Thursday, February 16, 2023

Nashville Religion Communicators to Learn the Value of Games

 

The Nashville Chapter of the Religion Communicators Council (RCC) meets monthly to talk about topics of interest and hear from professionals in religious communications. 

 

The Religion Communicators Council (RCC) is an interfaith association of religion communicators at work in print and electronic communication, marketing, and public relations. The Nashville Chapter meets monthly to learn about other faith traditions, learn from fellow communicators and gain professional development opportunities.

 

The March meeting will see the group learn from a research professional on the value of the use of games as a communications tool. “Gaming can be a creative and innovative approach to communication. Leveraging learning from how one faith organization is using gaming to lead congregations through a reflection process to build congregational vitality,” according to a meeting announcement from the Nashville Chapter.

 

The meeting will take place virtually on March 7th at 1pm Central Time. To learn more about the meeting, email rccnashville@gmail.com.

 

The RCC has members from every faith group and walk of life including Baha’is, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Scientologists, Sikhs, Hindus, and more. The RCC, founded in 1929, is an association of communications professionals who work for and with a diverse group of faith-based organizations in the areas of communications, public relations, advertising, and development.

 

The RCC provides opportunities for communicators to learn from each other. Together, RCC members promote excellence in the communication of faith and values in the public arena. For more information about the Religion Communicators Council, visit religioncommunicators.org/nashville-chapter. 

Thursday, February 9, 2023

Church of Scientology Nashville Invites Community to World Civil Defense Day Open House

 The Church of Scientology Nashville regularly hosts events to bring attention to vitally important issues affecting the community.

 

World Civil Defense Day, which 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.”

 

Julie Brinker, who oversees community affairs for the Nashville Church of Scientology, explained how it 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,” she said. Brinker said volunteerministers.org 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.”

 

To learn more about the Scientology Volunteer Ministers, visit scientology-ccnashville.org. 

Thursday, February 2, 2023

Church of Scientology Nashville to Host World Interfaith Harmony Week Service this February 2023

 The Church of Scientology Nashville is hosting a special interfaith service in observance of World Interfaith Harmony Week with a multi-religious group.

 

“In order to truly combat religious discrimination in this day and age, we have to come together and learn about the religious other,” says Rev. Brian Fesler, Pastor of the Church of Scientology, who has called together people of many different faiths and cultures to take part in an interfaith service for World Interfaith Harmony Week, the first week each February.

 

Rev. Fesler is passionate about bringing together all peoples and has reached out to many different faith leaders for this special service. “Everyone, regardless of their race, religion, culture—everyone deserves to have a voice, to live in peace, and to practice their religion in harmony with the rest of mankind,” he says.

 

The Church of Scientology’s creed begins with the words: “We of the Church believe that all men of whatever race, color or creed were created with equal rights; that all men have inalienable rights to their own religious practices and their performance…”   

 

“It is part of our very fabric to support others’ rights and abilities to practice their religion in peace, so that is what we are lifting up through this service,” says Rev. Fesler.

 

The World Interfaith Harmony Service will take place on February 7, 2020 at 7:00 pm in the community hall of the Church of Scientology Nashville. To anyone who wishes to participate, contact rccnashville@gmail.com.

 

For more information about Scientology, its practices or beliefs, visit scientology.org.

 

Thursday, January 26, 2023

Nashville Religion Communicators to Tour Nashville Public Radio

 The Nashville Chapter of the Religion Communicators Council (RCC) meets monthly to talk about topics of interest and hear from professionals in religious communications. 

 

The Religion Communicators Council (RCC) is an interfaith association of religion communicators at work in print and electronic communication, marketing, and public relations. The Nashville Chapter meets monthly to learn about other faith traditions, learn from fellow communicators and gain professional development opportunities.

 

The February meeting will be an in-person tour with Nashville Public Radio, 90.3 WPLN. “Nashville Public Radio serves Middle Tennessee by providing trusted in-depth news, engaging music and unique cultural programs on 90.3 FM WPLN News, WNXP, Nashville Classical Radio, and 1430 AM WPLN International,” according to its website.

 

The RCC has members from every faith group and walk of life including Baha’is, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Scientologists, Sikhs, Hindus, and more. The RCC, founded in 1929, is an association of communications professionals who work for and with a diverse group of faith-based organizations in the areas of communications, public relations, advertising, and development.

 

The RCC provides opportunities for communicators to learn from each other. Together, RCC members promote excellence in the communication of faith and values in the public arena. For more information about the Religion Communicators Council, visit religioncommunicators.org/nashville-chapter.

 

Thursday, January 19, 2023

2022 Year in Review - The Way to Happiness Association of Tennessee

 2022 saw growth for The Way to Happiness Association of Tennessee, the local chapter of the international organization 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.

 

The Way to Happiness Association of Tennessee (TWTH-TN) remained active virtually throughout the year, spreading positive audio-visual messages. And, with health and safety in mind, volunteers took to the streets and parks of Nashville during 2022 to continue distributing booklets to help people learn the concepts contained within the common-sense moral code and uplift communities.

 

Volunteers were excited to organize cleanups during 2022 to help beautify the Nashville community. In the precept “Safeguard and Improve the Environment,” Mr. Hubbard wrote: “The idea that one has a share in the planet and that one can and should help care for it may seem very large and, to some, quite beyond reality. But today what happens on the other side of the world, even so far away, can effect what happens in your own home…. There are many things one can do to help take care of the planet. They begin with the idea that one should. They progress with suggesting to others they should. Man has gotten up to the potential of destroying the planet. He must be pushed on up to the capability and actions of saving it. It is, after all, what we’re standing on.”

 

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. 

Thursday, January 12, 2023

Nashville Religion Communicators Encouraged to Enter and Win DeRose Hinkhouse Awards

 The Nashville Chapter of the Religion Communicators Council (RCC) meets monthly to talk about topics of interest and hear from professionals in religious communications. 

 

The Religion Communicators Council (RCC) is an interfaith association of religion communicators at work in print and electronic communication, marketing, and public relations. The Nashville Chapter meets monthly to learn about other faith traditions, learn from fellow communicators and gain professional development opportunities.

 

The first meeting of 2023 took place virtually, with RCC Board members hearing how and why to enter and win the DeRose Hinkhouse Memorial Awards. “The DeRose-Hinkhouse Memorial Awards are given annually to active members of the Religion Communicators Council who demonstrate excellence in religious communications and public relations. The awards are named to honor the late Victor DeRose and the late Paul M. Hinkhouse, leading lithographers in New York City, and longtime friends of the RCC. Both men shared a strong interest in, and concern for, excellence in communications,” according to the religioncommunicators.org website.

 

The discussion about the awards was led by Rev. Brian Fesler, President the RCC National Board of Governors, and Pastor of the Church of Scientology Nashville. Other RCC members from across the nation joined in on the call to be inspired to participate as well.

 

A previous Best in Show winner was on the call and was able to talk about his inspiration for entering and how he chose which of his works to put forth for the award. The meeting inspired those attending to enter the DeRose Hinkhouse Awards, and was recorded so others may also see the meeting.

 

The RCC has members from every faith group and walk of life including Baha’is, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Scientologists, Sikhs, Hindus, and more. The RCC, founded in 1929, is an association of communications professionals who work for and with a diverse group of faith-based organizations in the areas of communications, public relations, advertising, and development.

 

The RCC provides opportunities for communicators to learn from each other. Together, RCC members promote excellence in the communication of faith and values in the public arena. For more information about the Religion Communicators Council, visit religioncommunicators.org/nashville-chapter. 

Thursday, January 5, 2023

2022 Year in Review – Citizens Commission on Human Rights, Nashville Chapter

 The Citizens Commission on Human Rights was able to continue helping people fighting abuses in the field of mental health during 2022.

 

 

The Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) Nashville Chapter held events virtually and in person during 2022 promoting awareness of abuses in the field of mental health.

 

A Board Member of CCHR Nashville said, “CCHR volunteers know that 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.” Those who have experienced abuse are encouraged to visit cchrnashville.org and fill out the “report abuse” form.

 

At the beginning of the year, CCHR held a discussion on antisemitism, bringing in a special guest with the Jewish community on the topic “Holocaust Remembrance: Why Here? Why Now?”  

 

CCHR Nashville regularly hosts events and meetings with local leaders who give insight into patients’ rights, parents’ rights and more.

 

CCHR is a non-profit, non-political, non-religious mental health watchdog. Its mission is to eradicate abuses committed under the guise of mental health and enact patient and consumer protections. CCHR receives reports about abuses in the field of mental health and is especially interested in situations where persons experienced abuse or damage due to a false diagnosis or unwanted and harmful psychiatric treatments, such as psychiatric drugs, electroshock (ECT) and electronic or magnetic brain stimulation (TMS). CCHR is often able to assist with filing complaints, and can work with a person’s attorney to further investigate the case. For more information, go to cchrnashville.org.