Thursday, December 29, 2016

Nashville Church of Scientology Celebrates the New Year 2017

Nashville’s Church of Scientology saw a whirlwind of activity during 2016. Parishioners will gather on New Year’s Eve to celebrate a year of accomplishments and look forward to the coming months.

The Nashville Church of Scientology has much to celebrate as 2016 comes to a close. Scientologists will look back on the time spent on programs aimed at drug reform, literacy, and improving morality across cultures, during a special celebration on New Year’s Eve.

The Nashville Church began the year as an organizing partner with other community leaders and pastors for the annual march and convocation for MLK Day. Next, the Church hosted an event to commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day while also revealing “the Men Behind Hitler.”

In the spring, the Church was happy to host a Survival Training workshop geared toward understanding how to prepare for and act in times of disaster with leading professionals on the subject; a Fitness Fair to help educate the community how to be healthy, happy and drug-free; an educational meeting on improving the environment; and a community gathering for International Friendship Day which had 60 guests of diverse faiths, cultures, and races all together overcoming stereotypes and other obstacles to friendship.

The church hosted a forty member group from Historic Nashville Inc., for a tour, as well as nearly thirty students from Middle Tennessee State University.

During summer, the church held an anniversary celebration for thirty-one years in Music City with a large-scale gala where community guests, parishioners and friends were able to recognize members’ achievements and look forward to the many years ahead. In September, the church held a forum on domestic violence for the International Day of Peace on the theme: Know Your Rights and Survive—Overcoming Domestic Violence, where local experts talked about the problem and things people can do to help victims. Also for International Day of Peace, Pastor of the Church, Rev. Brian Fesler, participated in an interfaith service at Fisk University to promote peace and dedicate a peace pole on Fisk campus.

Church members spent several months distributing copies of L. Ron Hubbard’s booklet The Way to Happiness, working with people who have been abused in the field of mental health, and promoting human rights messages across Middle Tennessee.

In October, church members held a series of events for Red Ribbon Week, a week meant to promote drug-free living. These events included booklet distributions of the Truth About Drugs booklet, educational seminars and one-on-one meetings to enlighten leaders on the materials.

In November, the Church hosted the annual Artlightenment art and film festival, which this year was themed “America: It’s Cultures and Influences.” In its eighth year, this was the most successful to date in terms of the attendance and number of artists participating, both locally and internationally.  The festival included a film festival, fashion show as well as having a plethora of fine art, painting and photography displays.

In December, 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 celebration, human rights advocates were awarded for their service to the community.

Church pastor Rev. Brian Fesler said, "2016 was an amazing year. I’m extremely proud of the work our members are doing in and with the community. We are very excited about 2017, and will be expanding our programs exponentially in alignment with our mother Church’s international approach." For more information about Scientology, visit www.scientology-ccnashville.org.    


Wednesday, December 28, 2016

2016 Year in Review – Tennessee United for Human Rights

2016 saw the expansion of Tennessee United for Human Rights, carrying out the work of the international organization United for Human Rights in the Southeast United States.

Tennessee United for Human Rights (TUHR) was formed as a non-profit public benefit corporation in 2015 to educate Tennesseans on the basic principles and foundations of human rights. In 2016, the organization has taken great strides to provide help to people of all ages so they may understand their basic human rights.

Volunteers began the year by participating at the annual convocation for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the Tennessee State University Gentry Center. They distributed the What are Human Rights? Booklets, spoke to community and religious leaders about the human rights education curriculum and how to help people with this knowledge.

Next, the chapter organized a large event for International Day of Peace centered on the theme of domestic violence. The theme was “Know Your Rights and Survive: Overcoming Domestic Violence,” and featured a panel discussion of experts on the topic. There were also several human rights organizations who came out to share information on what they do to further help those attending.

Then, to close out the year, TUHR was a co-organizer for the annual Tennessee Celebration of International Human Rights Day, a spectacular event which showcased human rights leaders for their work and uplifted others.

TUHR is planning to begin 2017 with several events to continue promoting human rights, especially during and around the MLK celebration and during Black History Month.

TUHR is the local chapter of United for Human Rights (UHR), an international, not-for-profit organization dedicated to implementing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Its membership is comprised of individuals, educators and groups throughout the world who are actively forwarding the knowledge and protection of human rights by and for all Mankind, according to humanrights.com.

United for Human Rights was founded on the Declaration’s 60th anniversary, in the face of continued worldwide abuses which violate the spirit, intent and Articles of this charter of all human rights, the first such document ever ratified by the community of nations. For more information about United for Human Rights, go to www.humanrights.com.


Thursday, December 15, 2016

Nashville Church of Scientology Bringing the Spirit to the Holiday Season

How do Scientologists celebrate the holidays?  You might be surprised.

More than 10,000 Scientology Churches, missions, related organizations and affiliated groups minister to millions in 165 countries, according to Scientology.org. Because of this worldwide diversity, Scientologists come from a wide variety of faiths and cultural traditions. But no matter their background, they, like most people, gather with loved ones to enjoy the warmth of friends and family and celebrate the joy of the holiday season.

Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard honored the great religious leaders of the past for the wisdom they brought to the world, writing that Scientology shares “the goals set for Man by Christ, which are wisdom, good health and immortality.” It is in this spirit that Scientologists celebrate the holiday season, whether they observe Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or any other religious or cultural tradition.

Pastor of the Nashville Church, Rev. Brian Fesler, says, “Our church captures the spirit of the holidays. We bring people together to celebrate and plan the year ahead, and everyone is welcome here throughout the season.”

The Church annually celebrates New Year’s Eve with a large-scale event that all parishioners and members of the community are invited to attend. It is at this event that the church reviews the accomplishments for the year and sets the course for the year to come.


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

Nashville Church of Scientology Uplifts Youth for International Human Rights Day

Part of an international movement spanning 192 countries, the Church of  Scientology Celebrity Centre Nashville is raising awareness of human rights in commemoration of the 68th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The Nashville Church of Scientology held a special presentation to acknowledge youth on International Human Rights Day, December 10th, this year. Prior to the celebration, the church worked with Tennessee United for Human Rights to produce a video of children each saying an abbreviated version of one of the human rights. This video was then shown during the Tennessee Celebration of International Human Rights Day, which occurred this year on December 6th at the First Amendment Center. This video was a hit at the event, and so, to acknowledge all of the children who participated, the Church of Scientology felt they should be thanked with a celebration of their own.

The children who participated in the video were from a wide variety of backgrounds, religions, races and creeds, but the message they forwarded was with one voice: you have a right to know your human rights.

During the celebration, the children were able to view the final video for the first time, hear more about how to get involved to help others know their rights through Youth for Human Rights, and share food and drinks with friends.

The video can be viewed here: http://nashvillehumanrights.org/.


Human Rights day commemorates the United Nations adoption in 1948 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights--the world's premier human rights document. Despite the best intentions of those who crafted the Declaration, 68 years later, the UN points out, "disrespect for basic human rights continues to be widespread in all parts of the globe. Extremist movements subject people to horrific violence. Messages of intolerance and hatred prey on our fears. Humane values are under attack."

Human rights are an integral part of the Scientology religion. The Creed of the Church of Scientology, written in 1954 by Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard, begins: "We of the Church believe: That all men of whatever race, color or creed were created with equal rights." And the Code of a Scientologist calls on all Scientologists "to support true humanitarian endeavors in the fields of human rights."

The Church of Scientology and Scientologists support United for Human Rights, the world's largest nongovernmental human rights education campaign, active in 192 countries and partnering with 1,500 groups and organizations.  The initiative is inspired by Mr. Hubbard's conviction that "It is vital that all thinking men urge upon their governments sweeping reforms in the field of human rights."


Thursday, December 8, 2016

Tennessee Human Rights Day Celebration Acknowledges Heroes, Brings Awareness to Key Issues

The Tennessee Celebration of International Human Rights Day takes place each year in early December at the First Amendment Center.

The Tennessee Celebration of International Human Rights Day took place in Nashville at the First Amendment Center on December 6th, 2016.  At the focus of the celebration is the presentation of awards to human rights champions in three categories: Rising Advocate, Outstanding Service and Lifetime Achievement. Past recipients of these prestigious honors have included the Rev. Bill Barnes, Rev. James “Tex” Thomas, Rosetta Miller Perry, Father Joseph Breen, Avi Poster, Yuri Cunza, Remziya Suleyman and many more.

A committee of human rights organizations and nonprofits, including the Tennessee Human Rights Commission, Metro Human Relations Commission, United Nations Association, UNICEF, Tennessee Board of Regents, Amnesty International, Tennessee United for Human Rights, the Church of Scientology, Muslim Women’s Council and others, worked together to plan and organize the event.

This year, Rising Advocate Awards were given to three individuals who have made great strides for human rights and show even greater promise for the future. They were Anna Carella, who has worked both locally and in other parts of the world to help others in need and most recently with Advocates for Women's and Kids' Equality (AWAKE); Justin Jones, a Fisk University senior who has already proven himself as a strong advocate for social justice and peace by organizing several events, marches and protests with the purpose to help others; and Mohamed Shukri-Hassan, who works with the Tennessee Immigrants and Refugee Rights Coalition and American Center for Outreach and was on the first Mayor’s New Americans Advisory Council.

The award winners in the category of Outstanding Service were Juan Canedo for his work on issues that affect the wellbeing of the Hispanic community and the community at large, with particular emphasis on empowering Hispanic immigrants; and Derri Smith, who is the Founder and Executive Director of End Slavery Tennessee.  

The Lifetime Achievement award this year went to Dr. Charles Kimbrough, a longtime civil rights activist who established and organized NAACP chapters in four different cities across the South and served as President of the Nashville Branch, where he saw a surge in chapter membership, addressing civil rights issues within the local African American community.

International Human Rights Day occurs every year to commemorate the ratification of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations on Dec 10, 1948. The theme this year was “Hidden in our Midst: Child Trafficking in Tennessee,” and it is under this theme that experts brought new awareness to this issue. Those who participated in the public conversation included Jerry Redman, Co-Founder & CEO of Second Life of Chattanooga; Margie Quin, Assistant Special Agent in Charge for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations; Susan Watson, an attorney for Texas RioGrande Legal Aid; and Shelia Simpkins Mcclain, Director of Survivor Services for End Slavery Tennessee.


For more information on the event, to see photos or to watch videos of the awardees, visit www.nashvillehumanrights.org.  

Nashville Scientologists Stand Up for Human Rights on Human Rights Day 2016

Part of an international movement spanning 192 countries, the Church of  Scientology Celebrity Centre Nashville is raising awareness of human rights in commemoration of the 68th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Nashville Scientologists join Scientology Churches, Missions and groups across the world in carrying out the theme of International Human Rights Day 2016, "Stand up for someone's rights today!"

The Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre Nashville took part in organizing the Tennessee Celebration of International Human Rights Day, held on December 6, 2016 in the John Seigenthaler Center in Nashville. More than one hundred people interested in human rights attended the event which was centered on the theme “Hidden in Our Midst: Child Trafficking in Tennessee.”

A panel of experts on the topic of human trafficking presented information and brought new awareness to this issue. Awards were then presented to human rights leaders in three categories: Rising Advocate, Outstanding Service and Lifetime Achievement.  

Human Rights day commemorates the United Nations adoption in 1948 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights--the world's premier human rights document. Despite the best intentions of those who crafted the Declaration, 68 years later, the UN points out, "disrespect for basic human rights continues to be widespread in all parts of the globe. Extremist movements subject people to horrific violence. Messages of intolerance and hatred prey on our fears. Humane values are under attack."

Human rights are an integral part of the Scientology religion. The Creed of the Church of Scientology, written in 1954 by Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard, begins: "We of the Church believe: That all men of whatever race, color or creed were created with equal rights." And the Code of a Scientologist calls on all Scientologists "to support true humanitarian endeavors in the fields of human rights."

The Church of Scientology and Scientologists support United for Human Rights, the world's largest nongovernmental human rights education campaign, active in 192 countries and partnering with 1,500 groups and organizations.  The initiative is inspired by Mr. Hubbard's conviction that "It is vital that all thinking men urge upon their governments sweeping reforms in the field of human rights."