2018 Year in Review - Religion Communicators Council, Nashville Chapter

The Religion Communicators Council is an interfaith communications organization working to promote peace and fellowship while spreading the good news.

The longest running interfaith communications organization in the United States, the Religion Communicators Council (RCC), has chapters across the country that meet regularly and promote “excellence in the communication of religious faith and values in the public arena and encourage understanding among religious and faith groups,” according to the RCC website.

In Nashville, the RCC Chapter meets every other month to promote its ideals through conversations about what is in the news and how to spread more religious messages – the good news—a tradition that began this year. “People of faith have influence,” says Board Member of the Nashville Chapter, Julie Brinker, who also does community relations with the Church of Scientology, “We all need to step out and speak up because the good news, of which there is an abundance, tends to be overshadowed.”

The chapter had a busy year, hearing from religion reporters to video producers. The first meeting was with Holly Meyer of the Tennessean, who gave the group tips on best practices for religious reporting. Next, RCC heard from Adovcate Market Research who showcased innovative ways to help know one’s audience so a message can truly get across.

The following month, the chapter heard from Sophia Agtarap of Vanderbilt Divinity School who specializes in storytelling in digital media. After that, members were treated to a discussion on video production and how this helps communicate a message in today’s world.

To round out the year, Lori Whitbey of Schneider Electric, gave a talk about strategic marketing to make it easy and an approachable subject.

Nashville’s RCC chapter is preparing for an even greater 2019 with engaging meeting topics and professional development presentations. RCC is open to members from all denominations, and the Nashville group includes Baha’is, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Scientologists, Hindus and more.  For further information about the RCC or their next meeting, visit www.religioncommunicators.org.

Religion Communicators Council Explores the Proliferation of Channels of Communication

How does one contribute to his faith? Some take up the calling to be a minister, imam, rabbi or priest while others might take time to volunteer or give weekly donations. There’s a certain class of people who have taken up a unique calling: communication.

The Religion Communicators Council (RCC) is an interfaith organization more than 80 years old which has members from many faith traditions, including Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Baha’i, Scientology, Hinduism, Buddhism and more. Members of the RCC make it their job to communicate on behalf of their tradition, to spread the good news and encourage good deeds throughout the world.

Each year, a national convention is held for all RCC members across the United States. It is a time to come together as one, to celebrate excellence in communication, and gain ideas and inspiration.  The 2017 conference took place in April in Chicago, Illinois.  RCC members gathered under the theme "Virtually Here, There and Everywhere: Faith Communications and Presence," alluding to the myriad channels of communication in today’s world, and how to best utilize those channels in engaging an audience or disseminating information.  It was held at Crowne Plaza Hotel and consisted of a long weekend of activities and workshops from Thursday to Saturday.

The convention opened with a plenary by Rev. Myron McCoy, Senior Pastor at First United Methodist Church at the Chicago; Angela Cowser, Associate Professor of the Sociology of Religion, Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary; Rami Nashashibi, Executive Director, Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN); and the Honorable Toni Preckwinckle, the President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners.  They took time to speak to the topic “Guns into Plowshares, Presence into Hope: On Violence and Faith.”

During the first evening of the convention, the annual DeRose Hinkhouse awards were presented to active members of RCC who demonstrate excellence in religious communications and public relations. The most prestigious honor were the Best of Class awards, and among the winners were Christie R. House, General Board of Global Ministries for the United Methodist Church with the New World Outlook Magazine; Anuttama Dasa with ISKCON Communications for The Joy of Devotion; and to Steven D. Martin with the National Council of Churches for the National Council of Churches Podcast.

Religion Communicators heard from experts on social media, media engagement, making podcasts, getting accreditation, seeing theater as communication, creating material specific to young people, building a blog, handling a crisis, and countering hate movements.

The convention concluded Saturday evening with the presentation of the Wilbur Awards, recognizing the work of individuals in secular media who communicate religious issues, values and themes with the utmost professionalism, fairness and honesty. Award winners for this prestigious honor included The Associated Press, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, CBS News, National Geographic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly, and the Commercial Appeal (Memphis, Tennessee). Hidden Figures, the 20th Century Fox production about the African-American women behind astronaut John Glenn's historic space launch was presented this award as well as Roots, the History Channel's remake of Alex Haley's portrait of American slavery; and black-ish, ABC-TV's comedy about a black family's search for cultural identity. Photos and the full list of winners are available on the Wilbur Awards page of the RCC website.

The Religion Communicators Council (RCC), founded in 1929, is an interfaith association of religion communicators at work in print and electronic communication, marketing and in public relations. Members of the RCC come from many different religions and backgrounds including Christianity, Judaism, Baha’i, Hinduism, Scientology, Buddhist, Sikh and Islam among others.

For more information about the RCC or the annual convention, including a complete list of DeRose Hinkhouse and Wilbur Award winners, visit religioncommunicators.org.

Nashville Religion Communicators Council Discusses Election Results

The Nashville Chapter of the Religion Communicators Council holds bi-monthly meetings to discuss hot topics and have deep discussions on what is happening in the world today.

An interfaith communications organization, the Religion Communicators Council (RCC), has chapters across the United States. In Nashville, the group meets every other month for its series “Building Bridges Over Bagels.” Organizers say this concept is all about strengthening ties between people of different faiths and breaking bread together.

In November, the group met for breakfast at United Methodist Communications on 12^th Avenue South. Members discussed the recent presidential election results and how to bring people together following such a tumultuous election season which left many people reeling.

RCC members agreed that it will take time for many people to adjust, and that one way to help those who are very torn up about the results is to listen to them.

The RCC has members from every faith group and walk of life including Baha’is, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Scientologists, Sikhs, Hindus and more. For more information about the RCC or their next meeting, visit www.religioncommunicators.org.

Nashville Religion Communicators Council Talks Positive Politics

The Nashville Chapter of the Religion Communicators Council holds bi-monthly meetings to discuss hot topics and have deep discussions on what is happening in the world today.

An interfaith communications organization, the Religion Communicators Council, has chapters across the United States. In Nashville, the group meets every other month for its series “Building Bridges Over Bagels.” Organizers say this concept is all about strengthening ties between people of different faiths and breaking bread together.

In September, the group met for breakfast at Weigh Down Ministries, the church offices for the Remnant Fellowship Church in Franklin, TN.  According to its website, remnantfellowship.org, it is “an international community of people who are finding renewed hope, profound love and deep purpose by putting the undiluted teachings of Jesus Christ into practice… This Church has its roots founded in the Bible-based teachings of Gwen Shamblin through Weigh Down Ministries, who has a 30-plus years long-and-counting track record of helping people change their lives in every positive and productive way.” Past meeting locations have included the Church of Scientology, Baha’i Faith Community Center and Islamic Center of Tennessee.

During the meeting, the President of Nashville’s RCC chapter, Rev. Brian Fesler, had attendees discuss this year’s presidential candidates, however, required them to find something good to say about each. They next discussed how to spread these good messages further out into the community by setting a good example.

The RCC has members from every faith group and walk of life including Baha’is, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Scientologists, Sikhs, Hindus and more. For more information about the RCC or their next meeting, visit www.religioncommunicators.org.

2015 Year in Review - Religion Communicators Council Promotes Good News

The Religion Communicators Council is an interfaith communications organization working to promote peace and fellowship while spreading the good news.

The longest running interfaith communications organization in the United States, the Religion Communicators Council (RCC), has chapters across the country that meet regularly and promote “excellence in the communication of religious faith and values in the public arena and encourage understanding among religious and faith groups,” according to the RCC website.

In Nashville, the RCC Chapter meets every other month to promote its ideals through conversations about what is in the news and how to spread more religious messages – the good news—a tradition that began this year. “People of faith have influence,” says president of the Nashville Chapter, Rev. Brian Fesler, who pastors the Church of Scientology, “We all need to step out and speak up because the good news, of which there is an abundance, tends to be overshadowed.”

The chapter began the year hearing from Mohamed Shukri-Hassan, the Program Director for the American Muslim Advisory Council and member of the Mayor's New Americans Advisory Council, who described programs both organizations are doing to help promote understanding and tolerance, a timely message.  Next RCC members visited Ibis Communications where they met and heard from MaryAnne Howland, its president and founder. Howland described how the name Ibis comes from the bird of wisdom, as she described her commitment to serving organizations of goodwill.

The next visit for the chapter was to the American Center for Outreach where members had a chance to talk with and learn from Paul Galloway, the organizations new director. The American Center for Outreach is a non-profit organization formed to address bigoted legislation at the State Capitol, mainly against the Muslim population.

RCC members were glad to learn about ways to care for the environment on World Environment Day at the Church of Scientology, where guest speakers discussed neighborhood community gardens and best practices for planting trees.  Following this meeting, the RCC co-hosted an event for International Friendship Day, also at the Church of Scientology, where a diverse crowd discussed stereotypes and ways to overcome them. 

Following Friendship Day, the RCC executive board met and decided to change the focus of meetings to be more interactive for members. Thus the group introduced a new bi-monthly breakfast meeting where the RCC could take up hot topics in the news, fellowship, and discuss promoting tolerance and peace among all peoples. They were able to hold two such meetings this year, first at United Methodist Communications, then at the Islamic Center of Nashville.

Nashville’s RCC chapter is preparing for an even greater 2016 with its new style of meetings taking center stage to help members learn new ways to promote the good word. RCC is open to members from all denominations, and the Nashville group includes Baha’is, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Scientologists, Hindus and more.  For further information about the RCC or their next meeting, visit www.religioncommunicators.org.