"Official" Web Site Finds a New Home

The official denominational Web site, www.brethren.org, has moved.

In early February the site was transferred from a Chicago-area Internet Service Provider, InterAccess, to Brethren Benefit Trust's Web server at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Illinois.

When it was launched in December 1997, www.brethren.org selected InterAccess as its host server because none of its partners had direct access to their own Web server. The situation has changed now that BBT's new Web operations group, eMountain Communications, can offer site hosting services.

Nevin Dulabaum is the administrator of Brethren.org.

In making the move, more sophisticated technologies, standard on many Web sites, will be explored, including audio and video streaming and incryption services for e-mail transactions. Aside from these technologies, however, visitors to www.brethren.org should not notice any difference. Although BBT will maintain the hardware, the site will continue to be designed and administered by representatives of www.brethren.org.

The partners in www.brethren.org are the Association of Brethren Caregivers, Bethany Theological Seminary, Brethren Benefit Trust, Brethren Employees Credit Union, the General Board, and On Earth Peace Assembly.

"This move is great for both the Web site and BBT," said Nevin Dulabaum, Manager of News Services for the Church of the Brethren General Board, who serves as administrator of www.brethren.org. "The Web site will be able to utilize some technologies that were cost prohibitive at InterAccess, while at the same time putting its support behind the newly created eMountain Communications.

"Like the Web site itself, this move is a collaborative effort that will benefit Church of the Brethren Web users." "Working together makes us all stronger," added Wil Nolen, Brethren Benefit Trust president.