A statement about an appropriate relationship between the church and the religious press, adopted 1991:

1. Communication is at the heart of the church’s life and mission. It is not an optional extra. Christ’s ‘great commission’ (Matthew 28:19,20) is a mandate to communicate.
2. Among many forms of communication available, the print medium, especially newspapers and magazines, continues to be a powerful and significant form of communication.
3. The Australasian Religious Press Association urges church leaders and members to recognise the value of the religious press, and to encourage and support those who serve in this area of ministry, especially at this time when media ownership is becoming more and more concentrated, the religious press is becoming increasingly important as an alternative media voice.
4. Society, communication media and the church are in a constant state of change. The ARPA recognises the right of churches to review, and if deemed necessary, to vary their means of communication from time to time to ensure that they are communicating in the most effective way possible.
5. The ARPA believes it is important that any such review include consultation with the relevant board and staff responsible for the church’s communications ministry.
6. Where such a review leads to the closure of any form of communication, the ARPA expects that the church would approach such an action with sensitivity to the effect this could have on staff. Many of those who serve in the religious press are dedicated journalists, who view their work as a ministry of the gospel in the fullest sense. Many of them serve unstintingly, far beyond the call of duty. The sudden closure of a church publication may leave such persons without employment and without income. Where they are lay persons with specialised skills and training, the church may not be able to offer them alternative areas of service, as it could, say, for clergy. It is important that the church ensure that at all times its employees who serve in the religious press are treated with justice and compassion.
7. The ARPA expects that, ordinarily, when one publication is supplanted by another within any church, former staff who have served with faithfulness and integrity will receive preferential consideration when new appointments are made.
8. The ARPA, in keeping with its aims as stated in its Constitution, will continue to promote the professionalism, competence and mutual knowledge of the denominational and inter-denominational religious press, broadcast and other media in Australia and New Zealand.