Thursday, January 30, 2014

Church of Scientology Hosts Musical Theatre Writers’ Night and Cabaret

Church of Scientology hosts musical theatre mixed with cabaret evening bringing together the two worlds of musicals and Broadway classics.


The Church of Scientology hosted the first Musical Theatre Writers’ Night and Cabaret, which fused the Nashville-style writers’ night with New York City-style cabaret, so included both songs from new musicals as well as Broadway classics and standards.

 “Our purpose is to help artists,” says Corinne Sullivan, president of the church, who continues, “When you elevate the artist, you uplift the entire community.”

Arranged by The Actors Reading Room, the event included performances by the Belmont Senior Musical Theatre Class, Steve Kennedy on piano and featured guest artist Mallory Gleason Mundy.

Sullivan opened the event by introducing attendees to L. Ron Hubbard, who founded Scientology and was also a musician and performer himself. She showed them the book “Music Maker: Composer and Performer,” which details Hubbard’s lifelong pursuit as a musical director, arranger, performer and composer and includes articles written by him on the subject of music.


“We were happy to host this night of theatre, music and fun,” says Rev. Brian Fesler, pastor of the church.  “We have a commitment to the artists and creative people of Nashville.”  The next event of this kind will be held in March. For more information on the church, visit www.scientology.org. 

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Church of Scientology Community News: Diverse Churches to Celebrate MLK Day

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, four churches are coming together for celebration in a shared service on Sunday, January 19, from 3-6pm.


Last year, four churches of different denominations made history by not only working together but worshipping together in a joint service for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.  The tradition continues in 2014 as they celebrated a worship service together to honor Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy. Rev. Brian Fesler of the Church of Scientology says, “Dr. King stood for diversity and a unity among all people. We are celebrating that in the best way possible –actually coming together in one place and celebrating our differences and similarities.”

The joint celebration began over ten years ago, when Corinthian Baptist Church partnered with the First Unitarian Universalist Church.  Two churches were added to the program in 2013: the Church of Scientology and the Historic First Community Christian Church of Nashville. 

Rev. Enoch Fuzz of Corinthian Baptist feels this is a way to help make the dream a reality. “I'm reminded by this service that Dr. King's living was not in vain. This service is a reminder that though good people are diverse and different - they shouldn't be divided.”


Each church leader conducted a portion of Sunday’s service.  The Rev. Gail Seavey of First Unitarian Universalist Church gave the call to prayer. The Occasion was given by Rev. Fesler.  The sermon was delivered by Elder Glenn Clay of the Historic Community Church, and Rev. Fuzz concluded the service with a prayer for peace. 

Monday, January 13, 2014

2014-2015 Interdenominational Ministers Fellowship Executive Board Installation this Wednesday

The Interdenominational Ministers Fellowship will install its new Executive Board members on January 15, 2014 at 11:45am at New Covenant Christian Church (DOC) on Osage Street in Nashville.

The Incoming Executive Board Members are: President, Rev. Dr. Judy D. Cummings; President-Elect, Rev. Harold M. Love, Jr.; Vice President, Patricia Stokes; Secretary, Brenda Wynn; Assistant Secretary, Julie Brinker; Treasurer, Rev. Brian Fesler; Assistant Treasurer, Rev. Dr. Chris Jackson; and At-Large Members, Rev. Dr. Alvin Miller and Bishop Minnie Mitchell.

This year represents a milestone for the organization as Rev. Dr. Judy D. Cummings will be the first female president. This however is nothing new to Dr. Cummings who is also the first woman to pastor New Covenant Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in its 154 years of existence.

The President-Elect, Rev. Harold M. Love, Jr., is Pastor of St. Paul A.M.E. Church and State Representative for District 58.

Vice President, Ms. Patricia Stokes is the President and CEO of the Urban League of Middle Tennessee, and has been since 2008. 

Secretary, Mrs. Brenda Wynn serves as the Davidson County Clerk.

Assistant Secretary, Mrs. Julie Brinker serves as Community Affairs Director for the Nashville Church of Scientology.

Treasurer, Rev. Brian Fesler pastors the Nashville Church of Scientology.

Assistant Treasurer, Rev. Dr. Chris Jackson pastors Pleasant Green Baptist Church.

At-Large Officers are the Rev. Dr. Alvin Miller, pastor of St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Clarksville, TN and Bishop Minnie Mitchell with New Day Church International.

The installation service will begin promptly at 11:45am at New Covenant Christian Church (DOC) on Wednesday, January 15, 2014. For more information, email nashvilleministersfellowship@gmail.com.


Thursday, January 9, 2014

Drug-Free South Making Plans for 2014

The Truth About Drugs materials provide teachers, law enforcement and community groups with effective drug education tools.

For a quarter of a century, Scientologists around the world have been working with youth, educators, parents, religious and community leaders and law enforcement officers to provide drug education to children and teens by working together with the Foundation for a Drug-Free World. The Tennessee chapter, known as Drug-Free South, uses a series of drug education resources that work—a multimedia program that speaks to the youth of today, informing them of the truth about drugs and empowering them to make their own decisions to live drug-free.

The cornerstone of the program is a series of booklets that provide the facts about the most commonly abused drugs: marijuana, alcohol, ecstasy, cocaine, crack cocaine, crystal meth, inhalants, heroin, LSD, prescription drugs, painkillers, and Ritalin.

Next is a series of 16 award-winning “They Said, They Lied” public service announcements. They are contemporary, high-impact communications aimed directly at youth.

Finally, the core of the Truth About Drugs educational program is a 100-minute documentary, The Truth About Drugs: Real People, Real Stories. The film is a hard-hitting, no-holds-barred presentation told by former users who themselves survived life-shattering addiction.

Drug-Free South has big plans for 2014. “We have done a lot over the past few years for Tennessee but this year we are taking it to the next level,” says Rev. Brian Fesler who coordinates Drug-Free South. To date, Drug-Free South has visited 30 counties, delivered over 230 seminars on the program, and distributed more than 50,000 booklets to those in need, but Fesler is still not satisfied. “We need to reach every student in Tennessee –all 95 counties.”

Drug-Free South is dedicated to handling the drug problem in Tennessee, and wants to encourage all educators to visit drugfreesouth.org to schedule a drug education seminar in their school. “2014 is the year to reverse the demand for drugs in Tennessee,” says Fesler.

Parents and teachers can order Truth About Drugs booklets and DVDs free of charge from the website or download the free Truth About Drugs Education Application onto their iPads or iPhones. For more information on the Truth About Drugs program, or to order materials, visit drugfreesouth.org.


Thursday, January 2, 2014

Nashville Way to Happiness Chapter Helps Troubled Communities

The Nashville chapter of The Way to Happiness Foundation spent the year distributing booklets around the community.


“Our purpose in distributing The Way to Happiness is to uplift the society. One of the side effects of this is a reduction in crime,” says Rev. Brian Fesler who coordinates The Way to Happiness Chapter in Nashville.

The Way to Happiness Foundation was formed around the book of the same name by L. Ron Hubbard. The book is comprised of 21 precepts, each one predicated on the fact that one’s survival depends on the survival of others—and that without the survival of others, neither joy nor happiness are attainable.

According to thewaytohappiness.org, “Drugs, crime and violence only thrive in a culture that has lost clear concepts of right and wrong.” The Way to Happiness aims at giving people back a sense of what is right and wrong in a way that is easy to understand and easy to follow.

In the two decades since it was authored, some 80 million copies of the book passed hand to hand.

The Nashville Chapter launched a campaign to distribute copies of the booklet in 2012. Throughout 2012 and 2013 the Nashville Chapter of The Way to Happiness volunteered in local health fairs, festivals and community gatherings. Thousands of booklets were distributed. 

Fesler says, “I just saw a report that the most serious of crimes in Nashville was at a 50-year low in 2013.  There’s a lot that goes into a statistic like that, and I know we played a part.  We want this same result everywhere and are dedicated to spreading copies of the booklet throughout the rest of Tennessee.”

For more information, visit thewaytohappiness.org.


Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Nashville Church of Scientology Celebrates the New Year

Nashville’s Church of Scientology saw a whirlwind of activity throughout 2013. Parishioners gathered on New Year’s Eve to celebrate a year of accomplishments and look forward to the year ahead.

Internationally, the Church of Scientology had much to celebrate from 2013. The highlight of the year was the November 17th opening of the Church's new cathedral - the 377,000 square foot architectural masterpiece in Clearwater, Florida known as The Flag Building, an achievement that crowns a year of the Church's most expansive growth to date.

Locally, the Nashville Church of Scientology had its best year to date as well. Scientologists looked back on the time spent on programs aimed at drug and human rights education, and other activities aimed at improving their community, schools and neighborhoods.

The Church began the year by opening its doors to community events. During Black History Month, the church hosted a presentation for the Black Legends of Basketball. Legends were honored with a special display and there was a panel discussion about the history and future of basketball.

Throughout the year, church members visited 14 counties in Tennessee to deliver information on the Truth About Drugs. Working with the Foundation for a Drug-Free World, they were able to enlighten thousands of students who are now certain they will never fall victim to a dealer’s lies. One school to receive a visit was Smyrna West Alternative where a teacher expressed his gratitude by writing a letter to the volunteers.  He noted the program “is a highly informative, mind-grasping look at the dangers and horrible realities that addiction creates.”

In the summer months, Scientologists went out into the community to distribute copies of The Way to Happiness. This booklet written by L. Ron Hubbard is a common sense guide to better living that anyone can use. The entire neighborhood surrounding the church received copies of the booklet. 

In November, the Church hosted the annual Artlightenment art and film festival, which is themed “Art, Artists and the Art of Existence.” In its fifth year, this was the most successful to date in terms of the attendance and number of artists participating.  The festival has added film and fashion and become one of the go-to events of the year for area fine artists.

In December 2013, the Church worked with local and state government agencies and non-profit organizations to plan the Tennessee Celebration of International Human Rights Day. During the  December 10th celebration, human rights advocates were awarded for their service to the community, there was a panel discussion on Human Rights Issues Today, and a special speaker who served the United Nations for nearly 30 years gave an overview of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Church pastor Rev. Brian Fesler said, "2013 has been an exciting year, our best yet. We are thankful for all our friends in the community who are working to make Nashville a better place, and we look forward to collaboration and a 2014 where everyone wins." 

For more information about Scientology, visit www.scientology.org.