of the CAC IT Department programs.
4. have the authority to direct action as needed to protect CAC IT Department resources.
5. have the authority to enforce CAC IT policies, standards, and procedures and to direct action related to violations.
6.2 Unit Leader
Each unit leader shall
1. oversee the specific Unit
2. be responsible for his or her unit administrative structure
3. coordinate efforts to create and maintain specific unit policies, standards, and procedures.
6.3 IT Representative
6.3.1 Definition
IT Representative (IT Rep) is a designated member of the organization who represents the IT
Department within a designated territory. There are 3 levels of IT Reps, namely:
IT Rep 1: Represents IT in a DCC, or a Zone, or a Special District;
IT Rep 2: Represents IT in a District;
IT Rep 3: Represents IT in a local assembly.
6.3.2 Membership Criteria i. He/she must be a computer literate, knowledgeable in website and Internet application.
ii. He/she must be a regular member of Christ Apostolic Church
6.3.3 Responsibilities
1. IT Rep 1 shall work with each Unit Leader to propagate information to his/her territory
2. The IT Rep shall provide updates of recommended technology to use, including desktop software and Internet technology, to his/her territory
3. The IT Rep shall gather information in his or her territory for publication on the appropriate
Website. Information that can be posted or updated shall include Churches information, districts information, DCC or zone basic information, news highlight, headlines, and events.
IT Rep 3 shall gather assembly information and submit them to IT Rep 2 (if it exists) or directly to IT Rep 1 (if there is no IT Rep 2 for the district). IT Rep 3 shall be responsible for updating the Assembly Website if there is one.
IT Rep 2 shall gather district information and submit them to IT Rep 1. IT Rep 2 shall be responsible for updating the District Website if it has one.
IT Rep 1 shall have the authorization to update DCC or Zonal information on worldwide website. He/she shall also be responsible for updating the DCC Website, if it has one. IT
Rep 1 shall be the main communication channel between the IT Department and the
DCC or Zone.
4. The IT Rep shall contribute to the improvement of the website.
5. The IT Rep shall be capable of providing urgent information when called upon to do so
6.3.4 Appointment method
The primary method of appointment of IT Rep for a particular DCC or Zone shall be by the Chairman of the DCC or Zone. If no IT Rep is appointed for a particular DCC, the Webmaster may appoint a qualified volunteer to the position. The allocation by Webmaster may be temporary or permanent. Volunteering is done through application on the CAC worldwide website
6.4 Webmaster
The Webmaster is a position specific to the Application/Web Unit of the IT department.
Information on this position is provided in Section 7
6.4 Article Reviewer
The Article reviewer is a position specific to the Application/Web Unit of the IT department.
Information on this position is provided in Section 7
Section 7: Internet Unit
This portion of the Charter is specific to the Internet Unit of the IT Department.
7.1 Domain name
In the Internet community, it is recommended to acquire the three "Top Level Domains" (.com, .org, .net). As of the time the CAC worldwide website was developed, only two of these three
(.com, .net) were available and purchased. The Church shall purchase the .org domain whenever it is made available. Currently the worldwide website addresses are:
www.cacworldwideonline.org/
www.cacworldwideonline.org/
7.2 Website content
The CAC worldwide website shall provide the following primary information:
1. History of the CAC
2. Tenets of CAC
3. Directory search for Churches, Pastors, and registered members
4. Registration form for members
5. Admin Control Panel for Pastors, IT Reps, and registered members
6. Login page for Pastors, IT Reps, and registered members
7. Frequently Asked Questions
8. Contact
9. CAC Schools
10. Ministries
11. Mission and Beliefs
12. Classified ads
13. General Executive Council
14. Articles
Classified under Articles are articles, news highlight, headlines, coming events, and calendar
7.3 Website Update and Maintenance
1. Articles submitted for publication on the website shall be reviewed for content integrity and format. Articles may be accepted as submitted, or rejected, or edited before publication.
2. The IT Reps shall be responsible for updating information specific to their territories
3. CAC members or assemblies may advertise books, albums, and audiovisual materials on the worldwide website. The member must pay the advertisement charge.
7.4 Internet Unit Officers
7.4.1 Webmaster
The Webmaster shall ensure day to day running of the CAC Worldwide website server
The webmaster (and article reviewers) shall review all articles submitted for publication.
The Webmaster shall allocate DCCs to volunteered IT Reps
7.4.2 Article Reviewer
An article reviewer is a designated person of the organization who reviews (together with the webmaster) articles submitted for publication.
7.5 Websites Policies
These policies are written for all CAC assemblies, districts, DCCs, or zones that desire an Internet presence. Any website developed by a CAC assembly must comply with these policies.
They are standard required to ensure that the Church is not communicating mediocrity
7.5.1 Website fundamentals
Any CAC assembly that belongs to CAC worldwide has the right to have her own website. The website may be a single page (static) or multiple pages (dynamic).
All websites whether static or dynamic should contain the following fundamental information:
1. Belief or CAC Tenets
2. Worship and regular event times
3. Directions
Profiles of Pastors and staff members
5. Basic Contact information
6. Link to CAC worldwide website
A dynamic website must be updated regularly. Expired information must be removed.
7.5.2 CAC Logo
The logo is an emblem of unity and loyalty to the organization. Every CAC Worldwide DCC or
District or Assembly must place the CAC approved logo on the top left hand corner of every main page of his or her websites.
7.5.3 Font
The Church name, “Christ Apostolic Church” at the top most part of the web page must be written in an IT approved font. Currently, these are:
Castellar
Aquaduct
Aria black
Calligrapher
7.5.4 Watchword
If a CAC website is displaying a watchword, the one currently released by the CAC worldwide secretariat must be primary. Any other watchword should be secondary.
Section 8: Closing
This document is written for CAC Worldwide. It may also be adopted for use at any lower structural level of the organization. That means it may be adapted for use by a DCC or Zone, by a district, or by an assembly.
This document shall be reviewed periodically based on the state of the art technology.
Document History
Date Author
March 11, 2006 Draft Dr. Abiodun Olowe
Review Pastor Rotimi Oluseye
Pastor Israel Akinlawon
Sis Seun Oye
Bro Isamotu Olalekan
Bro Victor Adewusi
Bro Tunde Asokeji
.