Episcopal Church Web Hosting

Episcopal Church Web Hosting > News

Episcopal Church Web Hosting (ECWH) is an all-volunteer mission of SPCK/USA in partnership with Dragon Networks. ECWH provides free web assistance and hosting to Episcopal organizations that do not have the resources to host their own website. For more information, see our Current Services Page.

What's happening at ECWH

Major Server Outage 9/26 - 10/2

Our server is back and running with updated software and new hardware after a hardware failure. The last few days have been crazy and we apologize if we haven't communicated very well. Dragon Networks has been working long hours to overcome a series of technical difficulties including a denial of service attack on the network! Thank you all for your patience and encouragement. Please check your accounts and let us know if you're still having any trouble.

One thing we did learn during this outage is that it's important to have a backup communication channel. If you haven't already done so, consider signing up for the Ep_web email group. It's free and you'll be tied in with the latest news from ECWH and Dragon Networks.

Special thanks to Sally, Charles and the team at Dragon Networks who donate so much of their time, effort and equipment to keep ECWH running. Bless you!

Recovering from the Outage

Due to the severity of the server failure, accounts on the server had to be restored from backup. If you had updated you website recently, you should check your website to make sure the content is up-to-date.

Some accounts are having trouble with email. If cPanel is hiding your accounts for some reason, this is how you can make them visible: In cPanel, click on Mail. Then click on Add/Remove/Manage Accounts. You will see only one email account. Then click on Show Disc Space Used. At that point, you will see all email accounts. Then click on password, and you will have an opportunity to change the password to a new value. Update the password and you should be able to access the account.

Reporting System Outages

The ECWH server is run by a volunteer team who cannot monitor the status of the server without your help. If you are experiencing trouble with your account and cannot reach our web page at http://ecwh.org, please email us directly.

Volunteering with ECWH

What is involved with being an ECWH volunteer? What skills are required? How do I get started?

ECWH is kind of like your church -- It's a resource and a gathering place for you to pursue your own mission. There's a host team to run the shop. Your friends are here to help you in your journey. But ultimately, spreading the word is up to you!

When you've got your own church website up and running, it's time to look around your area and see who else you can help. Sometimes that means helping other webmasters through the web, but most of the time it's about asking other neighborhood churches and organizations if they would like help getting online or maintaining their website. Use the free hosting available through ECWH and help them get started!

Once you've got a couple of others online, you can help build a support network within your diocese by holding workshops and webmaster meetings. It's great to have online help through ECWH if you have nothing else, but nothing beats face-to-face meetings and hands-on assistance. Evangelism is all about communication and web building should be part of every Episcopal organization. By providing the technical assistance to support this work, you are key to moving the church's mission into the 21st century!

Don't forget that every church is different. Some churches may need you to develop and maintain their site. Others just need help finding a good professional web developer to hire. You know your skills and the amount of time available to you. When you can meet with people, you can get an understanding of the needs and resources available. You can use your enthusiasm and knowledge to help get these organizations started with a website.

Never underestimate the impact one person can have! Remember that the Holy Spirit is with you and works through you. Please keep in touch, share what you learn, use ECWH's freely donated resources, and have fun!

If you have questions or comments for Episcopal Church Web Hosting, please send them to board@ecwh.org.

WE NEED YOUR WISDOM on this and other Episcopalian web initiatives. Please join our discussions in THE EP_WEB USER GROUP at Yahoo Groups.

ECWH recommends:
(click image to order)

For other hosting alternatives, check out ChurchSites, ForMinistry, Church Host or Christian Web Host. For a complete list of various web hosting services, try the Web Hosting Service Shopping Guide at CNET.

Help give Sudan a new hope: Sudan Aid is a charity supporting Christian ministry and relief in Sudan