2019 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 and learn from their peers about specific communications techniques to help in their professional development.. “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 of the year was with Laura Buchanan, Senior Creative Content Specialist at United Methodist Communications, who spoke about what makes an idea stick. In Februray, RCC members heard from Reah Aitkin, the Regional Development Director of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital on how to engage volunteers and get participation ...in other words, how to lead when no one listens.

The following month, the chapter heard from Kalinda Fisher who has created a series of community round tables around sometimes difficult conversations which she has dubbed "The Great Reset," and April saw best practices for fully utilizing research and how it impacts planning and future projects with Sheila King & Magda Vaughn. 

The May meeting covered paid advertising strategies with Debbie Hill, CEO of Creative Website Marketing.

Then the next three meetings were tours of various places. In July, it was the new Tennessean offices, in September RCC members toured the Islamic Center of Tennessee and in October, the Sri Ganesha Temple. 

The November RCC meeting was held at Glencliff United Methodist Church where RCC members learned about the church’s tiny homes project for the homeless, and in December, RCC board members met to review the year and set the course for 2020.  

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.

2016 Year in Review - Religion Communicators Council Spreading the Good Word

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 in 2015.

“People of faith have influence,” says president of the Nashville Chapter, Rev. Brian Fesler, who also 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 with a visit to the Nashville Church of Scientology. The hot news of the day had the group looking at an issue where a denomination that earlier supported the right to choice is now seeking an end to legal abortion. Members had to answer the question: how can it be that a denomination can turn 180 degrees on such a basic issue?

The next meeting took place at the Baha'i Faith Community Center where RCC members took a look at the role of women in religion. Each person discussed how their faith tradition has honored women or spoke of the women of great influence on their faith, then went further into discussing women of influence in other faith traditions that were not represented, such as women founders of more modern religions.

In July, the chapter met at the Islamic Center of Tennessee. The recent news of violence in the United States began the conversation for this meeting, but as each person put their deep-seated beliefs on the table, hope became the keyword.

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…” During the meeting President 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.

To finish out the year, the chapter met at United Methodist Communications where they discussed the election and where the religious community will go from there into 2017.

RCC is open to members from all denominations, and the Nashville group includes Baha’is, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Scientologists, Hindus and more.  For more information about the RCC or their next meeting, visit www.religioncommunicators.org. 

Religion Communicators Council Hears About Good Works By Good People

The Religion Communicators Council is an interfaith communications organization which meets monthly to learn from one another and explore new ways to promulgate religious messages.

In October, the Nashville Religion Communicators Council (RCC) heard from the Nashville Rescue Mission and Salvation Army.  Topic of the day was “Putting Faith Into Action.” Both ministries shared the values of bringing the faith to the people in such a way that makes lives better each day.

Lynn Bogle, with Nashville Rescue Mission, stressed the importance of reconnecting people with God. The Nashville Rescue Mission serves the homeless, addicts and broken families by serving meals, providing shelter, restoring life and helping people get back on their feet. Bogle made it clear that anyone can end up at the Mission after just a couple of bad choices in life.

Gerald Brown, with Salvation Army, presented a video about the Salvation Army which demonstrated the motto: Doing the Most Good. The army "provides soup, soap and salvation," but truly encompasses a myriad of activities to the benefit of children, men and women.

President of the Nashville chapter and pastor of the Church of Scientology, Rev. Brian Fesler said, “I’m always encouraging my parishioners to get out and be active in the community... and people like this just prove it’s all worthwhile.”

Both organizations provide shelter for those without homes, and both give out meals to the hungry.

The Religion Communicators Council (RCC) hears regularly from such organizations to learn how they act out their faith. Fesler went on to say, “We will continue to bring these important topics to the forefront at coming meetings. This is the kind of good news that we share as religious communicators.”

The RCC is open to members from all denominations, and the Nashville group includes Baha’is, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Scientologists, and more.  For further information about the RCC or their next meeting, visit www.religioncommunicators.org.

Religion Communicators Council Plans 85th Annual Convention in Nashville, Tennessee

The Religion Communicators Council will hold its annual convention in 2014 in Nashville, TN.

The Nashville chapter of the Religion Communicators Council (RCC) has formed its planning committee to arrange the national annual convention. Led by Rev. Brian Fesler, chapter president and pastor of the Church of Scientology, the event is taking shape. “We are so excited to host the convention,” says Fesler, “everything is starting to fall into place.”

The convention is scheduled for April 3-5, 2014 at the Inn at Opryland.

The National Board of Governors will meet in Nashville in early August for the annual board meeting and to hear from the planning committee about the convention.

The 2014 conference will celebrate the 85^th anniversary of the RCC.  It is open to members and others involved in religious communication on a professional or academic level. According to the RCC website, “Nationally, RCC offers a yearly convention, complete with exciting keynote speakers and challenging workshops. Highlights of the annual convention are the awards ceremonies where work within religious organizations and in secular media is honored.”

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 Baptist, Jewish, Baha’i, Scientology, Muslim and Methodist among others.

For more information, visit religioncommunicators.org.