Registration Open for Religion Communicators Council National Convention

Faith-group representatives to meet April 3-5 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Registration is now open for the 85th annual Religion Communicators Council National Convention. The meeting runs April 3 to 5 at The Inn at Opryland in Nashville, Tenn.

Skill-building workshops and plenary sessions during the three-day meeting will focus on how communicators share stories of their faith groups.

The convention schedule includes presentation ceremonies for the 2014 Wilbur Awards and DeRose-Hinkhouse Memorial Communication Awards.

The council has presented Wilbur Awards annually since 1949. They honor excellence by individuals in secular media – print and online journalism, book publishing, broadcasting, and motion pictures – in communicating religious issues, values and themes.

DeRose-Hinkhouse Memorial Awards have been given annually since 1967 to active council members who demonstrate excellence in religious communications and public relations.

Remziya Suleyman of American Center for Outreach is to deliver the April 3 keynote address. She is to give “A Muslim Perspective on Interrelation of Religions and the Role of Religious Communication in Public Advocacy.” Plenary sessions are to feature the Rev. Larry Hollon, chief executive of United Methodist Communications in Nashville; Sybril Bennett, professor of media studies at Belmont University in Nashville; the Rev. Michael Waters, founding pastor of Joy Tabernacle African Methodist Episcopal Church in Dallas; and Sarah Wilke, Publisher, Upper Room Ministries with Lindsay Gray, Editorial Director of Magazines for the Upper Room.

Workshop topics include Religion and the First Amendment, How to Handle a Crisis in Your Church, Religion in the Mainstream Media, and Communicating Faith in a Culture of Fear.

The convention program includes optional service opportunities at Room In The Inn, a homeless ministry, and Magdalene & Thistle Farms, a residence recovery program for women surviving addiction, prostitution and human trafficking.

Registration deadline is March 28. Registration fee is $395 per person. Registration information is available online. The hotel deadline for special room rate is March 3rd.

The Religion Communicators Council is an interfaith association of more than 400 religion communicators. They work in print and electronic communication, advertising, and public relations. Members represent Bahá’í, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Scientology faith communities. Founded in 1929, the council is the oldest public relations professional association in the United States. For more information, visit religioncommunicators.org.