Email Changes: Frequently Asked Questions - ABWE.CC
1. If my email address changes, will I still have access to my previous emails and contacts?
A. Absolutely. Even though your email address might look different, everything inside your mailbox, including old emails and contacts, remains unchanged. Think of it as putting a new name on the same box.
2. Do I need to reset my passwords or update my 2FA settings due to this change?
A. Not at all. This change only affects the name of your mailbox, not its security settings. Your passwords and 2FA configurations will work as they always have.
3. What exactly is an email alias?
A. Think of an email alias as a nickname for your email account. It's a different name, but it leads to the same mailbox. Email sent to
jon.smith@abwego.org goes into the same account as
jsmith@abwe.cc. Another way to visualize this is to think of a cardboard box with multiple labels on it. On this
box, there's a main label displaying its primary address (your main
email address). However, you can also stick additional labels (aliases)
on the same box. No matter which label someone looks at and decides to
send something to, the content (the email) always ends up in that same
cardboard box (your inbox).
4. Why are these email changes necessary?
A. We're refining our system to optimize communication, enhance security
(especially for creative access users), and ensure our email addresses
better mirror our ministry's brand identity.
5. Can I choose a custom email address instead of the standard first.lastname format?
A. No. The goal of this revamp is consistency. We want a clear, easily
recognizable email format. Exceptions exist for names like "Jon" over
"Jonathan" or for individuals better known by middle names.
6. Can couples share one email account?
A. It's essential for every employee to have a unique email address for various purposes, including identity management, clear communication, and individual access to ABWE's services including the future launch of myABWE. As the Teams platform becomes more widely adopted, individual email addresses will become even more important. However, if desired, it is easy to access multiple accounts using a single email app. This enables things like spouses the ability to view each other's emails, and to monitor extra mailboxes associated with ministries like hospitals, treasurers, ministry centers, etc.
7. When is the email transition scheduled?
A. Please mark your calendars: Monday, November 6th is the deadline for submitting any changes to the proposed new email addresses. The full transition will then take place on Friday, November 10th.
8. What should I expect during the transition?
A. Once your mailbox shifts to the new address, email clients may temporarily halt fetching new emails and request updated login details. When prompted, input your new email address as the username (remember to add the @abwego.org or @everyethne.org suffix) and use your existing password and 2FA procedures.
9. How will my Microsoft Teams and OneDrive access be impacted?
A. Microsoft Teams will seamlessly update, so there's no need to rejoin any Teams you're already in. As for OneDrive, all your documents remain intact. However, if you've granted others access to certain files or folders through OneDrive, you'll need to reshare these post-transition. To avoid confusion, it's best to reshare only when someone mentions they've lost access.
10. Can I determine who's still emailing my outdated email address?
A. Certainly. By creating specific rules in Outlook, you can direct emails sent to your former address into a designated folder. Any email landing in that folder would have been addressed to your old account. For a step-by-step guide on this, visit:
Creating Outlook Rules for a Secondary Email Address.
11. Will this change affect my Central/myABWE/Nord/etc. login?
A. On the transition day, myABWE will be aligned to your new address since it syncs with your Microsoft credentials. Central and other services will be addressed later. Rest assured, any changes will be communicated clearly.
12. Can I set my email to forward to a different address?
13. How long is my outdated email address operational?
A. Your previous email address will relay messages to your inbox until the end of 2024. After that, mail to the old address will return as undeliverable. We suggest updating any materials or platforms using the old address promptly. For tracking emails delivered to the outdated address, refer to the steps in question 10.
14. What should I do if I can't log into my account post-transition?
A. No worries, just reach out to our support team by emailing
itsupport@abwe.org, and they'll assist you promptly.