Thursday, January 11, 2018

Nashville Church of Scientology Welcomes Community to an Open House Event on World Civil Defense Day

The Nashville Church of Scientology is observing World Civil Defense Day on March 1st with a church safety seminar.

The Nashville Church of Scientology plans to recognize the United Nations World Civil Defense Day by hosting a workshop open to the community with experts on church safety.

World Civil Defense Day was created by decision of the International Civil Defense Organization (ICDO) General Assembly in 1990, and is celebrated every year on the 1st of March. According to ICDO, “This Day… has two main purposes: that of bringing to the attention of the world public the vital importance of Civil Protection and of raising awareness of the preparedness for, and prevention and self-protection measures in the event of accidents or disasters; and that of paying tribute to the efforts, sacrifices and accomplishments of all the national services responsible for the fight against disasters.”

Rev. Brian Fesler, pastor of the Church of Scientology, explained how the Church of Scientology becomes involved during times of disaster. “We have a program called Volunteer Ministers. Anyone of any culture or creed may train as a Volunteer Minister and use these tools to help their families and communities, and all are welcome to do so,” he said. Fesler encouraged people to look at the website volunteerministers.org which contains resources one would need to become trained in this technology.  

Equipped with effective technology to resolve virtually any difficulty, Volunteer Ministers live by the motto: “No matter the problem, something can be done about it.” Transcending all ethnic, cultural and religious boundaries, the Volunteer Ministers program is there for anyone in need of help.

In creating the Volunteer Ministers program, L. Ron Hubbard wrote, “If one does not like the crime, cruelty, injustice and violence of this society, he can do something about it. He can become a Volunteer Minister and help civilize it, bring it conscience and kindness and love and freedom from travail by instilling into it trust, decency, honesty and tolerance.”

World Civil Defense Day is March 1st, and the Open House event takes place at the Church of Scientology. To find out more, visit scientology-ccnashville.org.


Tennessee United for Human Rights to Participate at Nashville MLK Day Event

Tennessee United for Human Rights (TnUHR) has the mission to bring awareness and education on the 30 human rights, as listed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to people all across the state.

2017 MLK Day Celebration
“The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. federal holiday is a perfect opportunity for Americans to honor Dr. King’s legacy through service. [The day] empowers individuals, strengthens communities, bridges barriers, creates solutions to social problems, and moves us closer to Dr. King’s vision of a beloved community,” according to NationalService.gov. It is with this in mind that Tennessee United for Human Rights (TnUHR) is joining in the movement in Nashville to honor Dr. King’s legacy.

TnUHR, which was formed as a non-profit public benefit corporation in 2015 to educate Tennesseans on the basic principles and foundations of human rights, will be participating in events in Nashville to honor the iconic human rights hero. The main event is the MLK Day march and convocation which takes place at Tennessee State University on Jan 15th. The march begins at 10am from Jefferson Street Baptist Church. According to MLKDayNashville.com, the theme for 2018 is “Investing in Our Children, Investing in Our Future.”

One TnUHR volunteer says the organization is excited about being part of these events and is anxious to spread education on human rights, “This is the time for everyone to learn their basic human rights and be united in the fight for freedom.”

TnUHR is the local chapter of United for Human Rights, 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.


Over Ten Faith Communities Unite for Nashville’s Multi-Faith Citywide MLK Service

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, more than ten faith leaders, communities and congregations are coming together for celebration in a joint service on Sunday, January 14, from 3-6pm.

It is not uncommon for pastors to work together. It is uncommon for various denominations to celebrate a service together.

Over ten Nashville congregations are planning on celebrating a worship service together to honor Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy.  It is the annual MLK Day celebration service taking place at the Church of Scientology on Sunday, Jan 14th and Rev. Brian Fesler feels this is a historic way to help make Dr. King’s dream a reality. “With more than ten congregations coming together to worship as one, choirs joining each other in song, people of different denominations sitting side by side, and each faith leader participating, it’s a beautiful way to honor Dr. King’s legacy.”

This year, faith leaders and congregations are scheduled to represent Brooks Memorial United Methodist Church, Northside Church of Christ, Mount Lebanon Missionary Baptist Church, Caravan Church, City of Grace Church, Congregation Sherith Israel, Unity of Music City and more.  Rev. Enoch Fuzz of Corinthian Missionary Baptist Church will deliver the sermon on “The Eyes of God.” Rev. David Shivers will present a rendition of the “I Have a Dream” speech.

“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,” says Rev. Fesler of the Church of Scientology.

The MLK Celebration service will be held Sunday, Jan 14th from 3-6pm and ending with a potluck at the Church of Scientology in Nashville. It is open to the public, and members of the media are welcome to attend. For more information or to RSVP, visit tnuhr.org.


Friday, January 5, 2018

2017 Year in Review – Tennessee United for Human Rights

2017 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 (TnUHR) was formed as a non-profit public benefit corporation in 2015 to educate Tennesseans on the basic principles and foundations of human rights. In 2017, 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, volunteers gave a workshop on Human Rights 101 during the Tennessee Conference on Volunteerism. The workshop was aimed at volunteers, to help them first learn their basic human rights, then enlighten them on how to help others understand their rights, too.

In September, the chapter organized a large event for International Day of Peace centered on the theme of religious freedom. The theme was “Religious Freedom and What This Means Today,” and featured a panel discussion of religious leaders including the Rev. Dr. Jason Curry, Dean of Fisk Memorial Chapel; The Venerable Bhante Nanda, Spiritual Adviser of the Kentucky Meditation Peace Center; Michael Spencer representing the Baha’is of Middle Tennessee; and Rev. Enoch Fuzz, Pastor of Corinthian Missionary Baptist Church.

Next month the group followed up on this discussion with a Public Listening Session on Religious Freedom, held on International Religious Freedom Day. Several faith leaders representing Muslim, Sikh and Christian denominations contributed their views during this listening session. They were posed and answered questions about their faiths, public perception of their religions, and religious discrimination. TnUHR plans to publish a State of Religious Freedom Report for Tennessee in 2018, which will include the information gathered through this focus group.

Then, to close out the year, TnUHR 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.

TnUHR is planning to begin 2018 with several events to continue promoting human rights and gather information for the 2018 State of Religious Freedom Report for Tennessee.


TnUHR 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. 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 humanrights.com. For more information on the Tennessee chapter, visit tnuhr.org. 

Tuesday, January 2, 2018

2017 Year in Review - The Way to Happiness Association of Tennessee

2017 saw the expansion of The Way to Happiness Association of Tennessee, the local chapter of The Way To Happiness Foundation.

The Way to Happiness, a book written by humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard in the early 1980s, 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. In the three decades since it was authored, more than 115 million copies of the book passed hand to hand, thus inspiring the international movement which is spreading throughout Nashville, TN.

Volunteers for The Way to Happiness Association of Tennessee (TWTH-TN) began the year by creating an action plan to visit specific neighborhoods in the Nashville area, as it has been proven that when this booklet is distributed in a specific zone or area, crime in that area then plummets.

For World Interfaith Harmony Day, a large gathering was organized to promote peace and mutual respect among religious peoples, with many religious and interfaith leaders participating.

To honor World Environment Day, volunteers followed up on an action promise to clean up the city from last year’s “It’s Your City – Green It Up” event and took to the streets even with inclement weather in the forecast.

Next, TWTH-TN was at a local Father’s Day celebration distributing booklets and speaking with people about why it is important to “Honor and Help Your Parents,” as one of the precepts in the booklet mandates.

For International Friendship Day, TWTH-TN worked with the Nashville Church of Scientology to organize a large event to bring people together. A diverse crowd joined together to learn about one another and forge true friendships by taking part in guided dialogue.

In October, volunteers were welcomed to the twentieth annual Intertribal Powwow hosted each year by the Native Cultural Circle (NCC) of Clarksville. There, they distributed hundreds of booklets to Native Americans and others attending.


TWTH-TN is making a true impact across Tennessee and reaching other parts of the world. To learn more about the program, or to order copies of The Way to Happiness booklet, visit twthtn.org. 

2017 Year in Review – Citizens Commission on Human Rights, Nashville Chapter

2017 saw the expansion of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights, Nashville Chapter, carrying out the work of the international organization in the Southeast United States.

The Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) Nashville Chapter began the year by participating at the annual MLK Day convocation at Tennessee State University’s Gentry Center. They distributed materials on human rights related to mental health and side effects of psychiatric drugs and treatments.

Next up in January, CCHR Nashville had a special event held in honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day where chapter members posed the question, “If Hitler was behind the Holocaust, who was behind Hitler?” A video was played to attendees which revealed how the pseudoscience Eugenics contributed to the Holocaust, and exactly who propagated these ideas.

Next, CCHR members set up tables at the Tennessee State Capitol where they brought information directly to lawmakers. They also participated in a child advocacy event with the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth, getting out booklets to concerned parents.

CCHR Nashville then took its message of human rights for those being abused in the field of mental illness to a community event in the Edgehill neighborhood and to events for parents and educators including a Social and Emotional Learning Conference. Volunteers distributed fliers and spoke to people who have been victims of abuse in psychiatric hands.

In early Fall, the International exhibit “Psychiatry: An Industry of Death” came to Nashville and volunteers were able to showcase it with the community, helping people to learn about and understand psychiatry’s sordid history and present day monopoly of the field of mental healing.

In October, to observe World Mental Health Day, CCHR held a special “Lunch and Learn” with a health and wellness doctor. During the seminar, he was able to bring awareness to parents on children’s mental and physical health needs, especially what to do if a child is experiencing health issues, and what parents can do to help their children be at a more optimum health level.

A Board Member of CCHR Nashville said, “CCHR volunteers are excited about all of the activity in 2017, but there is much more work to be done. People are getting hurt every day at the hands of psychiatrists. They must be brought to account for their actions.”


CCHR is a non-profit, non-political, non-religious mental health industry watchdog whose mission is to eradicate abuses committed under the guise of mental health.  It works to ensure patient and consumer protections are enacted and upheld as there is rampant abuse in the field of mental health.  In this role, CCHR has helped to enact more than 150 laws protecting individuals from abusive or coercive mental health practices since it was formed five decades ago. For more information on CCHR, visit cchrnashville.org.

2017 Year in Review: Drug-Free Tennessee

2017 saw the expansion of Drug-Free Tennessee, carrying out the work of the international organization the Foundation for a Drug-Free World in the Southeast United States.

To start off the year, Drug-Free Tennessee (DFT) participated in an event with the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services for its Recovery Congregations to distribute information, and get out the Truth About Drugs booklets to those attending.

Next, volunteers went into local neighborhoods to distribute information as part of local health fairs and resource cafes.

Following these outreach efforts, the Regional Coordinator of Drug-Free Tennessee, Rev. Brian Fesler, organized the Swing Into Health community concert to raise awareness for World Health Day in April.

To observe International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, volunteers took to the streets to distribute copies of the booklets and also participated in community events to spread the word. This all culminated in a training workshop on how to use the Truth About Drugs Educator’s Kit for law enforcement, teachers and preachers. They were given free informational materials that they can use in working with children to keep them healthy, as well as drug-free.  

Next, DFT volunteers participated at National Night Out Against Crime, getting the booklets out to everyone who attended the Night Out celebration.

Later that same month, Drug-Free Tennessee participated in an annual event for parents of school children, where they distributed copies of The Truth About Drugs booklets to parents, teachers and children alike. Then, volunteers gave a lecture to a local university’s men’s basketball team on why to be drug-free.

Rounding out the year, volunteers crisscrossed the state to see students in high schools and universities, community centers and even a rehab center in Murfreesboro. They delivered lectures and passed out booklets.

Rev. Fesler had this to say about 2017, “We have had a good year, but drugs are still a problem in this state. We have big plans for 2018 and are ready to help anyone in the state who is trying to address this issue.”

Drug-Free Tennessee distributes the Truth About Drugs booklet, which cover all basic side effects of drugs, common street names, and how to recognize when you are being persuaded by a dealer. To learn more or to order booklets, visit drugfreesouth.org.