2010 congress to explore faith communication
issues
By Linda Bloom*
Jan. 31, 2008
| NEW YORK (UMNS)
Changes in perceptions about religion, its influence in the
public arena and how technology delivers the message are among
the issues communicators will consider at Religion
Communication Congress 2010.
The congress, with the
theme "Embracing Change: Communicating Faith in Today’s
World," is scheduled for April 7-10, 2010, at the Marriott
Downtown Hotel in Chicago.
Participants will represent
a broad spectrum of communications specialties, faith
traditions and theological perspectives.
Shirley
Whipple Struchen, a United Methodist and coordinator of
RCCongress 2010, said the use of "instantaneous communication"
is probably the biggest change since the last congress in
2000. That could mean networking through Web sites such as
MySpace and FaceBook, offering different perspectives through
blogging or providing downloadable podcasts for MP-3 players
and cell phones.
Jeffrey Cole, director for the Center
for the Digital Future, University of Southern California
Annenberg School for Communication, is among speakers who will
address that issue during the 2010 event.
In addition
to the plenary sessions on timely issues, RCCongress 2010 will
feature more than 50 skills-building workshops and time for
participants to interact and learn from each other.
“It’s really (about)
understanding each other.”
–Shirley Whipple
Struchen
Interfaith interaction has
become increasingly important, and Struchen said it was
recognized in 2000 that because worship does not mean the same
thing to everyone, it was more appropriate to add "faith
expressions" to the agenda.
Inviting such a broad range
of participants, including international representation, to
the congress "is more than networking," she added. "It’s
really (about) understanding each other."
A diverse
group of North American communications professionals are
planning the event. Among United Methodists involved are the
Rev. Dan Gangler of Indianapolis; Lesley Crosson, New York;
the Rev. Ken Sloan, Nashville; the Rev. Erik Alsgaard,
Lakeland, Fla., and Cam Howard, Trotwood, Ohio.
The
2010 event follows a 40-year tradition. The first congress was
in 1970 in Chicago, followed by congresses in 1980, 1990 and
2000. In 2000, more than 80 cooperating organizations
participated as partners and 1,300 attended.
For the
upcoming congress, 64 cooperating organizations have signed up
thus far and include United Methodist Communications, United
Methodist Association of Communicators and UMR
Communications.
Struchen said more cooperating
organizations are being sought for RCCongress 2010 and
financial assistance, particularly for international
scholarships, is welcome. More information about the gathering
is at http://www.rccongress2010.net/.
*Bloom
is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in New
York.
News media contact: Linda Bloom, New York, (646)
369-3759 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
Audio
Shirley
Whipple Struchen: “Instantaneous communication is so
prevalent.”
Shirley
Whipple Struchen: “A major international
contingency.” Related
Articles
RCC 2000 reflects world’s diversity
United Methodist communicators get RCC
honors Resources
RCCongress 2010
Religious Communicators
Council |
Korean News